So long as you consider that a bad thing, good call.

Geez, that was fast, seems like only yesterday, they were showing it off in prototype.

@superchunk It is a touch-screen. Even better, It's multi-touch.

 Ten times the already huge price, and without that annoyingly convenient form factor! Get yours today!

 I give credit to MS for thinking outside the box, but the purpose of a table (surface to put things on) and the purpose of a display (something you need a clear view of to see things) seem inherently at odds to me. I'm sure some niche uses can be found, but I don't think even a reasonable price would get one of these into a majority of homes.

 PS - I want a tablet PC for DnD book pdfs. I'd rather not haul around a library with me.

This is so the worst tech idea I've seen in years....




....[waits for wii-like explosion of popularity].......[keeps waiting]....

 IIRC, it's mainly for the hospitality industry.  Order stuff from your table/room, play some chess while waiting for your food, plan out routes to take from your hotel room and pay your bill by dropping your CC onto the table is just some of the stuff I can remember from an article a while back.

I think its a horrible waste of money. Some businesses that have thousands of dollars to spend may buy them but I cannot see this in a house. Under almost any condition. Bad move by Microsoft, I think.

yeah cool cool but nah no thanks.

I like the idea of being on tables in restaurants. Menus would include pictures for everything and could be updated very easily. Search the web while you wait, play games like Galaga and Ms Pacman. Maybe even include video of whats going on in the kitchen so you know they are not f*cking with your food - they'll probably never do that one.

I wouldn't want one in my house though. Too much worry about what might damage it or spill on it. Plus I usually have so much sh*t on my table I wouldn't be able to see the screen.

I think its neat, but don't really see why I or anyone else would need one in their house.

Super chunk,

Microsoft surface does use cameras but they are underneath using calibrated infrared allowing for true multi touch and other applications like reading credit card numbers and thumb prints as signature. The table uses bluetooth and wifi to communicate with phones and cameras either to identify or segregate pictures and music and videos automatically or password protected and is a complete GUI system where no typing is required. It is not a word processor and it is not designed for that.
Purposes included true virtual EQs, Design apps, PoS(Point of Sale machines), Demo

Seems like a nice idea, very interesting. I think a 30 inch cellphone would've been cooler though.