Microsoft Unveils New Computer And Application

Microsoft Unveils New Computer And Application

www.timesdaily.com

Microsoft Corp. has taken the wraps off "Surface," a coffee-table shaped computer that responds to touch and to special bar codes attached to everyday objects.

The machines, which Microsoft planned to debut Wednesday at a technology conference in Carlsbad, Calif., are set to arrive in November in T-Mobile USA stores and properties owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Harrah's Entertainment Inc.

(visit the link for the full news article)


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From what I read with this, the new technology is really very limited, but it is being packaged a lot different. Different is such a way that what a lot of science fiction writers in the past would have written about might become much more common place. Surface is a P.C. mounted in a coffee table with a touch screen that can detect and use multiple touch locations. It can also read a bar code printed on a device or a credit card. On application that will be in hotels is to sit down at the coffee table and order a meal from the restaurant, place your key card on the surface and the meal will be charged to your room. On does not need to look to far past this to see more possible applications. Like why not have it read your finger print when touching the screen? Or have the NWO bar code tattooed to your palm in UV ink?

www.timesdaily.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Microsoft is on the downswing. I've seen the table top atari based games do the same thing - 14 years ago.

Microsoft is no longer on the cutting edge - linux desktop distros are smacking Vista, OGL 2.0 is superior to DX10 and even the most die hard fans (like me) don not enjoy seeing MS trying to bring $5,000 rigs in line with the X-Box 360.

I hope MS has something better to offer - hardcore gamers are leaving left and right (sorry, won't pay $400 for an OS), linux is cheaper platform as a server (cost of ownership) - only saving grace at this point is office, in which most are turned off by the 2007 interface.

It's no suprise that 78% of Vista sales are due to free upgrade coupons. Truly garbage.

Crisko,
You do sound like you know what your talking about but harsh words all the same. What I believed to be what makes this system sound different is that it will be able to read a bar code from an object placed on its surface and still be able to take and manipulate multiple inputs from its surface sensors.
As stated in the news report this is not for the home user yet. However I just don't see this becoming something the home user would want yet either. If it had voice interaction with control of all appliances in addition to the surface yes maby, but not as it stands.
So yes the gamers are leaving Microsoft, but what about the business applications?

Sorry if my words sound harsh, but lets look at it...

Touch screen technology that both you and I have
enjoyed with our PDA's for over 10 years and barcode technology that has been around even longer.

It's nothing more than combining and re-branding.

Yes, it is cool - but they could at least call it what it is - instead of trying to claim it.

Also - who is going to buy this sorta stuff and use it daily?

EDIT: lots of :w: for me tonight, silly typos. Hey - where my stars go!!






[edit on 30-5-2007 by crisko]

Crisko,
I don't mind the harsh words, was just commenting that they were harsh, and yes you do seem to know whats going on in the tech. world better then I do.
Yes I did state that there is really very little new technology in this new device, it is just packaged differently. As to who will be using it, Starwood hotels plans to put it in there lobbies. That was on the news story.
As to this device being in places like restaurants is just my idea of something that might come to be.

As a former Dell employee, one of 4 who managed to get linux offered with all server sales (and has since spread to all high-end desktops and laptops) - ditch MS and learn Linux ASAP. I suggest your start with ubuntu.

Crisko,
Ok you said high end desk tops and note books. So do the Linux machines have there own environment similar to windows?
When you say to learn Linux just want to make sure you are talking about the user operations?
Since they are high end I also take it the cost a bunch more then the PC or Apple machines?

Doesn't sound the least bit new or innovative at all.

* yawn *

How often are they going to have to around rebooting these Windows monstrosities?

Not that this is the most innovative thing ever, but I think its pretty cool and useful.

I read about this first in yesterdays USA Today paper at work. In a few years after the costs of making it go down, Bill Gates estimates that it will be a multibillion dollar income for Microsoft. (Not that they need it....)

The most popular place you'll start seeing these (within the next 10 years in my opinion) will be restaraunts. You will now be able to order your food from the table top and while you wait you can play games on it. I dont think this will entirely replace Waitresses and waiters, because someone still needs to bring you your food. So i dont think it will even hinder jobs all that much, and it will only be creating more jobs in the long run.

One more way Bill Gates will own us all. In Gates We Trust

TJ Shultz
You should read the posts by criscko early in this thread. He firmly believes that Microsoft is on the down swing because of better OS out there. I don't necessarily feel that way but I do believe no one is to big to be brought down.

I can beleive it. I just changed my OS to Ubuntu. However, Microsoft will not go down without a fight.