Microsoft's Prototype Multi-Touch Tablet/Booklet

[MH01]

Could they stop blatantly ripping off Apple now? This is really getting to be a bit much. I've never seen such a lack of creative thinking in my life. Microsoft is literally walking in the exact footsteps of Apple, hoping to cash in on every move they make. When will Microsoft realize that this entirely different company can't just emulate and duplicate Apple at every turn.

This has just got to stop. It's so annoying I can't express it. Obvious. Blatant. Ripoff...

Apple has stores? We want stores! Snow Leopard is $29? Windows 7 is $29! Apple's doing a Tablet? We're doing a Tablet!

Oh. My. God.

Please explain how they copied the Apple tablet with this? Given no one has seen even a prototype of the Apple tablet? I very much doubt the apple product will be made up of two screens. Apple does not invent everything in the whole world, they take current tech and apply innovation to it, its amazing how many individuals now think apple invented the touch surface due to the iphone, for gods sake learn to google.

Windows 7 is not $29! State your facts correctly, that is a student discount only, and incase you never went through university both Apple and M$ offer very nice Student discounts for a very long time.

The Apple tablet has not even been confirmed yet.

 

[acurafan]

oh me likey. a powerful business-class tablet...it looks nice too!

 

[MacMonster1985]

u better hope it comes with a 3 year extended warranty like the xbox

 

[crees!]

Product Schmoduct

Who cares about the product itself. What I enjoyed seeing were the interface/UI concepts. The use of a stylus for certain types of textual input demoed I agree with.

 

[MH01]

:up: PS3 is far superior and more reliable. MS is using abusing it's Windows monopoly to buy out developers. Typical M$ strategy. If you can't build a decent product, just throw money at it.

Sadly sony dropped the ball big time with the PS3, people wanted a powerful gaming console, they got a bl**dy expansive console that came with blueray that your gaming community did not care for. With the PS2 they owned the console market. Even sony has come out openly and admitted they stuffed up. Same as they did with the MP3 market.

M$ was smarter, make the HDD separate to the xbox, lowering the price of the console itself so the average gamer could afford it.

And nintendo cleaned up by being dirt cheap and fun. Something both Sony and M$ both forgot about in their rivalry for performance and features.

Sony got smoked by all.

 

[Xenious]

The frustrating thing is things from Microsoft's research labs are a lot like concept cars. They either never make it out or loose all the sexy when becoming production reality.

The concept however is very cool and looks quite useful. Makes me wonder what apple has planned.

 

[Stately]

Lol apples tablet will blow this away and that's not hate, it's the pure fact that Apple looks at the overall picture, ui/customer needs/aesthetics. They don't just throw things together to sell something. Albeit, the air in my opinion was not completely thought out and we could have done without it I beleive. Either make something like this smaller or larger but this method is ridiculous in terms of a pc. i.e. a huge split down the screen which is unsightly and made to lessen the blow of shortcomings as far as making the device truly portable. This is not a portable Nintendo game.

 

[cairnwalker]

Elegant design meets Neanderthal engineering

This is a very nice conceptualization, and a much-more user-driven design than anything else I've ever seen from Microsoft. In fact, it's hard to believe it even comes from Microsoft.

However, MS has a long history of attempting to keep up with competition by announcing products that "it's gonna' have someday" in hopes of forestalling purchase of "real, existing products" from competitors.

It is, however, an elegant demonstration of multitouch design, but it taxes credibility that it would run smoothly on top of Windows OS. And come on, handwriting recognition? Shouldn't they perfect keyboard input first?

Nice design, obviously outsourced to some design outfit much more creative than Microsoft. But an impending trainwreck, should Redmond engineers ever get their hands on it for production.

Great demo, but with their track record, it's only vaporware until proven otherwise.

 

[MacMonster1985]

Sadly sony dropped the ball big time with the PS3, people wanted a powerful gaming console, they got a bl**dy expansive console that came with blueray that your gaming community did not care for. With the PS2 they owned the console market. Even sony has come out openly and admitted they stuffed up. Same as they did with the MP3 market.

M$ was smarter, make the HDD separate to the xbox, lowering the price of the console itself so the average gamer could afford it.

And nintendo cleaned up by being dirt cheap and fun. Something both Sony and M$ both forgot about in their rivalry for performance and features.

Sony got smoked by all.

Ps3 is the mac of the console world. Xbox the pc, cheap and unreliable. unfortunately people fall for the cheap products without ever considering the total cost of ownership. just like pcs, you spend all your time fixing it so at the end of the day, the total cost of ownership of an xbox is so much higher than a ps3.

but of course, M$ has a monopoly in OS and can use it to throw money on the xbox program.

People should learn that cheaper is not always the best. what's suprising is that even most of the mac users here have an xbox. they went with mac for quality and should have gone with ps3 for quality as well.

