Loads of blabla-bullshit from MS about their next OS, as usual. "Touch" will probably not be in it, and it won't really improve using the pc either.

Sorry, but nothing can replace my 24 incher. I refuse to "touch" it.

This is useless for desktop.
Even on laptops it will hurt your hands after a while.

What's I was hoping for is vector, resolution independent GUI.
<Sigh...>

why they hell can't they make it like how they first envisioned longhorn (vista) to look like, but just add Aero and the Flip3D thing to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ifQvQCO7Y

Why was this not vista?

The thing I find interesting about the vid is that image program, since I want to scan some pictures that have writing on the back.

MS is permanently entrenched in mediocrity.

Welcome to the 15.4" iPhone. Maybe that will have a virtual keyboard large enough for my fingers.

Seriously, this sounds like a great way to have a scratched display unless you develop a very tough coating for it. That might be OK if you have a mouse pad like external input device. But there are situations (projector use for instance) where you can't have feedback from the display directly...unless you add some serious sensor ability to the projector itself (or, again, have some external sensor capability). That's within current technical ability...and really isn't all that useful in a practical sense at this point (though that may change with time).

Does anyone else completely not care about touch functionality?

What is the point?

Touch-support is already mature enough in areas where it belongs and is greatly appreciated.

I still think that "Surface" is just an idea that will never will take off in the mainstream market. It is an interesting niche concept though.

Pointless features ftw.

I've tried some of the multi-touch software with webcams and it is not quite as straight-forward as it would seem. I for one, it seems, may be the only one here that is excited about direct os implementation of multi touch whether it be MS or open source. To have os integrated abilities will launch a huge amount of stuff to the arena.

Although on a side note, I noticed a snipit about using *any object as a game controller using software and a webcam ---> http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?news=MzI2NjksLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdCwsLDE=

which is pretty cool too.

Mojo

I can see how this could be useful with a Wii whiteboard kind of input. The prohibitive cost of LCD projectors with decent resolution is the main obstacle to consumer multi-touch use. Combined with some good gesture UI, this could really streamline alot of PC usage. It could also make for some fun multi-user collaborative or competitive apps/games. Too bad this is all being done already using hacks/mods of existing hardware/software.

Cool, now if only they would invent some sort of hand-held device that could increase accuracy, and keep the screen clear of fingerprints. Hmmm....

I think the touch technology is just the coolest thing I've seen since I got a 3rd button on my mouse. Now they just need fairly cheap 24" touchable WFP's or a glorified wacom tablet for the mainstream or something so I don't have to buy that table/tablet.
I'd also like to point out that it's great that when TR links a video to the frontpage, the thing ACTUALLY works unlike some [other] sites I frequent.

Windows has supported multiple pointers for a long time now - this isn't news, just marketing BS. There's nothing new at the OS level at all in that video - just some new hardware that can detect multiple touches, and a new photo app that knows what to do with multiple pointers. IMO the news so far about Windows 7 is that they've dropped the new streamlined "minwin" kernel for a Vista-based one, end of story. One feature down, and no other new ones announced yet.

The only way I would ever use something like that is if they made a lay-down, slim lcd touch screen the same dimensions as a keyboard.. See where I'm going with this?

For normal operation, the lcd would display a virtual keyboard with some sort of force feedback vibration when you touch a key. Then, for applications where the touch interface would be more efficient, the 'virtual keys' would be overridden and touches instead manipulate the object on a normal monitor..

We've seen this before. The only novelty I recognise is different applications used.

It drives me nuts when someone else touches my laptop screen. A UI that begs me to do so goes against every grain of my tech-nerd body. That's like asking me to drag my fingernails across a chalkboard.

I've got a coworker I would love to spring this on. He's constantly jabbing his LCD in order to identify on-screen objects, and after several weeks of this, the poor thing looks like it suffered a coordinated attack by an elite Day Care Assault Team. It would be really funny to get his reaction when his applications started responding to this abuse.