Microsoft’s Surface computer will make its commercial debut April 17 in AT&T stores in New York City, Atlanta, San Antonio and San Francisco.
Microsoft first unveiled the Surface back in May 2007; the coffee-table like computer allows touch screen interaction with various surfaces, can recognize objects places on it and even interact with things like mobile phones.
AT&T said it planned to use the Surface to allow customers “to learn about the growing universe of mobile applications and devices.”
I had the opportunity to have a quick play with a Surface earlier this year and it’s one of the cooler things to come out of Redmond in the last 12 months, but I can’t help but wonder: isn’t putting a Surface in an AT&T store like driving an Aston Martin into a Ghetto? To be fair, interacting with a Surface at an AT&T store will be better than trying to interact with AT&T staff; not only will it be quicker (even if you queue for an hour to use it), it will actually be more polite and be able to explain the product its offering competently.
A demo video from May as follows:
I can’t wait to purchase and configure my iPhone on (a?) Surface.
A second April Fools? haha
This website has awesome posts…
But back to the subject, I think Microsoft Surface is amazing, and sounds very affordable for the level of productivity.
Duncan,
How would you know the experience of an AT&T store sitting in Australia? Maybe you like them sheila’s better down under at your telstra dumps? When Telstra does something useful or when Australia even makes one useful product you can pick on a company that gave you the telephone and is a 100+ years old and still going strong. Want to bet that AT&T outlives your $hitty life?
Loren #2 no.
Patrick, unfortunately there’s no T-Mobile coverage at TC HQ so I use a AT&T sim every time I’m there. AT&T stores and phone support make Telstra look good.
I tend to bash Microsoft quite a bit. But “surface” is absolutely amazing.
I love the ablilty to send photos from digital camera to pda/cell phone in an instant.
Imagine this in 5 years time when there are other players and the cost drops right down
Amazing.
Not clear by your story but will we be able to buy Surface or will it just be used as an in-store display?
microsoft surface absolutely amazing and i think one of the gr8 things that microsoft has ever developed .
watting for when surface will come to india
How many components will this new gizmo have? Infra red cameras and all? Sounds heavy….or rather looks like the gizmo is beefed up with April fool hype!
tagami
sorry, by “commercial rollout” I meant as an instore sales tool, not ready to buy yet
like driving an aston martin to the ghetto? Um….
fyi anyone can buy it, it cost around $10,000.
This reminded me of how Apple Inc. brings Multi-touch to the main stream with the iPhone and slowly with their laptops. Microsoft totally takes the cakes with this product and with a lot of products, only the early adopters will really enjoy this product for now until it can ‘dumbed’ down for the masses. I think upscale businesses would benefit from this (business outside of major corporations) and this technology is so radical that it needs some more time to make it more commercial.
I remember seeing this technology back in 2005. Back then it was mind blowing and raw, glad to see it has evolved.
Not an April fools joke – reported on microsoft.com 3 days ago.
I was very impressed when I saw the demo video an year ago. Cannot wait to get my hands on it but I guess will have to wait longer
rk
http://theindia...t.blogspot.com/
I want it, and I want it now =). But seriously this looks amazing, and it blows my mind everytime I see it.
http://www.collegemogul.com
Amazing surface… i got flat
congrats …
As far as the cost is concern, I think it would remain untouched by common people. The corporate customers might be only on the focus group.
that is simply too cool, i am in love with this idea, wow,
you guys can diss by the way
Sorry for the off-topic but, anybody who claims today’s AT&T has anything in common with the original company begs not only the question “whatcha smoking?” but also, “whatcha sniffing, putting on your tongue, brewing in your tea, mainlining, and what’s in that balloon?”
“that gave you the telephone and is a 100+ years old and still going strong”
I guess SBC wins the Switcharoo Branding award for the century.
Funny enough, there is some research that shows people trust the telcos. I don’t know why or how, but that is what I’ve read and it blew my mind.
Does anyone like or trust Verizon or AT&T?
I hate them, and would only trust them with as much as absolutely required to use their highly-taxed pipe.
Microsoft Surface is really cool.
Can’t wait to see it in Taiwan.
快來台灣吧!
Despite my personal (unflattering) opinion of AT&T, it’s a great coup for the company – first iPhone, now the Surface, they’re doing a good job aligning with cool products. Probably some re-branding is in the works?!
agree, this is some of the greatest things coming out of Redmond recently.
Soon you’ll be able to control a regular PC/Mac using gestures on a touch pad. We’re (Sima Systems) developing a touch pad similar to a mouse pad in size, shape and feel. Our patented multi-touch technology integrated with a pad will allow you to use gestures to control OS and applications. You can also type directly on the pad to provide text input (keyboard functionality with tactile feedback) and write with your finger, or any regular pen.
For more info, contact us at: info [at] simasystems [dot] com
I look forward to the bugs.
M$ is soooooooo boooooring they have nothing to impress us besides, hmm, never mind, nothing.
this is very exciting and looking forward to it. It reminds me of a cool touch system I saw being used by BMW and at a movie theater in Ann Arbor. Apparently it said it was powered by innotive.com. Very cool stuff. I guess minority report the movie is finally a reality.
Well I’ll just have to drop by an AT&T store to see the Surface.. not for the phones!
The “San Francisco” AT&T store is actually going to be one in San Bruno.
Whoever planned that out is a complete idiot. Yeah, a few Silicon Valley nerds will drive to see Surface in person, but if the goal is to gather and impress a bunch of foot traffic the way the Apple store in SF does, they should have picked a location around Union Square or maybe the Marina.
http://www.att....s-room?pid=2604
Were to buy Surface????
i cant believe they aren’t in australia!
i checked the website and it had all these countries
BUT NOT AUSTRALIA!
anyways will it work if i bought an american version?