MS Surface v2.0


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$7,600 USD for a Surface 2, apparently.

That's... not entirely out of the realm of consideration for some families. Still a bit out of reach of the majority but the fact that it's come down so much is a good sign for the future. Mass market adoption in the corporate sector could see future revisions and lower end models actually reach a price point that makes it a real consideration for a rich geek's gaming room.

Mainly I'm just shocked that Microsoft managed to do something innovative.
 

I'm shocked that it still has so little penetration into mind-space, since the first surface was wowing people YEARS ago. They have the superpower of being unable to capitalise on their best work!
 

Yeah, you can't help but think that Apple will be releasing a more user-friendly and more stable version shortly. Or perhaps someone will release a cheaper version using a system like the virtual keyboard like this:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0qARDGJj1w]Celluon Magic Cube - World's only virtual projection keyboard and multi-touch mouse - YouTube[/ame]
 

I'm shocked that it still has so little penetration into mind-space, since the first surface was wowing people YEARS ago. They have the superpower of being unable to capitalise on their best work!
Maybe it just isn't that awesome after all?

Well, the tech is cool, but what do I use it for?

The current price point means you can't really afford to have it at home. Just like an iPad, it can't replace a regular computer, a gaming console or a TV set, but it's far more expensive than either of that (very much unlike a touch pad). So it's a new product for a new niche, but is the niche large enough to justify the price?

It seems it is something that has a place in a showroom (and that can be commercially viable - maybe it already is? I don't know) or maybe some conference rooms (but at least the first surface was surprisingly small, so maybe not), and maybe some exclusive hotels, bars or restaurants. But it's just not something you could easily place at home.

Maybe it can work well for Microsoft in the contextes it's affordable and works, but it's not exactly a device for you at home.

If it could be had for 700 $ (or even €), I could consider putting it in my home. I am sure there are some forms of new entertainment (or presenting old entertainment in a new, compelling form) that I could put it too good use. But at the current price point, it doesn't work.
 

I'm shocked that it still has so little penetration into mind-space, since the first surface was wowing people YEARS ago. They have the superpower of being unable to capitalise on their best work!

I'm not as all surprised. As Mudstrum mentioned, the surface is cool, but simply isn't a consumer-market product yet. The price is too darned high for the functionality it delivers.
 

I was super-excited when the original came out and a couple of years later I got to play with one for several hours. No question that it was cool, but the software just wasn't... great. It was neat, but if I'd had multiple millions of extra dollars lying around I wouldn't have actually bought one for what it cost. Maybe the new version fixes that.
 

I'm not as all surprised. As Mudstrum mentioned, the surface is cool, but simply isn't a consumer-market product yet. The price is too darned high for the functionality it delivers.

You guys miss my point. I never expressed surprise it didn't do anything in the consumer space. My point is that it was a genuine innovation in massively multitouch hardware and software. Considerably more impressive technically than anything apple has produced, yet they lacked the ability to capitalise on it.
 

You guys miss my point.

I think you miss my point - you cannot capitalize on a technical development unless you can find a suitable market for said development. It doesn't matter how good your new turnip twaddler is, if nobody needs their turnips twaddled.

Lacking a foothold in the consumer market is a major blow to most new display/interaction technologies.
 

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