Microsoft Surface Tested Out at the Sheraton NYC

6/13/2007 at 8:58 AM
Tags: Hotel Technology, Sheraton Hotels

Tipster Dominic over at Endless Innovation let us know that the first Microsoft Surface computer debuted over the weekend at the Sheraton New York. This is funny to us because Sheraton is like the last hotel chain in the world we would ever associate with high-tech considering how awful their in-room internet connection can be.

Nevertheless, Dominic was on-hand for the first-ever public demonstration of the Surface, which is a "digital interactive table with a 30-inch touch screen." So imagine a check-in kiosk but on your glass coffee table. Dominic writes:

I had a chance to drop by the event around noon on Saturday, and was impressed by the ease of use of the Microsoft Surface. (I even had the opportunity to play Picasso, using a new paint application that Microsoft has developed for the table) In the Sheraton New York lobby, a mix of tourists, school kids and technology fans crowded around three Surface demo stations. One big attraction was the prototype Surface music-catalog/purchasing demo application, in which songs or entire albums could be effortlessly added to a Microsoft Zune. The drink-ordering application also was popular among the Surface demo attendees, who could theoretically have points subtracted from a credit card or preferred guest card.

Hotel guests can also use the Surface to map out locations in the city and upload their photos or videos in addition to checking out and paying the room bill.

More Microsoft Surface tables will show up in Starwood Hotels and Harrah's Resorts in November. Let's hope Starwood doesn't charge you an arm and a leg to use it, like they do for basic internet access.

[Photo: Stephen Gates]

Related Stories:
· The public debut of Microsoft Surface at the Sheraton New York [Endless Innovation]