Microsoft’s multitouch Surface computer was officially launched in Australia yesterday, and while its potential applications are as fascinating as they are limitless, it’s got some annoying usability and design flaws.
It’s fat and ugly
Scathing, I know. But I was deceived. The massive black unit underneath the coffee table-like device is completely necessary to house all the cameras and hardware components (as well as hold up the screen). It’s not designed to be portable, but it does weigh a whopping 90kg. The entire unit is 27 inches (69cm) deep and stands 21 inches (54cm) high.
But fat and ugly also means durable. Windows Product Manager, Danny Beck, was audacious enough to jump on top of the unit, and anyone under 90kg can do the same. It looks easy to clean and cosmetic blemishes associated with glass are a non-issue with the Surface’s plasticky display.
Usability Issues
The 30-inch acrylic screen displays images via rear projection, so the images are anything but sharp and this is glaringly noticeable when you’re trying to read smallish text. Considering the nature of the display, developers will no doubt pick up on this quickly and go easy on the 12pt font (and our eyes).
The Surface recognises up to 50 points of contact simultaneously, so in theory 10 people using five fingers each could interact with the on-screen application at the same time. While individual applications make the most of the 360-degree user interface, the main menu (as seen in the above photo) is designed to be accessed from the long sides of the unit – if you’re on the short ends, you have to tilt your head (I tilted too quickly and pulled something in my neck) or push your finger in an unnatural up-down motion rather than the side-to-side swipes we’re used to.
If you have small hands like me, you’ll need two hands to effectively navigate the Surface’s multitouch capabilities. As you’ll see in the video above of the ANZ application, I had difficulty turning and resizing objects, and moving them out of the way. Sometimes, the screen won’t respond to your movements at all as Mr Beck demonstrates from about 0:28 in the clip. Other times, input recognition is too sensitive and objects will follow my fingers after they lift up off the display, or spin in an unwanted and unpredictable way.
I didn’t see a BSOD, but one of the units in the demo area at Robbie Bach’s university talk decided to play up. The problem was fixed with a keyboard and mouse. Embarrassing.
Apps, apps, apps
This is where it gets cool. The most exciting part comes from how Surface applications interact with real-life objects. For example, the wine bar demo app helps you pick out a wine, order the wine and responds to your wine glass – or rather, the “surface tag” on it – on the table by popping out a menu that will suggest foods to go with your wine. It’s incredibly interactive and functionally fun.
Any physical object with a unique, barcode-like “surface tag” can interact with the Surface, however therein lies another potential annoyance. Placing a Lonely Planet guidebook on the screen takes up space. Not a lot, but it felt like it was constantly in the way while trying to interact with the associated Lonely Planet app on the screen. It felt nice and easy with small items like business cards, though.
So, how much?
$21,000 for commercial/retail units, or $24,500 for developer units. The same units in the US cost $12,000 and $15,000, respectively. Tracey Fellows, Managing Director, Microsoft Australia says they’re expecting to see “hundreds, not thousands” in stores around the country within 12 months. Despite the steep prices and the steep learning curve for developers without .NET experience, it’s probably not an altogether unrealistic target, with ANZ, Lonely Planet and Curtin University looking to deploy units by the end of the year.
matt
February 10, 2010 at 4:40 PM
wow, I really thought this was already out.
how long has it been out in the states?
cause, yeah, as I’ve said I got an email (windows live newsletter) probably 2 years ago that gave the impression that they were on the verge of launch…
anyway, they still look undeniably cool, it would kinda suck if there was no leg room under the table tho, so you couldn’t actually sit at it like a table.
it is too expensive, RearPro!?!? WTF?
by .NET I assume it means you can use c#, in which case it should be easy to pick up. and there are .Net equivalents for java too I thin (J#?) so I really wouldn’t think it would be that hard.
and after the few hours you spend coming to terms with one of those languages, coding will be a lot easier. Still wish they gave you the option to program it in c++, I don’t like Microsoft only letting you use THEIR programming languages with their stuff.
honestly some of those bugs look like a sub par touch screen, and some just look like sub par code.
Report PermalinkShane
February 11, 2010 at 9:12 AM
Gee, Microsoft isn’t the only one pushing their own language with their hardware now are they ;)
j# has been discontinued as far as I know (after Sun sued them) and I’m pretty sure you can use C++ with C#, you just need to jump through a few hooks to get it to work.
Report PermalinkNick
February 15, 2010 at 5:23 PM
.NET is just a bunch libraries. You can use C++ with .NET in the same way you can use VB. It’s just a different set of dependencies.
Report PermalinkDavid
February 10, 2010 at 5:12 PM
As a product generally lease in 2008 its good that its finally in Australia.
Although the author seems annoyed at the smallest things the points seem valid.
All that is for the steep .net learning curve. Its really not all that hard to write .net.
What might be tricky is building for multiple users at once – a different paradigm from single user touch input devices.
Report Permalinkmatt
February 10, 2010 at 5:29 PM
yeah, finger recognition would be cool! so a series of taps could be known to have come from one person.
I don’t think multiple users should be too big a deal, we already deal with tracking multiple touches and “touch instances” in any other multi touch device. if designers stick to doing things how they would in “real life” it should be ok.
people could learn a lot from real life…
Report Permalinkkurt
February 10, 2010 at 5:47 PM
James Bond style! well yeah it was actually used in James Bond
Report PermalinkMDolley
February 10, 2010 at 6:40 PM
So it’s just a big iPad?
Report PermalinkJosh Newman
February 10, 2010 at 8:29 PM
comment of the week, right there!
Report PermalinkAnthony Tam
February 10, 2010 at 9:43 PM
yup. it’s just a big iPad just like iPad is just a big iPod Touch :D
Report Permalinkmatt
February 11, 2010 at 2:03 AM
gtfo! :D
you are right, just as the people who say the ipad is just a big ipod touch are right. except for the word JUST! I think people really don’t appreciate the extra capabilities just a simple size increase adds.
Report PermalinkWill Barrows
February 11, 2010 at 8:58 AM
I’m betting that because apple have patents on the gesture-recognition for the iPod and iPad that make the user experience of those products what it is, that; no. The MS Surface is not a big iPad. The user-experience appears to be quite different. Also, if Apple did a table-sized “iTop” (??) it would be much better quality.
Prediction: if iPad takes off, expect to see an Apple “iBench” product.
Report PermalinkShane
February 11, 2010 at 9:21 AM
I have no doubt about the potential of the idea, but right now I’d say it seems a little gimmicky.
When talk to my wife about, she wanted one for the kitchen bench so she could browse recipes while cooking.
Where’s the table top photo app!?
What about a desk!? I’d like to be able to scribe notes, look up technical docs manage my music (playing through some other device)…
What I’d really like to see is more interaction across product boundries. I should be able to send music to a “player” regardless of where it’s coming from and what it’s playing through (even video), that would be really awesome!
Mind you until it comes down in price, it won’t be making it in my house :P
Report Permalinkolearymo
February 11, 2010 at 11:52 AM
The thing is, guys, it’s NOT designed for personal use. The whole concept (and the way it’s been used so far) is for it to be in kiosks, stores, cafes, that sort of thing.
Also, fat and ugly… it’s a coffee table. It’s not going to be small now is it?
I find it fascinating that something like this comes out, aimed at business users, for $20,000, and everyone acts as though it’s for retail sale.
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