 

[VoR]

Better hardware doesn't mean anything if its keeps breaking down and if the software doesn't taken advantage of the hardware. That's the same reason why Macs are so much better than PCs with similar hardware. PCs keep breaking down a lot and Windows is bloated compared to OS X.

Utter tosh

I was under the impression that the xbox has been fine reliability wise since the 'hdmi' versions released a fair while ago, I also thought that some of these warranty statistics were complete rubbish. Would you like to compare the repairs/returns policy (and real world experiences...) between MS and sony?
You're comparing 'software taking advantage of hardware' between the xbox and ps3? Ok...
PCs keep breaking down a lot? Is this what you and you're mac user friends sit about and discuss? Macs are pcs, they're using the same components and I would say have a much worse warranty service than many of the other big name computer manufacturers. People can post as many 'consumer reports' that I've never used/seen/heard of (that often seem to differ anyway?) but in my experience, it's the other way round hardware wise.
I'd agree that osx is a bit more tolerant to novice users clicking randomly on the internet and installing all kinds of malware/apps without reading documentation compared to windows. I'd hardly call a windows sytem bloated though...Seeing as your interested in consoles, would you like to compare 3d performance between osx and windows? - Ignoring the infinitely more limited hardware options and the (bugged?) 10.6 opengl performance on the osx side of course.

 

[kdarling]

Speaking of which don't apple have copyright to the pinch effect?

No. Not even close. Apple copied it from others. Dates back to at least 1982.

I know this is just a mock up video, but that doesn't look anything like any M$ OS. I laughed when she said "Home Button" I find it funny that it looks like the iPhone Home button.

I'd say rather that Apple used an MS concept. Every MS based computer or phone has a main menu key, whereas Apple has always depended on a multi-use menubar.

But the paradigm MS is using is still a business one -- from the demo, it doesn't appear to be designed for average home users or students.

Yes, the power and the weakness of MS is that they do often cater to either business users or gamers. Nothing in-between.

I presume everyone's seen some of the famous MS future concept videos, like this short version of their so-called 2019 vision.

In some ways, it's too bad that MS is mostly a software company. If they were an integrated company like Apple, making hardware as well, we might see much more of their R&D in action.

As it is, I think the main failing is that MS ODM/OEMs are usually too cheap to do stuff on their own. Some major exceptions are HP with their TouchSmart, and now HTC with their custom WinMo and Android UIs.

 

[MikeDTyke]

I have to say i really like this design, even with the blatant rip offs of Apple's UI animations and the home button. Show's at least their following what works in rather than yet another 'START' button.

For those that haven't seen the rest of the mockup pictures it does fold in half to look like a book with status indicators for email, battery etc along the edge.

What this design cleverly enables is the ability to pull source material from one application into another ie. web browser into the journal app without the need for a adjustable windows, this is very much a modal interface, just like the iPhone. They used the perfect example task of creating a journal of materials from multiple sources. It would be ideal for student study.

The design would be significantly more expensive to produce than the mythical apple tablet and battery life for 2 screens would be a particular concern.

In terms of the protection offered by the folding screens, i suspect apples perspective would be to provide the naked device and let the market deliver a myriad of folio like covers. That way people can personalize it without Apple having to deliver multiple colours and the 3rd parties can add value by providing business card pockets, pen holders, external keyboard, extended battery and what not within the cover.

Also the single screen is more appropriate if you consider the device as not only a portable netbook replacement to take with but also a digital picture frame, airtunes remote, aux screen/trackpad for a desktop.

 

[inlovewithi]

... but it runs on a MS operating system.

I'm sure people will love the blue left page of death.

Wasn't the blue screen a death a 90s thing. Windows 98, 95, etc? I bought a macbook but some of these outdated comments that get constantly repeated over and over are really antagonizing. Why not just like a product regardless of the brand, rather than being obsessed with one. We're in 2009.

 

[bearcatrp]

Since when does Microsoft ever design something, this...great?

Same time they developed this..http://******************/product/microsoft-surface . Microsoft Surface. Putting this technology into a tablet is just great. No more heavy bags that kids have to lug around on there backs. This technology should have been done 10 years ago. It was available, not quite as good as now, but still was there. Guess we will see what apple can do to beat it. A folding tablet will beat any flat tablet.

 

[sths-gr]

Why does this remind me of the iPhone?? Home button, enlarge photos.. Sure it has many new features but the title INSPIRATION doesn't apply IMO..

