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Microsoft's Surface Studio: The newest member of Microsoft's device family

Microsoft's Surface Studio is an all-in-one device with a hinge that lets the display itself serve as a desktop.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

Microsoft's rumored Surface All-in-One device device is real.

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Credit: Microsoft

At the company's October 26 event, Microsoft debuted the new quad-core i7, PixelSense-based device, which my sources said was codenamed "Cardinal."

The Surface Studio can fold down so that the 13-pound display itself can act like a near-flat users desk. It can be used for drawing, typing, drafting, and other tasks thanks to a "zero-gravity hinge."

Microsoft claims the Surface Studio includes thinnest LCD monitor ever built. It is 28 inches and includes 63 percent more pixels than a 4K television, said Microsoft devices chief Panos Panay, at the unveiling. The new system also has a 2TB hard drive.

The Studio includes a mic array, an HD Camera, and Windows Hello support.

There also will be a new complementary peripheral, the "Surface Dial." It's like a mouse wheel that is meant for graphic designers and those using a pen.

At the launch, Panay played up the "creator" theme with the new Studio device, emphasizing the appeal of its built-in features to the creator community.

Microsoft also announced it plans to refresh its existing Surface Book i7 laptop with more battery life (up to 30 percent) and double the performance. The updated device, which will still be based on Intel's Skylake processor, is available for pre-order today, and will start shipping in November for $2,399.

Update: There are three configurations of the Surface Studio listed on the Microsoft Store page. There's a 1TB/Intel Core i5/8GBRAM version for $2,999. The 2TB Core i7 version with 32GB of RAM is $4,199 and the 1TB Intel Core i7 version with 16GB of RAM goes for $3,499. All are listed on the Store page as December 15 releases. Panay said it will be available in "limited quantities" this holiday season.

Microsoft Event: New Surface Book, Studio sneak peek

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