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Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

arstechnica.com

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Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#101

Post by rubicon33 »

jimbokun wrote: post #93

"In a Forrester report commissioned by Microsoft, it's claimed that meetings start more promptly—less faffing about to get remote attendees dialed in or computers hooked up to the projector—saving 15 to 23 minutes per meeting." Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Every company I've been at, I've seen this happen over and over and over again, every meeting. I feel like I'm the only one aware of how much time and productiv…

You are not alone. This is a constant source of frustration at our organization as well.

Even once everyone is on the Hangout / HighFive/ Slack call... If anyone's internet is less than perfect, the whole experience sucks.

Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#102

Post by guelo »

BoringCode wrote: post #96
fergie wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally I've always found it to be inferior to Hangouts and Facetime.

Maybe, but those can't be deployed on a company's network.

It's funny because here in silicon valley I've seen many conference rooms setup with Google Hangouts for video conference and Apple TV for presenting locally. Never see any Microsoft or Cisco stuff.

Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#103

Post by protomyth »

xemoka wrote: post #98
protomyth wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The software is terrible, but the ability to draw on the board keeps us from having just a TV / projector. We put up with it because of the added capability.

It's a nice feature, I just see people struggling with it far too often. The software is a huge stumbling point, and the finish on the TV versions really detracts from the benefits of 4k.

All true, but I'm stuck until I have a budget and a better solution. I might give Microsoft a try on the next go around.

Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#104

Post by agumonkey »

wjnc wrote: post #99
agumonkey wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did watch 2 videos of ~10min. It didn't seem as amazing as I imagined. Most of the features are remote + ink then mail. Nothing that revolutionary. Maybe I missed other demos (I can't find a video on MS website, I used youtube, various sources) I think my comment was too easy to interpret as lazy sarcasm, I'm just trying to get a picture of what was the setup before.

The thing is, as a 10 yr office worker (ouch), the specs might not amaze, but the Works!-part does. The fact that it's integrated means it probably Works, while the earlier mish-mash of MS, Cisco etc left most functions hampering. We have a great Android based touchscreen in the Office (ok, probably a hundred). But not connected (because security, obviously), with other solutions for VC (they bring another screen, or…

It's not really the specs, more the mindset and operations delivered by the device that I was curious about. I still haven't seen the best demo people mentioned here.

Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#105

Post by seanmcdirmid »

dom0 wrote: post #52
btbuildem wrote: post #34

I saw the prototype in Redmond over a decade ago, back then it was in the form of a coffee table -- very impressive at the time, but no clear business strategy. In technology terms, this is a glacial age! I find it amazing they were able to persist and refine the technology into a successful product. Kudos!

Doesn't look to me like it's very related to the PixelSense.

Careful, Surface is now a brand of various computers, PixelSense was the old Surface Table with a display where pixels included cameras, but is now used to describe the new Surface's screen. So let's summarize:

* old Surface: a table.

* new Surface: a brand that started out with tablets but now includes a convertible laptop, a desktop, and a conference room computer.

* old PixelSense: a renamed old Surface with new fancy (very cool) display technology that includes optical sensing pixels, but seems defunct ATM.

* new PixelSense: the screen of a new Surface (high resolution, capacitive touch, stylus).

(disclaimer: used to work for Microsoft but with no inside knowledge)

Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#106

Post by mizzao »

The integration with OneNote is quite killer as well - you can plug in your laptop, draw as much as you want (collaboratively) on an infinitely-scrolling whiteboard, and then have all the notes from the meeting saved, digitized, and searchable, and shared with all participants.

Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#107

Post by jajern »

et2o wrote: post #39
paulcole wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> iPhones rapidly depreciate I've never heard this before-- and in fact most people seem to say the opposite. Just looked on eBay and according to recent sold listings, as of the past few days a 5 could easily bring $100-150 depending on configuration. That's a 4+ year old phone.

If it was $500-600 new, it has lost ~80% of its value in 4 years. I think you can safely call that rapid depreciation. Maybe less rapid compared to other phones.

I think people that have never had to buy an off-contract or replacement phone don't realize the actual cost of the device.

Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#108

Post by toyg »

This spells trouble for Cisco and friends. MS can use the Hub as a foothold into your phone system, and BAM! Out go all those expensive, obscure and clunky Cisco voip systems, replaced with some MS cloud-based solution that is 100x cheaper and integrates with Skype and LinkedIn.

Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#109

Post by semi-extrinsic »

rubicon33 wrote: post #101
jimbokun wrote: post #93

"In a Forrester report commissioned by Microsoft, it's claimed that meetings start more promptly—less faffing about to get remote attendees dialed in or computers hooked up to the projector—saving 15 to 23 minutes per meeting." Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Every company I've been at, I've seen this happen over and over and over again, every meeting. I feel like I'm the only one aware of how much time and productiv…

You are not alone. This is a constant source of frustration at our organization as well. Even once everyone is on the Hangout / HighFive/ Slack call... If anyone's internet is less than perfect, the whole experience sucks.

I'm not sure this solves that problem. It's running Win10 with Skype for Business, a combination which I struggled and failed to make screenshare a PowerPoint document with one other participant just last week. We use it pretty frequently, and pretty often someone needs to resort to calling in from their mobile phone, like it was 1992.

Re: Microsoft’s Surface Hub is now apparently a billion-dollar business

#110

Post by ebbv »

Really? We're calling it a "hit" already? How many have they sold? I don't know anyone who has one, and most people I know don't even know it exists.

Once again Peter Bright being the ultimate Microsoft shill. (I knew this was him before even clicking on the article just from the headline.)

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