Microsoft Unveils 'Surface Computer'
Listen close, Ms. Pac-Man: your days as reigning queen of the computer-screen-as-table scene are up, bitch! Today Microsoft unveiled its new product, the coffee-table-inspired "surface computer" that aims to fulfill Bill Gates' dream of a future where mouse and keyboard give way to finger, voice, and pen. Naturally, I'm a huge fan of anything that gives way to a finger, but this hot daddy claims to empower your fingertips to do everything from painting to solving jigsaw puzzles to ordering dinner from a digital menu.
My first thought was: how is this different from a PC with a touch-screen turned on its ass? And who wants a 150lb computer that stares at the ceiling? The answer seems to lie in how the new contraption will be used - if it founds a new category of computing and capitalizes upon cool future-tech such as the surface computer's ability to recognize and interact with devices placed on its surface (set down a cell phone and buy ring tones; plop down your digicam and show the whole table your vacation pics), that could all spell big bucks for Microsoft.
The new PC comes from an undisclosed contract manufacturer (secrets!) and sports Windows Vista, and looks like Microsoft's rejoinder to the resounding ambivalence with which the world has treated the tablet PC. I admit I'm still trying to soak up exactly what this bad boy does, but for now it looks freaking rad. Will it take off? Take a look and let us know what you think - solid gold or pipe dream?
Microsoft unveils coffee table 'surface computer' [CNN]
tiny dancer
Posted to Hot Stuff, Miscellany on 30 May 2007
· Comments (8)
Other stuff like this: microsoft, surface computer
Mmm.. Minority Report. I can't wait until it drops below $10k or $5k... or $1k.
...don't forget the custom-lasered mahogany balls!
ummm, for now? pipe dream.
I never forget about the balls...
But seriously, folks. =)
I wanted to make my own name printed on a red ball but i can't figure out how to do that!
Apple has this exact same thing patented, it just uses different cameras.. .>.
Link or it didn't happen Alice.
I actually think this is really neat. I know there are a lot of people out there that are going to call it a gimmick and wail on Microsoft, as they always do. And perhaps the machines won't catch on, I could see that.
But damn, these things are cool. I can't wait to see them start popping up in restaurants and hotels.
Wait, I'm poor, I don't go to restaurants or hotels. Oh well, at least I can stare at them through the glass like a gay little pauper.
Apple patent example:
http://news.worldofapple.com/archives/2006/02/08/multi-touch-interaction-video/
in the iPhone keynote steve jobs showed off the multi-touch display on the iPhone (the first product that will be released with this ability) and said "and boy have we patented it".
about the usage of cameras in displays like the table:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/26/apple-patent-embeds-thousands-of-cameras-among-lcd-pixels/
tiny dancer- you write so hilariously. I love your posts