Evil Empire just may have a Hit - Tabletop PC

[KYJACK]

I saw Microsoft's Bill Gates demo their new tabletop interactive PC display on NBC's Today Show. Looks impressive even if it is $5000!

(1st Link has video replay page)

New top-secret 'Surface' will change the way we look at computing
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18928656/
"May 30: Bill Gates gave TODAY's Paul Hochman an exclusive look at Surface, a table-shaped computer that responds to touch."

More Technical details
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/12530/1103/
"We may have already seen a demo of a table computer, but the version unveiled on NBC’s Today Show and at the D: All Things Digital conference is a vastly improved, self contained version that goes on sale this year!"

[JustRalph]

I am told this thing can steal pictures off of your camera from 30 feet away................that should be a hoot! put one in the mall and let people walk by with their phones and cameras.

[KYJACK]

I am told this thing can steal pictures off of your camera from 30 feet away................that should be a hoot! put one in the mall and let people walk by with their phones and cameras.Yup! In the video, they mentioned grabbling pictures via wireless from a camera!

Of even more concern (registration may be needed to read):

Security Questions Lurk Below Microsoft's 'Surface'
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2139056,00.asp?c=EWKNLEDP053107C
"Patrons will be able to order food in a restaurant by touching its image. Someday, after Microsoft partners work out the details, they'll also be able to pay for that meal by laying a credit card on the Surface or by using, for example, an associated magnetic stripe reader, an RFID-enabled credit card or NFC (near-field communication)— aka short-range wireless interaction"

Also:

Surface 101: Key Features of Microsoft’s 'Coffee Table' Computer (Slide Show)
http://www.eweek.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=&s=25950&a=208572&po=1,00.asp?p=y?kc=EWKNLEDP053107A

[Gibbon]

“code-named Milan” -- “Microsoft now calls Surface.”

So what's new? Apple demonstrated similar technology last January on their
now in production iPhone operating system.

Ever see Beryl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_(window_manager)) on Linux? Already available for free!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nKFYA86LxHc&mode=related&search=







_____________________________________
Barry Meadow ~
The Internet has vastly expanded the number of players who claim to be winners....On the typical handicapping message board, almost nobody admits they're consistent losers.

[KYJACK]

“code-named Milan” -- “Microsoft now calls Surface.”

So what's new? Apple demonstrated similar technology last January on their
now in production iPhone operating system.

Ever see Beryl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_(window_manager)) on Linux? Already available for free!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nKFYA86LxHc&mode=related&search=
Beryl does look like fun! I have to try it, if I ever get my planned Linux machine up and running!

But Beryl appears to be only a software package. The Microsoft "coffee-table" is interactive. It has a projector, touch sensors and cameras to detect user movements and pressures exerted on the 'surface'. Launch & view the video - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18928656/ It opens with a clip from the Tom Cruise movie "Minority Report" where he uses a virtual 3D computer display. The MS product is obviously not quite there, but it appears to be the directional goal for the future!

I not familiar with what Apple has done. Details?

Jack

[Gibbon]

KYJACK,

Of course you are correct. Beryl is a package add on. In the interest of fairness I am a Linux aficionado. Micro$oft could construct THE ENTERPRISE with warp drive capability and we in the Linux community would say Microsoft still sucks.

Naturally, the dilemma with Linux and Beryl are thousands of disparate programmers from around the world doing their own thing. It has been immeasurably difficult to bring the programmers all together on one project. This is why there are 350 distros of Linux available. Some such as “Slackware Linux” are painfully hard to use.

Did you know Dell is offering “Ubuntu Linux” as an alternative to Vista?
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs


iphone demonstration; Here (http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_id=YgW7or1TuFk&eurl=http%3A//www.google.com/search%3Fhl%3Den%26client%3Dopera%26rls%3Den%26hs% 3DC1D%26sa%3DX%26oi%3Dspell%26resnum%3D0%26ct%3Dre sult&iurl=http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/YgW7or1TuFk/2.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskL0MHs6osfaneVBnfIrjnWP)






_______________________________________
Choice is an illusion, created between those with power, and those without.

[Gibbon]

KYJACK,

Forgot to mention that MSNBC link. Microsoft own a large stake in the media company along with NBC.

Free advertising is great for those who can get it. But until the new technology is demonstrated outside a strictly controlled laboratory it's all vaporware (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware).

This decade is replete with untold promises from vaporware.







_____________________________________
Choice is an illusion, created between those with power, and those without.

[JustRalph]

KYJACK,

Of course you are correct. Beryl is a package add on. In the interest of fairness I am a Linux aficionado. Micro$oft could construct THE ENTERPRISE with warp drive capability and we in the Linux community would say Microsoft still sucks.


That's next year at CES! :lol: