![\"surface-studio-2\"](\"http:\/\/www.wambooli.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Surface-Studio-2.png\")
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I’m floored. Not known as a hardware company beyond mice and keyboards, Microsoft has quickly shown that it can be more innovative than Apple.<\/p>\n
In all my computer career, I never thought I’d ever write that.
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\nApple made its fame by creating a computer, the Macintosh, and then software that ran specifically for that hardware. The result was perfect harmony, but as I’ve written before, Apple is a software company disguised as a hardware company.<\/p>\n
The trend continues withe Apple’s mobile devices, which are essentially vehicles for running the iOS operating system. Again, Apple is a software company. Its success comes from the predictability of writing software to one, specific platform. Microsoft was never so lucky.<\/p>\n
No, Microsoft had to write software to a generic platform, which meant that to be accomodating the software had to be weak. Granted, Windows and Office have improved, but never did I imagine that Microsoft would consider designing hardware to specifically showcase their software.<\/p>\n
A few years ago, the Microsoft Surface tablet appeared. Unlike the horrid Zune, Microsoft actually put effort into keeping the Surface alive. The Zune was doomed because A) it was a blatant iPod rip-off, B) it was a weak rip-off and C), Microsoft under Steve Ballmer had no clue what it was doing.<\/p>\n
So now the new guy, John W. Thompson, apparently has his stuff together.<\/p>\n
The Surface Studio is beatiful. It reminds me that Apple hasn’t introduced a new desktop Macintosh design in about 5 years. And their entire desktop line is stagnant and has been so for the longest period in Apple’s corporate history.<\/p>\n
True, the Mac represents only about 10 percent of Apple’s overall revenue, but it also showcases Apple’s design prowess.<\/p>\n
Not any more.<\/p>\n
The Surface Studio also features a puck-like device for input. Truly, it will revolutionize graphics arts. In fact, I can imagine how Apple’s designers are seething with jealously and looking at some way to copy the gizmo — if their corporate overlords would let them.<\/p>\n
The only downside to the Surface Studio is the price, close to $3,000. The quality is worth it and for a graphic designer that’s well within the range of what you expect to pay.<\/p>\n
So while I don’t doubt the beauty or genius of the Surface Studio, it causes me to question Apple. Seriously, big red, what the hell is going on?<\/p>\n