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posted by Fnord666 on Wednesday May 16 2018, @09:37AM   Printer-friendly
from the a-new-hubby dept.

Microsoft's Surface Hub 2 is designed for an office of the future

Microsoft is unveiling the next-generation of its giant conference room displays today: Surface Hub 2. While the original Surface Hub shipped in 2016 with 1080p 55-inch and 4K 84-inch options, the Surface Hub 2 will use a 50.5-inch display with a greater than 4K resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio with extremely thin bezels. That's the same ratio as all other Surface products, and Microsoft has clearly picked this to compliment the fact its giant display now rotates to a portrait position.

[...] While it's still based on Windows 10, Microsoft is working on a new dynamic collaboration scenario that will allow multiple people to walk up to the Surface Hub 2, log into the device using the built-in fingerprint reader and then each pull their own work into a single collaborative document. Most of the software will be optimized for Microsoft Teams, and far-field microphones and 4K cameras will allow you to make video calls in portrait mode that make it feel like you're standing next to a colleague.

[...] Microsoft says pricing will be in line with similar competitive devices, which could mean we'll see a more aggressive price point to counter Google's own digital whiteboard. Microsoft has already sold Surface Hubs to more than 5,000 businesses in 25 countries. More than half of Fortune 100 companies already own a Surface Hub, and it's the most popular Surface device for enterprise customers. By simplifying to a single display size (50.5-inch) with the Surface Hub 2, the hardware should be easier to manufacture. Microsoft has struggled to manufacture Surface Hub devices to meet demand, and the company closed its US manufacturing plant last year, presumably to cut costs and speed up production elsewhere.

Related: Google's "Jamboard" Takes on the Giant Touchscreen Workplace Niche


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  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday May 16 2018, @04:34PM (3 children)

    by bob_super (1357) on Wednesday May 16 2018, @04:34PM (#680437)

    We use a 65" 4K screen. I've seen 80" 4K screens used a few times. Unless it's a big room, projectors are no longer worth the hassle.

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  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday May 16 2018, @05:28PM

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Wednesday May 16 2018, @05:28PM (#680456) Journal

    https://www.cnet.com/news/affordable-4k-projectors-are-here-what-took-them-so-long/ [cnet.com]

    The 4K projectors seem to be expensive, over $1,000 still, but that's comparable to 4K TVs that aren't cheap and small.

    I know someone who uses a (much lower res) projector instead of a TV. They used to have a pull-out screen for it, but now they just use a white wall. I'd say it's potentially less of a hassle depending on your requirements.

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  • (Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Wednesday May 16 2018, @08:25PM (1 child)

    by ElizabethGreene (6748) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday May 16 2018, @08:25PM (#680506) Journal

    It's nice to be able to see the screen without dimming the lights.

    (Full disclosure: I work for Microsoft as a PFE, therefore my opinion is invalid.)

    • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday May 16 2018, @11:13PM

      by bob_super (1357) on Wednesday May 16 2018, @11:13PM (#680542)

      Good contrast, fast response time, perfect focus, ability to stand in front without blocking, no fan noise, no bulb life issues, chromecast, cheap, easy to install and emergency-patch into ... Unless you have a room over 24.753' deep, LED TV wins over projector.

      BUT ... We get the work done with a regular desktop (Win/Lin/Mac, depending on who's connected), and the few features we miss are not worth the giant premium from Google/MS products. And with our vendor-specific design tools, I'm not sure how we would even work on an all-in-one without constant install/licensing issues. Do these things offer some of the touchscreen/sharing benefits if you use them as a monitor ? That'd be a value-add over grabbing a 65" at Costco.