Microsoft Surface...I want one!

HoeyHimself · 08-21-2007, 11:15 AM

Microsoft Surface

A table...a computer..touch screen landscape that allows seamless wireless wonder. Think, Minority Report..or The Island. Check it out..

Essentially Surface is a high powered computer built into a beautiful looking table with a 30-inch touch sensitive screen that can recognize objects placed on it. Using dynamic touch, infrared cameras, and physical objects, users can order food, browse photos, load their Zune with music, play games and a lot more. While it would be great to have one of these as the new coffee table in the house, Microsoft is targeting retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues with a price range of $5,000 to $10,000. Surface looks very cool, but can it beat tabletop Pac-Man? — Stephen Schleicher

Popular Mechanic's Video
http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...y/4217348.html

mgescuro · 08-21-2007, 11:19 AM

Yeah, a number of hotels have already purchased it.
It's nothing more than a fancy windows kiosk....
We'll see how it goes.

HoeyHimself · 08-21-2007, 11:20 AM

I dont know if this has ever been posted here or not, I dont recall seeing it. I heard about the Surface awhile ago, but never looked into it untill just today. Since becoming familier with the iPhone, the potential touch screen has is becoming more recognized. The Surface, and other future products like it should change the way users experience and get things done. I can see this being hugely popular in years to come...when price goes down and is directed towards the general public, I really think it will slim the gap between people in computer interaction. Justs looks so simple and effortless.

coaster.n3rd · 08-21-2007, 11:33 AM

I saw video of how it works a few months a go... One of the nicest interfaces I have ever seen.

igor · 08-21-2007, 12:00 PM

yup - it is a neat idea, althought I feel MS took the easy way out by using cameras to determine what is placed on top of it .. they should have developped some no-touch 2 cent passive chip that would idenitfy what is on the table or nearby .... making this truly a revolutionary technology.

Regardless - it is a beautiful interface and we shall see how and where it goes from here .. for now it is just a $5k commercial item .. but the plan is for a more mature future version to become the centerpiece of family entertainment ... board games, universal remote / entertainment content storage, etc ... it has tons of potential.

Igor

mgescuro · 08-21-2007, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igor

Regardless - it is a beautiful interface and we shall see how and where it goes from here .. for now it is just a $5k commercial item .. but the plan is for a more mature future version to become the centerpiece of family entertainment ... board games, universal remote / entertainment content storage, etc ... it has tons of potential.

Igor

Umm... Surface is like $10-15K.

igor · 08-21-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Umm... Surface is like $10-15K.

oh is it? I thought it was $5k.

thanks

Igor

Buick61 · 08-21-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Umm... Surface is like $10-15K.

Umm... The article says $5-10K. Hence the apparent confusion.

**zete** · 08-21-2007, 01:37 PM

Jeff Han's been doing this type of work for years. You can see some of his cool stuff here:

His research into multitouch screens, including a technical paper.
TED demo.
Large screen demo.

He's started a company, Perceptive Pixel. No news on if this is going anywhere, but the video on the home page is nice.

BTW, if you hunt around on the net you can find a lot of sites that show you how to build your own. It's not that expensive and uses commodity components.

paul8488 · 08-21-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgescuro

It's nothing more than a fancy windows kiosk...

Ummmm... yeah... but isn't that the point? I mean it's not like there are dozens others out there... for the regular computer user this is pretty darn cool, and something we haven't seen yet!

**Ming** · 08-21-2007, 01:50 PM

MUST watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrr7AZ9nCY

supraracer · 08-21-2007, 02:20 PM

I could see having one of these in my home in maybe 3-7 years. I've see one at Marriott. Very nice.

King Riffle · 08-21-2007, 07:56 PM

Neat. I see it being more useful for businesses than regular consumers though.

HoeyHimself · 08-21-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Riffle

Neat. I see it being more useful for businesses than regular consumers though.

It's pretty impressive, and when the cost drops down the road, I seriously think the idea will replace our current method of mouse, point, and click. This is the future of computers I believe. I mean, you can have an on screen keyboard, one thats capable of being resized..moved around..and hidden. And this is just scratching the surface, I am sure the hardware will be engineered over time to be more accomodating and practical..but the general idea seems too right to not invest it as what everyone will be using down the road. Not sure if it will always be cameras that are used to sense the placement of the hands...but like I said, the idea is perfect and really makes sense.

**Ming** · 08-21-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

This is the future of computers I believe.

To quote the video link I posted above: "The future is here, and its a big ass table. Take that, Apple!"

