This year, Microsoft debuted the Surface Studio, which introduced the tech world to several new features and innovations. And while it was an exciting addition to the market, there is still the iMac, which has ruled the all-in-one desktop market for years. The two offer their own benefits, strengths, and weaknesses.
As T3 points out, the Surface Studio is the newbie in the market. Despite this, its release caused waves in the market and the general reviews on the same have been positive. As mentioned earlier, the desktop definitely excites a public that has long gotten used to the standard piece of machinery.
Meanwhile, the iMac has been beloved for several years now. And while it has not received a notable redesign or upgrade in years, Apple has been very persistent in making it better. The latest upgrade, for example, was just over a year ago when the Cupertino giant made necessary updates to the device.
The publication notes that both the Surface Studio and the iMac come with options for internal specifications. This way, interested buyers can most closely get the kind of power that is necessary without overpaying for the most powerful device. And it seems to have been a successful strategy.
The Surface Studio comes with a choice of either the Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. Furthermore, consumers can choose between 8GB, 16GB or 32GB of RAM. There are also three different graphics chipsets to choose from, all which were built by Nvidia. The internal storage also comes in either 1TB or 2TB.
Microsoft went for a 28-inch screen for the Surface Studio, which boasts a 4500 x 2000 pixel resolution. The screen itself is just 12.5mm thick across the entire unit. In order to acquire this, the company put the power in the base of the screen. It is also able to fold down almost parallel to the table, making it comfortable for the user to draw on its surface.
On the other hand, the iMac - at its lowest model - has an Intel Core i5 processor, which runs on a 1.6Ghz with 8GB of RAM and built-in storage of 1TB, as well as an integrated Intel HD graphics. The highest-end model is fitted with a 3.3GHz i5 CPU, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of built-in storage and an AMD Radeon graphics chipset. Consumers can choose between a 21.5-inch screen with 4096 x 2304 pixel resolution or a 27-inch screen with 5120 x 2880 pixel resolution.
Most people will argue that the choice really depends on the software of the desktop. Naturally, the Surface Studio runs on Windows 10, while the iMac runs on MacOS Sierra. The real benefit of Windows is that it can play games better than MacOS. However, the Apple device does come with the company's exclusive programs, such as Final Cut Pro and Pages, which are vital in some professions.
The Surface Studio does, however, come with its own set of accessories that truly set it apart. The Surface Pen, for example, allows users to write and virtually draw on the screen itself. It also has an Ergonomic keyboard, while the iMac only has the standard Magic Mouse and Keyboard. Microsoft also introduced the Surface Dial, which activates when placed on the screen and offers a variety of features depending on the service or application used.
As Mobile & Apps notes, both machines have USB 3 ports, Ethernet ports and SD Card slots. The Surface Studio, however, is alone in housing a mini Display Port. On the other hand, the iMac has Apple's standard Thunderbolt 2 ports.
