Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Networking
    • PC Hardware

    Who Will Buy Microsofts Milan?

    By
    Scott Ferguson
    -
    May 30, 2007
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      The world might not be ready for a “Milan” coffee-table PC in every living room just yet, but that wont stop Microsoft from trying.

      With the launch of its new surface computing product May 30, it appears that Microsoft is positioning its new technology for widespread use both in the enterprise as well as the home, according to industry analysts.

      The first three customers to use Milan—T-Mobile, Harrahs Entertainment and Starwood Hotels and Resorts—offer Microsoft a very visible stage to display its new product where people can see its potential and interact with the new technology.

      The first of these coffee-table PCs, which the company has officially dubbed Microsoft Surface, is expected to hit the market in late 2007.

      “Ultimately, Microsofts target audience is the mainstream consumer,” said David Daoud, an analyst with IDC, who has also seen the early previews of Milan. “I think at first youll have a proofing period where its being tested and refined. After that, it makes perfect sense to go for consumers and these three companies Microsoft has selected are perfect because they are heavily involved in consumer relationships.”

      /zimages/7/28571.gifClick here to read more about the launch of Microsofts Milan surface computing product.

      While the concept of touch-screen technology is not new—tablet PC being the most recognizable example—the way the technology is being used and refined by Microsoft is different. Right now, its hard to tell how consumers and corporate customers will adopt it or how widespread its use could be.

      /zimages/7/176331.jpg

      With that in mind, Microsoft will likely introduce the technology slowly and promote it with businesses, such as Harrahs Entertainment, that will give it maximum exposure to both sets of potential customers, Daoud said.

      The Milan used at Harrahs Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, for example, will allow guests reserve tickets for concerts, order meals or simply explore what the hotel has to offer throughout the casino.

      From these initial customers, Daoud said he sees the Milan moving into other high-end restaurants, where patrons can use their credit cards on the table to order food and drink, ask for the check and calculate the tip.

      Steve Baker, an analyst with NPD Group, said that with Milan, Microsoft is looking to expand on some of the new and improved tablet features that it incorporated into its Windows Vista operating system. These improvements allow for much more flexibility with touch-screen products.

      Like Daoud, Baker sees the Milan moving beyond the initial customers and into high-end retail stores, for example, as a way to help promote the concept behind this PC.

      “What happens from here is that the magic of the market will do its work and then well see what value can be added to it,” Baker said. “With a development like this, you see companies being born and other companies look at opportunities to create new markets for these products.”

      /zimages/7/28571.gifClick here to read more about touch-screen technology.

      Neither Baker nor Daoud could say for certain if Microsoft would try to expand its reach by partnering with a major OEM vendor, such as Hewlett-Packard or Dell, to build these surface computing PCs. (HP has a concept coffee-table display that works with a thin client PC but its not known when this will be ready for any practical use.)

      In the meantime, the initial prices for the Milan technology will likely fall, which will make the technology much more appealing to a broad range of consumers and corporate users.

      Daoud said more mainstream adoption of Milan technology, along with a price drop, is about three to five years away at this point. With the initial announcement on May 30, Microsoft said the first three Milan PCs will cost anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000.

      Baker sees a gradual adoption during that time.

      “I really dont think there will be an in-between period,” Baker said. “Youll have people developing more and a more applications for the business worlds and youll have more people adopt the technology if there is some value-add to it … It will be more like a gradual evolution.”

      /zimages/7/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news in desktop and notebook computing.

      Scott Ferguson
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×