Microsoft's Prototype Multi-Touch Tablet/Booklet

[nagromme]

People have made lots of folding-screen mockups, and the idea IS pretty cool. Is it practical, desirable, and better than a thinner single screen? Maybe, maybe not, but definitely cool!

Of course, the devil is in the details (and especially the software/UI) and my expectations from Microsoft are low, compared to what I'd expect Apple to create. (Think Zune HD vs. iPod Touch.)

 

[millerrh]

I know it's microsoft, but this thing is innovative and a really fresh take on the tablet. Touch + Pen = the only way a tablet can work IMO. Something like this actually might be a regular notepad replacement with a whole lot of extra functionality. Looking forward to the future If this is microsofts entry, i can only imagine what apple has in store.

 

[powers74]

Haardware

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

They don't, they farm it out to firms like Astro Studios. See --> http://www.astrostudios.com/projects/archive/?client=xbox

 

[simsandwhich]

Watch the video if you wanna know why there's a stylus!

YouTube link here

 

[Cask]

Fanboys are really funny. Dismissing a possible MS product in favor of a nonexistant yet but long rumored Apple tablet. And claiming that MS will lose market share on this to Apple.......yeah right......Only thing Apple has outsold Microsoft is iPods. On Personal Computers Apple has never come close, and now with Win 7 fixing Vista's mistakes the outlook for MS looks better than ever. Zune HD, Win 7, Bing, Office 2010.......all promise to be quality products, and this tablet could be an amazing one, especially if they use Win 7 which is a really solid base with proper multitouch implementation and adapted to a device like this. Looking forward for seeing this in action along with a possible tablet device from Apple, competition with this kind of stuff could certainly get interesting.

 

[SLCentral]

Wow, this forum has really changed compared to a few years ago...disappointing. Let's blindly bash a product because it is made by Microsoft, compare it to a product that has no confirmation of even being DESIGNED, and even go as far as saying that it will be released AFTER aforementioned product.

Come on guys, grow up. The Zune HD looks like an awesome MP3 player, the 360 won this console war generation (rightfully so), and Windows 7 is a damn good OS. Time to get off the pedestal, and move on from this lame Microsoft hating. It hasn't been justified for months, if not years.

 

[.Andy]

Watch the video if you wanna know why there's a stylus!

YouTube link here

Very nice. I dig how the toolbar pops up.

 

[nkawtg72]

i'm an Apple fanboy and i think this is pretty cool. the only real reason i'd not want it is it would be based on a Windows OS.

also, i'm curious as to when all the anti-apple crowd folks on here are going to call it an epic fail (see iPhone/iPod Touch) because of its total lack of a keyboard!!!!! hello?!?!?! (insert crickets here)

thought so.

 

[millerrh]

They don't, they farm it out to firms like Astro Studios. See --> http://www.astrostudios.com/projects/archive/?client=xbox

Most companies hire outside industrial design firms for projects such as this. Apple is a rarity that they have this internally. Dell hires outside help as well.

 

[jaw04005]

Microsoft is very much a platform company. Therefore, I don’t expect this to materialize as a shipping product anytime soon.

It is an awesome concept though. Like many of their other concepts, who knows if their third-party partners will actually ship anything like it. Judging from past history (just think of all concepts they’ve showed at CES over the years), I wouldn’t bet on it.

However, it’s good to see competition in this space. Bill Gates declared the TabletPC the PC of the future years ago. It’ll be interesting to see if 2010/2011 becomes at least the year of the tablet.

 

[inkswamp]

The Xbox 360

I sit in an office every day with a guy whose XBox 360 has died three times now. I don't think it's going out on a limb to say that any product with that kind of failure rate is far from "great."

 

[Surely]

Well, Billy, make up your mind. Do you want the Big Ass Tablet for the next four years or do you want the laptop?

The box! The box!



I think it's an interesting concept. I like that you can fold it in half so that it's smaller to carry around. Let's see where they take this....

 

[nkawtg72]

.... and move on from this lame Microsoft hating. It hasn't been justified for months, if not years.

and all the APPLE hate on a Mac forum has been justified?!?!

 

[Horus]

OMG, Microsoft is starting to hire 10 years old kids instead of monkeys.

 

[MovieCutter]

You seem pretty certain about Apple's release of a tablet device.

I used to work for Apple and still have connections...

and microsoft is hoping to lose this game?

Not at all. I wish Microsoft the best. It pushed competition, and therefore forces Apple to make better products. I just don't see the thing shipping in physical form anytime in the next year. And even if it DOES launch, I probably won't buy it because of the ecosystem of my workflow.

Yeah... Because that rumored Q1/2010 launch window is so credible.

You'd be amazed....

 

[powers74]

Outside help

Most companies hire outside industrial design firms for projects such as this. Apple is a rarity that they have this internally. Dell hires outside help as well.

I know, I'm an industrial designer, but thanks for the update anyway. The point is Apple doesn't.

 

[Cask]

I sit in an office every day with a guy whose XBox 360 has died three times now. I don't think it's going out on a limb to say that any product with that kind of failure rate is far from "great."

Well ask TheSpaz how many time has he exchanged Apple products. I have a 360 since launch day and it still works great.

 

[.Andy]

I used to work for Apple and still have connections...

Come on then. Out with your predictions. What, where, and when.

 

[MovieCutter]

Come on then. Out with your predictions. What, where, and when.

I can't compromise my sources. You joined MR earlier than I did. You know how Apple works...

 

[bbadalucco]

is it just me or does that thing look incredibly uncomfortable to use? you could only really use it on a table of some sort. the "mobile" just isnt there for me.

I'm confused by this? Basically you'd either set it on a table as you would a laptop of you could put in in your lap as you would a laptop. I don't think its meant to type papers on.

 

[inkswamp]

Well ask TheSpaz how many time has he exchanged Apple products. I have a 360 since launch day and it still works great.

Most of us on this site read tech news on a daily basis. The XBox 360 has a well-documented hardware issue that results in an inordinately high failure rate, whereas Apple products have some of the lowest hardware failures rates in the industry. I didn't explain that because it's common knowledge, especially on this site, and I only related an anecdotal account because it falls into line with the known statistics.

 

[.Andy]

I can't compromise my sources. You joined MR earlier than I did. You know how Apple works...

Pffffffffff. I can't believe you'd give up macrumors notoriety for something as replaceable as a friend.

 

[ventro]

Looks REALLY good. And you can tell, based on how uncomfortable it's making everyone here. Now it's a matter of seeing if Microsoft has fixed its inability to bring a great concept to market.

 

[rhett7660]

Ok, I will preface this, I really like the idea of the two screens and this looks slick.

However, from the way the screens moved and the way the pinching and opening up of stuff this seemed really Apple style not Microsoft styel.

Very impressed. If it comes out like this I will buy one in a heart beat. I am wondering if you can fold it up like a book also?

 

[thejadedmonkey]

and all the APPLE hate on a Mac forum has been justified?!?!

Have you seen Apple's fall from grace to greed? I certainly think it's justified, and the recent article highlighting all of the cut-throat practices that Apple retail does only further cements my thinking.