The subject of everything from amazement to ridicule, Microsoft’s giant Surface tablet has always managed to garner attention. The good news for those who were more amazed than amused is that Samsung resellers are now taking pre-orders for the next generation of Surface hardware.
In case you think the term “giant” is an overstatement, I feel it is necessary to note that the most common use for Surface is to use it as a table-top device – one that literally takes up the entire table. Its UI is designed for single finger and full-hand multi-touch in mind, and the new generation of Surface tablets will run Windows 7 and Surface 2.0. The special screen can recognize fingers, hands, and even various objects placed on it. This allows for features like instant syncing with mobile devices, activated simply by laying the device on the Surface.
For $8,400, the Samsimg SUR40 for Microsoft Surface will have a 40-inch screen (see, told you it was big), with a 1920×1080 resolution, an AMD Athlon X2 dual-core 2.9GHz processor, 320GB hard drive, and 4GB of memory. It comes with everything you would expect an over-sized touchy-feely TV to come with: network port, HDMI port, and 4 USB ports.
While it might look like a tech-lover’s idea for the perfect coffee table, Microsoft hopes the new Surface will be also be useful to industries ranging from hospitals to schools. The first version of Surface has already found its way into several businesses, including Hollywood, where the technology is featured weekly in the overt product placement of shows like Hawaii Five-0 (the new one). The release of the SUR40 is expected in early 2012 and will be available in 23 countries.
