05-30-2007, 02:24 AM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18928656

05-30-2007, 04:58 AM

Nice. Wonder how much the devices with this technology will cost or the service.

05-30-2007, 06:55 AM

Looks like Jeff Han has been working with Microsoft.
This was shown at the TED show in early 2006.

05-30-2007, 07:53 AM

I believe the prototype was used in Gates' presentation at the CES 2006. I like the idea of the UI, but i can't think of it as nothing more than a expensive toy. It is, after all, just a table with a screen (or a screen made a table), and that isn't very ergonomic for long hours of work, it would kill your neck and back. I doubt such system would be accesible to the average user (because of the price) in the near future. I can see it working in an office meeting or similar enviroment of a company that has enough money to use $100 bills as notepads or as part of Gates' future house, but nothing more, not yet.
This gives me (again) the idea that people inside Microsoft live in their own reality and expect the world around to adapt to them and not adapt to the current needs. I do believe the device is quite impressive, so is a giant robot, but i don't see myself using any of those in the real world.

05-30-2007, 09:10 AM

Very cool. Nice to see some actual innovation from Microsoft.

05-30-2007, 09:18 AM

Here's a news story on Surface, with a few more particulars, including a very rough price estimate.

Surface is essentially a Windows Vista PC tucked inside a shiny black table base, topped with a 30-inch touchscreen in a clear acrylic frame. Five cameras that can sense nearby objects are mounted beneath the screen.

<snip>

With a price tag between $5,000 (U.S.) and $10,000 per unit, Microsoft isn't immediately aiming for the finger painting set. (The company said it expects prices to drop enough to make consumer versions feasible in three to five years.)

05-30-2007, 11:23 AM

Microsoft had a demo of it back in 2005 as well

http://www.digitalexperience.dk/?p=26

05-30-2007, 01:18 PM

Anyone who is interested in the artistic use of the thing should see a similar product, Light Strokes OptiPaint

Its just a tad expensive

05-30-2007, 06:29 PM

It's usually Microsoft ≠ Innovation

05-30-2007, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by mraya

I believe the prototype was used in Gates' presentation at the CES 2006. I like the idea of the UI, but i can't think of it as nothing more than a expensive toy. It is, after all, just a table with a screen (or a screen made a table), and that isn't very ergonomic for long hours of work, it would kill your neck and back. I doubt such system would be accesible to the average user (because of the price) in the near future. I can see it working in an office meeting or similar enviroment of a company that has enough money to use $100 bills as notepads or as part of Gates' future house, but nothing more, not yet.
This gives me (again) the idea that people inside Microsoft live in their own reality and expect the world around to adapt to them and not adapt to the current needs. I do believe the device is quite impressive, so is a giant robot, but i don't see myself using any of those in the real world.

Most of the demo suggest business uses-- cell phone sales, restaurant ordering, and auto loading of songs onto the Zune (that looked kind of cool BTW, finally a decent use for the WiFi). You can easily see businesses forking out the money for such a thing.

Also, it has the capability to revolutionize the CAD/CAM market. Just think of the kind of things use could do with Pro/E or Solidworks and a system like that. Considering that fifteen years ago, businesses were forking out $200K for good CAD workstations, it's certainly something that would sell.

Anyways, it'd be wonderful if they can actually pull it off, but MS has a record of promising things and not actually living up to what they promised (tablet pc, UMPC, or Vista, anyone?). But the demo look fairly functional, so I guess we'll have to wait and see.

05-30-2007, 08:22 PM

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9723647-1.html

05-30-2007, 08:38 PM

WOW... I gotta give it to Microsoft on this one.

That is a pretty neat Device.

05-30-2007, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by mraya

I like the idea of the UI, but i can't think of it as nothing more than a expensive toy. It is, after all, just a table with a screen (or a screen made a table), and that isn't very ergonomic for long hours of work, it would kill your neck and back. I doubt such system would be accesible to the average user (because of the price) in the near future...

This gives me (again) the idea that people inside Microsoft live in their own reality and expect the world around to adapt to them and not adapt to the current needs. I do believe the device is quite impressive, so is a giant robot, but i don't see myself using any of those in the real world.

I agree! It seems rather impractical for "real world" use.

05-30-2007, 11:35 PM

I agree to u to some extent, but then look at the other side of it. The whole commercial use for such a product is great, its convenient for the customer at a restaurant, and make things faster don't u think?

05-30-2007, 11:41 PM

I saw this over a year ago and I think it's interesting technology - especially for retailers or service oriented businesses. The criticisms that it's essentially Vista in a table and a touch screen are cruel and ignorant - a bit like saying iPod is just a portable HDD with a DSP attached - this thing has potential.

I don't think it's intended for hours of work and won't be replacing the trust notebook or desktop any time soon.