Microsoft has just unveiled its first entry into their desktop lineup: the Surface Studio.

In a press launch in New York City, Microsoft showcased the new desktop iteration and announced that pre-orders are now live. The new Surface Studio will be priced at $2,999, $3,499, or $4,199, depending on configurations. However, even if the new desktop is poised for release before the year ends, Microsoft revealed that the new lineup mainstay will only be available "in limited quantities" for the holidays. It is expected, though, that the stocks in retail stores will pick up starting early next year.

According to The Next Web, it is glaringly obvious that Microsoft is trying to dethrone Apple in the creativity and graphics-intensive desktop lineups. Normally, creative users go for the iMac due to a combination of performance and aesthetic features of Apple products. However, with the Surface Studio, the Redmond-based tech giant has managed to come out with a desktop fit for creative people. Company head Panos Panay agrees. In the keynote launch, Panay stated, "We totally believe that Surface changes the way you produce, the way you create, the way you learn."

The Surface Studio boasts of a 28-inch display, with 13.5 million pixels, a step-up above the 4K resolution in 4K TVs. Some observers say that the minimalist design is also an advantage, as it seemingly showcases the display as larger than what it really is, which is a help for graphics-intensive tasks.

Under the hood, the Surface Studio is also said to perform demanding tasks with ease. Configurations include either a sixth-gen Intel Core i5 or i7; RAM options of 8, 16, and 32 GB; either a GeForce GTX 965M 2GB (in Core i5 Studio) or GTX 980M 4GB (in Core i7 Studio) graphics; and massive 1 TB or 2 TB onboard storage options. The rest of the features include different connectivity options, as well as a full complement of accessories like the overhauled Surface Pen or the new Surface Dial.