 

[Padraig]

Utter tosh

I was under the impression that the xbox has been fine reliability wise since the 'hdmi' versions released a fair while ago, I also thought that some of these warranty statistics were complete rubbish. Would you like to compare the repairs/returns policy (and real world experiences...) between MS and sony?
You're comparing 'software taking advantage of hardware' between the xbox and ps3? Ok...
PCs keep breaking down a lot? Is this what you and you're mac user friends sit about and discuss? Macs are pcs, they're using the same components and I would say have a much worse warranty service than many of the other big name computer manufacturers. People can post as many 'consumer reports' that I've never used/seen/heard of (that often seem to differ anyway?) but in my experience, it's the other way round hardware wise.
I'd agree that osx is a bit more tolerant to novice users clicking randomly on the internet and installing all kinds of malware/apps without reading documentation compared to windows. I'd hardly call a windows sytem bloated though...Seeing as your interested in consoles, would you like to compare 3d performance between osx and windows? - Ignoring the infinitely more limited hardware options and the (bugged?) 10.6 opengl performance on the osx side of course.

Bit of advice Vor - Don't feed the trolls. You'll have a happier life.

 

[MacMonster1985]

Why does this remind me of the iPhone?? Home button, enlarge photos.. Sure it has many new features but the title INSPIRATION doesn't apply IMO..

What do you expect from M$. When was the last time they came up with ANYthing original.

Zune = ipod copy
Windows = OS X copy
Xbox = PS2 copy
Office = Lotus copy

There is absolutely nothing in M$ inventory that they didn't copy off someone else.

 

[Oman]

Think about...

If this hit the market at the same time as an Apple tablet, the Apple Tablet will be more popular and retails sales will be far greater than this device, however this device by Microsoft is built more for schools and e-books than a tablet would be. Students could store all their books on this device, and from what I see, the way it would work is, the student open the book by clicking on it and it would display like a regular book. The user would click on the left page for the pages to turn and the next two pages would display. Can you imagine the savings?

This is trully where the future is headed, no more books, no more book bags, one device with all the books preloaded and books will be updated as needed when new editions are issued. This bioggest problem will be the publishers, however if a big company like Mcgraw Hill get behind this device its a wrap, these will be in most schools by 2015.

 

[Masquerade]

insanely cool. really this is breaktaking.

 

[Masquerade]

What do you expect from M$. When was the last time they came up with ANYthing original.

Zune = ipod copy
Windows = OS X copy
Xbox = PS2 copy
Office = Lotus copy

There is absolutely nothing in M$ inventory that they didn't copy off someone else.

engineers move around, ideias don't came without a past, brandings are only names demanding money.
m$ app$e n$ke loves your wallet.

 

[zarusoba]

It's a nice movie.

I've seen a lot of nice movies.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Lol apples tablet will blow this away and that's not hate, it's the pure fact that Apple looks at the overall picture, ui/customer needs/aesthetics. They don't just throw things together to sell something.

I hope this is the case, but you have to admit Apple has not been particularly innovative since the iPhone announcement. In fact, I think you could say, of late, they have been throwing things together to sell something.

 

[bearcatrp]

If this hit the market at the same time as an Apple tablet, the Apple Tablet will be more popular and retails sales will be far greater than this device, however this device by Microsoft is built more for schools and e-books than a tablet would be. Students could store all their books on this device, and from what I see, the way it would work is, the student open the book by clicking on it and it would display like a regular book. The user would click on the left page for the pages to turn and the next two pages would display. Can you imagine the savings?

This is trully where the future is headed, no more books, no more book bags, one device with all the books preloaded and books will be updated as needed when new editions are issued. This bioggest problem will be the publishers, however if a big company like Mcgraw Hill get behind this device its a wrap, these will be in most schools by 2015.

The big problem with this is the politics. Who's going to make money off of it. Instead of thinking of education, they think how much they can get out of schools and tax payers. I know schools with laptops only, and working out very well. This device it the ultimate product for schools. Who give's a rats @!& who makes it, get it going and deploy it.

 

[EagerDragon]

Wow

M$ is not well known for inovation or human interfaces.

Yet this mockup product looks a lot like something that would have been designed by Apple. If this makes it to market and it works as seen on the video, IMHO it will be a sucessful product.

After seeing this I wonder what Apple is coming out with that will top this mockup. Obviously it will integrate with mobileme, iPhone, ical, addressbook, etc. But it has to go further than that as M$ can always integrate with Exchange and get similar integration.

I always though of an Apple tablet in a booklet format in order to protect the screen, but never considered haveing a second screen in the inside of the cover. IMHO this is mockup is allowing you to keep the right side of the screen as pure main display and moving most of the controls to the left screen. This is similar to working with to video displays on a desktop.

I must congratulate M$ on this and ask Apple ...... How you going to beat that?

 

[leandroc76]

It's certainly better than a Trapper Keeper.

Posts like these is why I keep hitting the "next" button in long winded threads. This is a gem. It's got nostalgia, sarcasm and undertones of utter hatred of Microsoft, all tightly packaged in a neat little sentence!

Thanks mugwump, that just made my day!