Look, we're all about innovation, and you know deep down we really want our computers to be
big-ass tables, but Savant's press release touting "the first Apple-based coffee table surface product" just made us cringe. Savant's Rosie touchscreen home-automation products are already well-respected, so there's no need to try and grab any tailfeathers here -- in fact, we think the specs sort of sell themselves: you're looking at a 40-inch touchscreen that sports iTunes integration, access to photos and movies, home-automation through the Rosie system, and, yes, runs on an internally-mounted Mac of some sort. More important than that, however, is the one spec that Microsoft's
Surface can't currently match: Savant is getting ready to sell these to consumers, and soon. See? No need to to get crazy with the hype, now was there? Now just set a price and tell us when these'll ship, and we'll be all set.
[Via
ShinyShiny]
posted Sep 6th 2007 11:52PM
It's not a pc. It's a big ass table.
Looks like a good idea, but I honestly couldn't see Apple's reasoning behind releasing a product like this in the near future, especially to the everyday consumer. How would they market/fit this into their current strategy? I just don't think it fits well with the business plan they have right now; especially with the thinner is better, innovative feel going on. I think Apple will hold-off on this one. Once Microsoft has released their version and been somewhat successful / they find a way to puzzle-piece this in to the overall picture of their product base / technology develops in a way for them to make this concept truly innovative (ex: mass production of OLED screens). Apple's been really concentrating on ways to maximize user experience through the way we interface with devices; I just think that this is just another amazing concept/example of this.
They're not. Savant would be buying Apple products, removing their Appleness, and reselling in this form.
I already have a ton of gadgets with a screen on them. Do I really need a table too? Can't I just wait until they integrate a motion sensor into my remote and do this on my TV?
Hmmmmm
Scarrey
I'd buy this... just for the novelty!
Maybe they can emulate Ms. PacMan... how many hours did I spend (waiting for dates) laying one of the "coffee-table Ms. PacMan games?
Ohhhhh - touch screen emulation... i'd never get caught!!!
Now this could be seriously addictive!
It's like grandma's version of Surface. Sad lookin. Maybe it's made for Steve's Grandma?
There are only two ways this can go, and both ways are stupid.
I will shoot them down now, before this gets out of hand:
-Microsoft did not invent multitouch technology
-Surface is not a unique perspective on multitouch technology. The most obvious layout for an optical multitouch display is the table layout.
-Multitouch tables are quite well implemented in many places. Nobody was "first". Nobody is "last". They all defeat the keyboard / mouse (or at least the mouse) you are using now.
Whoa...this is a good joke.
this would so rock!
this doesnt even match Apple's Rules of 'Simplicity and Style'.
two thumbs down.
pretty nice !! i want the table! does it come in white
but can it play doom?
Doom? No, that's not Apple's definition of 'fun', you are only allowed to have iMovie.
iMovie could play the Doom movie, in which case it could play Doom.
Doesn't the Microsoft version have embedded cameras that function as scanners to identify items you put on the surface? Does this thing have that feature? If not, it's really just a gimmick. I like the wooden frame, though.
Yes, you are exactly right, there is no innovation here.
Why buy one when you can build one yourself?
http://www.instructables.com/id/EJIXKOEF3ER7VN5/
Definately a novelty item, a bit worried about coffee cups and spills controlling my viewing pleasure.
Cant wait to spill my OJ on that thing.
Or - have my kids run their matchbox cars all over it!
wait i dont think it said anything about apple putting this together. it was the Savant Rosie that stuffed one into a table and made it a touch screen. i think its bad ass and if i could have one cheap as hell id get it. but yea i dont think apple created this
wow! nice to play STARCRAFT II with this one! GoodBye strolling screen! Touch screen means I can select by drawing any form of shapes around a group of units without being limited to a Rectangular box form like with mouse!
I can play chess with my friend too without dropping pieces on the floor during time scramble :)
this is probably the only time we'll see apple copying microsoft.
ugh.
Where did it say that apple was coping microsoft.
Where did it say that apple made this table.
Apple isnt making this, Savant is. The just got a mac stuffed in there and whacked in a touch screen.
But then, taking that this is a touch screen, and mac, i spose you could somehow install windows on there via boot camp and use the touch screen through windows...
You mean in the way Apple was copying DR and Xerox?
Wouldn't this be kind of pointless? I could see a nightclub using one, but not an average person. Who wants to look down at something to use it for very long?
.
Ooh, a black ash effect table. Can't see that in my house somehow, unless it comes with a time machine to take us all back to 1987.
hmm... where have I seen this before.... LoL
If it's been decided that the future of computing is a bigass table, why is it only acceptable that that table run OSX?
If I'm not mistaken the same people praising this one were on here a couple weeks ago bashing MS's big box of doom. Yeah, it's got pretty wood, but this one is basically just a media center...and I don't think they mentioned anything about multitouch either.
And yes, I'm aware that it's not being manufactured by Apple, but you get my drift.
The desktop analogy is over 25 years old, you'd think they could manage to put together enough brain cells to come up with something just a little more creative and original.
Very lame.
is there a joystick port, or do i have to play doom on a touch screen?
that stole its UI elements from Call Of Duty 2
This looks just like those old table style arcade games you would see at bars. After a long time bending your neck down to see the screen you'll start experiencing neck, shoulder, and back pain.
What an innovation!
I just have to say, this is a killer idea.
I'm surprised nobody called it a giant iphone ripoff. That probably wont last long.