Quote:

MUST watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrr7AZ9nCY

08-21-2007, 11:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
HoeyHimself 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Drives: 2010 VW GTI Posts: 4,849	Microsoft Surface...I want one! Microsoft Surface A table...a computer..touch screen landscape that allows seamless wireless wonder. Think, Minority Report..or The Island. Check it out.. Essentially Surface is a high powered computer built into a beautiful looking table with a 30-inch touch sensitive screen that can recognize objects placed on it. Using dynamic touch, infrared cameras, and physical objects, users can order food, browse photos, load their Zune with music, play games and a lot more. While it would be great to have one of these as the new coffee table in the house, Microsoft is targeting retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues with a price range of $5,000 to $10,000. Surface looks very cool, but can it beat tabletop Pac-Man? — Stephen Schleicher Popular Mechanic's Video http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...y/4217348.html __________________

08-21-2007, 11:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
mgescuro R2-D2 Astromech Droid Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 28,185	Re: Microsoft Surface...I want one! Yeah, a number of hotels have already purchased it. It's nothing more than a fancy windows kiosk.... We'll see how it goes. __________________ 2000 Saab 9-5 Aero 1995 Mercedes C280 1994 Jaguar XJ6 ...when all hope is gone, you know sad songs say so much... GMReinvention.com Cadillac: The Art of Irrelevancy *SAN FRANCISCO 2020!!*

08-21-2007, 11:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
HoeyHimself 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Drives: 2010 VW GTI Posts: 4,849	Re: Microsoft Surface...I want one! I dont know if this has ever been posted here or not, I dont recall seeing it. I heard about the Surface awhile ago, but never looked into it untill just today. Since becoming familier with the iPhone, the potential touch screen has is becoming more recognized. The Surface, and other future products like it should change the way users experience and get things done. I can see this being hugely popular in years to come...when price goes down and is directed towards the general public, I really think it will slim the gap between people in computer interaction. Justs looks so simple and effortless. __________________

08-21-2007, 11:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
coaster.n3rd 6.2 Liter LS3 V8 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: 5,059 Miles SE of Dutch Harbor Drives: 2008 Saturn Aura XE 2.4 I-4 Posts: 3,989	Re: Microsoft Surface...I want one! I saw video of how it works a few months a go... One of the nicest interfaces I have ever seen. __________________ 'I've seen the next Cadillac STS replacement and it looks damn good... like a ****ing Bentley.' - Unclassified GM exec. 'I had no respect for the 55 mph limit and I took great delight in breaking the limit I can assure you.' www.32hours7minutes.com

08-21-2007, 12:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
igor 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,805	Re: Microsoft Surface...I want one! yup - it is a neat idea, althought I feel MS took the easy way out by using cameras to determine what is placed on top of it .. they should have developped some no-touch 2 cent passive chip that would idenitfy what is on the table or nearby .... making this truly a revolutionary technology. Regardless - it is a beautiful interface and we shall see how and where it goes from here .. for now it is just a $5k commercial item .. but the plan is for a more mature future version to become the centerpiece of family entertainment ... board games, universal remote / entertainment content storage, etc ... it has tons of potential. Igor __________________ Autosavant - Reimagined! The new www.autosavant.COM!

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08-21-2007, 01:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
zete GMI Staff Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NCR, Great White North Posts: 5,304	Re: Microsoft Surface...I want one! Jeff Han's been doing this type of work for years. You can see some of his cool stuff here: His research into multitouch screens, including a technical paper. TED demo. Large screen demo. He's started a company, Perceptive Pixel. No news on if this is going anywhere, but the video on the home page is nice. BTW, if you hunt around on the net you can find a lot of sites that show you how to build your own. It's not that expensive and uses commodity components.

08-21-2007, 01:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ming GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: An Alternate Timeline Posts: 14,684	Re: Microsoft Surface...I want one! MUST watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrr7AZ9nCY __________________ Follow WoH on Facebook Follow C64 Walkabout on Facebook Thanks! Last edited by Ming : 08-21-2007 at 01:55 PM.

08-21-2007, 02:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
supraracer 2.4 Liter SIDI ECOTEC Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tha D.M.V. Drives: 1992 Supra Turbo Posts: 482	Re: Microsoft Surface...I want one! I could see having one of these in my home in maybe 3-7 years. I've see one at Marriott. Very nice.

08-21-2007, 07:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
King Riffle 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: AFK Drives: 2004 Ford Taurus SES sedan. Posts: 4,181	Re: Microsoft Surface...I want one! Neat. I see it being more useful for businesses than regular consumers though. __________________

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