Is it me, or does the device look like a stretched-out Axim X51?

Keirmeister

This makes whoever using looked gay. Look at that hand!!!

derek168

Surface is way better than this. I think Microsoft had the wrong idea on this one.

quikboy

I think the whole point is that both hands would be holding the device, so there's no worry about dropping it. Additionally, this solves the problem of the fingers covering up the screen. People can finally see what they are tapping on.

Eptin

@tidybowl: LOL

tamoko

oh, too bad I can't see the palletes on the left side because my freakin hand is holding this stupid piece-o-crap!

Is trying to use the fingers of you right hand to touch the back of the device - while you're trying to hold it with your right hand - and using your left finger to touch the front really a smart idea?

Maybe they should throw one of those Wii-mote wrist straps on this baby - 'cuz I think it's going to get dropped a whole lot.

tidybowl

my bad- I thought people didnt think their was any practical use for elements depicted in the mockup.

There are two main things I am looking at- the software and the hardware.

I agree with tank

The device is mostlikely enlarged to demonstrate the functionality.

Serpent2

@Sam_Zebian: I'm with you. The concept is sound, it's just the crappy visualizations from R&D and Marketing that put a bug in peoples ears. If the thing can be slimmed down, I might actually buy one. I also agree that this would be perfect for a hybrid cellphone of some sort.

Now the on going MS vs. Apple fanboy slap down, bitchfest... we all bring our own opinions to the table. Personally, I'm glad Microsoft is at least TRYING to put a product like this out on the market... After the UMPC Uberbuzz, and then Uberfizzle last year, I was starting to think they had put the mobile, multifunctional personal device ideas on the shelf to rot. NIce to see I was wrong.

tamoko

I think this is an excellent concept and would truly help users with touchscreens to use smaller items on the screen. This would also be great for some cellphones, especially considering the very small screens (small when compared to a tablet or UMPC). Yes, we can all agree the mock-up art isn't very good, but it's just a demonstration of a concept. It could very well mature into a much sleeker looking device with all of it's functionality. Also, Serpent2, I have to agree with you on that, but not fully. If Apple had posted the same images with Mac OS only, then people would still think the mock-up was horrid, but they would still be praising apple for such a great idea.

Sam_Zebian

@Serpent2: i second dat
@Tank: nope, everything apple does is being praised here...even if they state the negative sides of the product,they will emphasize the positive sides and not bash it as much as if it was a microsoft product
@theotherstevejobs: what's wrong with Alt+F4??

Sunatic

@Serpent2: If this were an Apple product, people would be more critical. IMHO, this is why Apple's R/D department is silent.

I had a Clie TH55 that had a scroll wheel and three buttons on the back. I found them immensely useful for one handed use but like others have said, this looks like it'd be easy to drop.

Tank

my hand doesn't bend the way that person's right hand does. I'm pretty sure i want to use the front of a device - i don't want to wrench my hand around a device to press against the back of it while holding it with the other hand. That's just stupid.

Of course, they also came up with Alt-F4 (vs. Command-W - if you're on a Windows keyboard and don't know how much better that is, just rest your thumb on the space bar, and then reach your middle finger to W. Isn't that better?)... Since they've never fixed that in 13 years, why would you think that they'd notice our hands dont wrap 180° around like the picture shows?

Just because Microsoft designs a piece of shit, i don't know what that has to do with Apple... In fact, i think everyone will rightfully bitch about how Apple hasn't made a useable mouse in over 10 years.

theotherstevejobs

LOL, it's running xp and osx, not fast enough for vista i guess, haha

oldmanstan

@Serpent2: you're saying contradictory things. i think most of the derision stems from the fact that, that mock up art is horrid... get it?

bkN00b

If this was an apple product there'd be praise on the concept on this site. It could be very useful on smaller devices like a gameboy. That mock up art is horrid

Serpent2

Now that's innovation!

Slappy McSlapp

What's wrong with this person's left hand?

NcSchu

Steve Ballmer continues to plant big fat Cleveland Steamers on what used to be a great company.

Samifumi

anyone notice the apple os in one of the pics? is that tiger?

MadColombian

I'm still waiting for the touchscreen that I smash my face into and mouth words at. Too much to ask?

SchruteBuck

And how many times will people drop this? It looks like the model in the picture is one second away dropping it!

Well thought out, MS...

silomunke

This is as useful as Flip and Flip 3D in Vista. In other words, yawn.

Samifumi

LucidTouch gets your troops slaughtered in Warcraft 3? =(

Poor marketing, imo!

- Xidius

Xidius

I can't see how this would be useful.

3atm3

For people who pass it off without seeing the point: A behind the screen design makes it so you can see what you're poking (rather than cover half the tiny screen with your massive pudgy fingers), and also keeps it so you could hold the silly thing...

Reilaos, Man of Destiny

Lol @ XP

Blinklink11

@Keirmeister: Is it me, or does the device look like a stretched-out Axim X51?

Oops, check that! I meant a Compaq iPaq!

Keirmeister

@Michai: LOL , bonus points for you.

WTF with paint? in real life, with the best mouse, you cannot connect two lines. now with touch screen, what a garbage demo.

EL_RIEL

And yes, it DOES look like it's designed for interactive Goatse... Kinda like Apple's Multitouch looks like it's designed for... oh, never mind....

Mandatory_Field

Sigh. Poor Microsoft: First mocked-up, then mocked....

Mandatory_Field

This reminds me of the cell-phone type things in Earth:Final Conflict. I always liked those. And Auger's glasses.

Git Em SteveDave

I either really need to stop checking this site, or just ignore the comments completely and stick to the articles. Unless there is a apple logo slapped on something, you will rarely hear unbiased opinions and thoughts. Which of course is why you read the comments:)

Praise be to Jobs! There, hopefully that will stop any onslaught of Apple extremists from attacking me with suicide ipod nano belts.

emix

Talk about some serious hand crapage.

Michai

I forsee alot of new goatse humor will be related to this device...

TonyTriple

Didn't Apple file a patent for this idea like a year ago?

Marty_MacFly

Thats why Microsoft need to copy other's success, because that ugly, that Quasimodo devise sure wont be able to get a a lot of the user's...

@Reilaos, Man of Destiny: I see the point, but who in the world will use photoshop with a transparent screen, Also i think a track ball would do the job pretty well. Like the PSP controls... OH and what is wrong with a pen... Or eye control...

cabowah

@cabowah:

"""I see the point, but who in the world will use photoshop with a transparent screen"""

Maybe they're going to trace something? I can say that this would remove the easy, but often slow step of scanning an image to my computer before I try and ink it in Photoshop.

Kyang

@flyboy: Thats clearly Adobe Photoshop in the above images. Time for an eye exam?

DashTheHand

@Kyang: um that would be MS Paint here. The lowest of the low in graphics terms.
Good idea though - I have never drawn on the back of something - whilst watching from the front, especially in MS Paint.
where have I been all my life?

flyboy

Gotta love Microsoft, cutting edge device with Windows 3.1 Paint software running on it, heh.

maven2k

First - it's funny how they're sporting the Mac OS in a "future" product demo_

Second - I can do all of that in Photoshop_

uberfu

@Reilaos, Man of Destiny:

I understand the point of what you are saying, but just because you can see through it doesn't solve for the fact that you still have a hand (and fingers) holding one side of the device and covering up part of the top of the screen surface (that you are looking down at) that you can't see through.

macmanwa