Microsoft Puts Creativity Over Productivity in Its New Update

Microsoft announced its first 2017 Windows 10 update and the release of new products aimed for consumers with a big wallet who are willing to splurge on creative hardware. Though technology companies tend to design computer hardware centered on productivity, Microsoft’s new design incorporates efficiency and imagination.

Microsoft is calling the Windows 10 upgrade the “Creator’s Update” which is planned to be released in March of 2017. The update will include tools that allow working with 3D objects, self-broadcasting virtual reality games, an augmented reality, and a “mixed reality” accessible with HoloLens hardware. Microsoft also revealed the Surface Studio, an all-in-one desktop PC with a $2,999 price tag. The 28in desktop can also be laid flat and used like a tablet with a pen or touch. The Dial is a new accessory for the Surface Studio that when placed on the screen can enable it to work as a substitute input device for scrolling and zooming.

The company spoke about its target consumers, and stated that the next generation of customers are not just interested in productivity, but also on how a computer can be utilized for personal use. Though they have been urged to focus on efficiency to target commercial businesses, the company firmly believes that the Surface Studio will attract creative consumers as this update is the perfect blend of personal and professional capabilities. For now, Microsoft must wait to see how well its new designs will bring in customers, especially now when PCs sell at the same price as Apple computers.