After teasing the EXOdesk themselves in a YouTube video, the company has passed along some details on the "interactive desk" to The Long Climb. In addition to the (perhaps optimistic) rendering you see above, ExoPC is promising that the desk will have full 10-point touch on its 40-inch, capacitive surface. The panel is said to have a full 1080p resolution with a 178-degree viewing angle and will be displayed at CES by a well-known — but still secret — manufacturer.
As far as software functionality goes, ExoPC says it will have touchpad zones as well as a customizable keyboard "that is modular and can be moved part by part to match the ergonomic needs of everyone, for example, you can drag number keys from top of the keyboard to a virtual keypad, separated from the other keys." There should also be HTML5 apps and widgets that can be downloaded from a custom store plus a development kit that includes JavaScript extensions, "realistic behavior including gravity and friction," and pre-built transitions. It's all apparently compatible with both Windows 7 and Windows 8 and ExoPC says it can work as a standalone PC or be utilized as a second display for your existing setup.
We'll be keeping an eye out for it at CES 2012, where ExoPC promises to launch showcase the tabletop computer for $1299 (Update: ExoPC clarifies that this won't technically be a launch, but it will still be coming in 2012). If the company can deliver on what's looking like increasingly lofty promises, Microsoft's Surface could have some serious competition. Hit up the source link below for a few more screenshots of the EXOdesk.
Comments
Demo seemed pretty sluggish. If the performance issue is worked out, i will seriously consider one
By ph00ny on 11.26.11 1:49am
I suggest you get a computer capable of watching youtube videos at smooth framerates… I assume you are referring to this vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5dlUi3DnrzA
I saw smooth animations and instant reaction to interactions. I would however like the animations to be a bit faster. The UI needs a lot of work in general. I can’t help but think it would be massively more compelling if they adopted Metro design guidelines.
By Andrew Rockefeller on 11.26.11 2:17am
i saw that video probably around 10 times. I’m not talking about the response time of the system but rather the transition smoothness. It seems to lack the fluidity. Maybe it was done intentionally or it’s just the lack of hardware to support the 1080p res
Also based on your comment, i guess a late 2011 Macbook Pro is inadequate at youtube since that’s what i’m using to watch the video. I will watch it again when i get home from thanksgiving family visit and try it on my sandy bridge based desktop….
By ph00ny on 11.26.11 2:51am
that sluggishness you are talking about might also just be software related and could be ironed out by the time this hits the market!
also, if it comes out later in 2012 and will only be demoed at CES (as stated by exopc), a whole new processor generation will be out that could make the whole thing faster and more efficient, in case it’s a hardware limitation.. :)
By SunnyDee on 11.26.11 3:13am
Exactly. I’m seriously interested in getting one and as long as some of those minor issues can be ironed out, i think it can become part of my every day routine. (things like ui fluidity can deter daily usage due to user experience)
By ph00ny on 11.26.11 10:14am
Phoned!
By wosully on 11.26.11 9:46am
The transitions are not smooth and they take too long. But this is just a demo.
By jaggedspike on 11.26.11 7:14am
We are showcasing EXOdesk at CES but the product will be released later in 2012 – no date yet…
By EXOPC on 11.26.11 2:05am
Hi, good work. You should also think about selling height adjustable version. Those tables are getting much more popular in my opinion. Or just sell diy kit without table legs.
By TobRieper on 11.26.11 6:42am
Make the animations/transitions faster.
By jaggedspike on 11.26.11 7:15am
ExoPC says it will have touchpad zones as well as customizable a customizable keyboard ??? Typo ??
By pradeep on 11.26.11 2:21am
@Dieter Bohn EXOdesk is not a Microsoft Surface competitor. FYI, Microsoft Surface is much more than a simple touch screen. Read this first,
By pradeep on 11.26.11 2:25am
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/pixelsense.aspx
By pradeep on 11.26.11 2:25am
Agreed, EXOdesk do not target the same market and the same usage scenarios. Microsoft Surface has features dedicated to his market.
By EXOPC on 11.26.11 2:32am
The new version of Surface (with PixelSense, instead of cameras inside a box) seems much nicer.
The major difference I see between the two is that Surface actually recognizes objects placed on it, while EXOdesk seems to have touch input only.
But in all honesty, even if you look at the “Case Studies” provided by MS (http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/casestudies.aspx) the vast majority of applications are basically touch only. Out of the about 8 Case Studies I saw/read, only 1 (Manchester) used it for non touch purposes, by having little blocks (e.g. Dining) which you could place on the map and it would show you dining options nearby. That usage seemed a little forced too, and there is probably an easy touch only alternative. If the EXOPC people make a Surface like product for ~1500, it would be about 1/10 as expensive as the Surface, and could easily be used in the markets Surface is currently in.
By addicted44 on 11.26.11 1:41pm
Who is TabCo ExoPC?
By iservin on 11.26.11 2:32am
I think I misread the story, I guess the panel is being made by a TBA manufacturer, not the whole desk… Nothing to see here.
By iservin on 11.26.11 2:56am
Is this the same guys that made the ExoPC tablet thing?
By fEast91 on 11.26.11 3:24am
No way will they be able to provide all they promise at this price. There will be a catch. Looks fantastic!
By Galahadoc on 11.26.11 7:11am
The Microsoft surface doesn’t have “input points” it sees where on the screen there is stuff, and where there is not, which means it can effectively do stuff like read a simple drawing off of a page, or see the shape of your hand.
10 point multitouch? Please, that is so 2009 for a tabletop.
By PowerCodfish on 11.26.11 11:45am
Microsoft Surface is also about 10 times as expensive as this. Assuming, of course, the price holds up.
By addicted44 on 11.26.11 1:42pm
Eww, 1080p 40 inch screen from 2-3ft away? chills
By jtaylor991 on 11.26.11 12:36pm
Think I’ll wait until the portable version that I can roll up and put in a tube for hotdesking.
By Thegovier on 11.26.11 1:28pm
wild horses couldnt stop me from getting one when its available. especially if it has a good SDK app dev baked into it. This as a Sales engine for Luxury Cars and furniture would just kick the crap out of everything. ( 3d – molehill AIR 3 and such stuff is up and running in days )
By hd1080i on 11.26.11 3:08pm
Very interested to see if it can maintain this price point. I really doubt it, though – unless their major partner is really a huge company who can put a huge push behind it.
By dcNate on 11.27.11 4:35pm