Microsoft Announces Surface Computer

this new surface computer is soo freakin awesome, I can't wait until I can buy one for $1,000 and put it in my living room.

This is sweet technology, but I don't like to see Microsoft getting so much press for it. There have been smaller companies with working prototypes of this for a long time.

I like the idea of playing games around this device. It could provide a sense of nostalgia for those old tabletop video games in restaurants like Galaga. Boardgames for sure would be cool: Monopoly, Risk, Scrabble, The Game of Life.

On the other hand, since I work in IT Construction I could see using this surface to collaborate over CAD drawings. Or the frontend for a building automation system. Or as a console in a large Data Center. It will be interesting to see what other ideas are spawned from this technology.

I also covered Microsoft Surface at my blog and added other ideas for its use. Leon's Blog

I like the idea of playing games around this device. It could provide a sense of nostalgia for those old tabletop video games in restaurants like Galaga. Boardgames for sure would be cool: Monopoly, Risk, Scrabble, The Game of Life.

On the other hand, since I work in IT Construction I could see using this surface to collaborate over CAD drawings. Or the frontend for a building automation system. Or as a console in a large Data Center. It will be interesting to see what other ideas are spawned from this technology.

I also covered Microsoft Surface at my blog and added other ideas for its use. Leon's Blog

Wow that was amazing when they threw the picture into the phone =O.

I like it. I love it. Only problem is, where do I put all the stuff I have on my coffee tables? I am all for multiple interactive residential surfaces. When I heard about the fridge that shows on its door what is inside I thought, whoo-hoo! But now it has to stay spotless in there. Not a bad idea at all.

i actually did a similar post in early May related to this. it has a different video http://desinotes.com/microsofts-digidesk-of-the-fu...

I was reading about this earlier today. Exciting stuff.

I read somewhere that T-Mobile is considering to use them as promotional tools for their phones.

Maybe now your dining room table can have wallpaper.

Hmmm. Multi-Toutch? Where have I heard that before??? hmmmm

The software for this kind of stuff has a long way to go.

Very interesting, the future of computing is great!

Question #1 is: What about fingerprints?

What a potential nightmare!

- Mike

For home use it looks good exactly for what the video shows: organizing photos.

Another application is airline check-ins

and passport control maybe

but I can't see this working

Looks like a large iPhone...

Yeah, but will it hold up my Mother-In-Law when she decides to use my coffee table as a step stool to hang pictures?

:arrow: Don

Wow, that would be fun to have :)

*Secert plots to steal it* lol

Doh, I was following this "big announcement" yesterday but forgot to check back into it today.

Seems pretty neat from the video; much more so than the "kiddie table" that some tech sites were making it out to be.

Although, im not real sure that there is a strong market for something like this yet. Plus, the price tag will certainly keep it out of the hands of "regular" consumers for a while...

this is definitely ground breaking and it will be interesting to see how it evolves and becomes more compact with time and finds its way in consumer households

Very nice, it reminds me of Tom Cruise moving his hands in the air in the movie "Minority report". :smile:

Looks like the computers from the movie Minority Report.

Nice. I found another video with Bill Gates introducing the Surface however I couldn't get it to stream. I think this one is a bit more complete in description as well.

I think Surface is very cool technology and the uses of it are only limited by your imagination. I think it truly shines when integrated with other devices and services such as phones, cameras, mp3 players, credit cards, etc.

I can picture hotels using these devices to ease check-in and check-out procedures and possibly include one in every room to help with ordering room service and to function as a quasi-concierge. Restaurants should and will make use of this technology to enhance the dining experience. Waiters and waitresses, on the other hand, may not like the technology because it leaves them to only bussing tables and not taking orders from customers...unless of course the Surface table suffers from the ill-fated Blue Screen of Death.

The problem will be finding a market for it. It's the same issue that the tablet PC and PDAs are struggling with. Contrast that with the heroin like spread of blackberrys.

You need to serve a need rather than just create new hardware because you can now. If it doesn't meet a need, you're just creating another thing that people aren't going to know what to do with and as a result, they won't buy it.

I do have to say though that while the restaurant applications are significant, durability will make this DOA unless they've come up with something to deal with that.

Funny quote in the paper about this

"This computer allows you to control the contents of your screen with your hands".

Remind me: what does a keyboard and mouse do?

It's perfect for offices (advertising, marketing, architecture, fashion), show rooms, high-end restaurants, hotels -- the possibilities are endless.

Its cool, but what will anyone use it for? I guess you could search the internet while drinking at a bar or powering down an omelet at a restaurant. Nah.

I have always been in love with geeky guys... bill gates rule them all.

And it recognizes the coffee cup ooops!!! :mrgreen:

i have no doubt that Microsoft pointy headed manager types will turn this cool tech into a worthless pile of junk.

Dang, Microsoft can make some pretty neat stuff. I wonder what an Apple version of this baby would look like?

Is good the Microsoft Surface. The problem will be the price.

cool!

That is sooo cool, I want one!

Slowly but surely tech companies are eliminating components, such as cables, from devices like cameras.

Will be interesting so see how far they take the product.

The Techcrunch link is broken.

Until I see "real" people using it I will not be impressed.

I'm also waiting for the killer app that needs this thing.