Comments on: Surface developer tools coming this month

Microsoft promises developers who attend this month's Professional Developer Conference will get the tools needed to write apps for the company's tabletop PC.

[ServedUp]

A developer's toolkit for the Surface? Please.

With little to no demand and practically no consumer customer user base besides the three AT&T mini- stores who actually have it, why would any developer even bother when there's no clear incentive.

Looks like Microsoft hasn't the faintest clue what its good for either.

[krushyou]

Yeah, you should probably read the whole story next time...


"Hear about the unique attributes of Microsoft Surface computing, dive into vision-based object recognition and core controls like ScatterView, and learn how the Surface SDK aligns with the multitouch developer roadmap for Windows 7"

Its not just for Surface...

[ferARG]

ServedUp, what I think makes sense is that the SDk will work both for Surface application as well as WIndows 7, which would also support multitouch. That's why I think it makes sense, I am pretty sure they would not do it if it works only for Surface.

[Mr. Dee]

The Tablet PC has been out on the market since November 2002, yet I have not acquired such a form factor for many reasons: Not cheap, does not offer the same performance/features as a tradition notebook and the applications are no there to take advantage of it. I see touch computing just being another niche functionality that users will not if know is there or take advantage of. If they do own a touch enabled notebook or PC the nostalgia will die the next day.

[maverick_nick]

Remember when plasma TVs were first released? Do you remember how insanely expensive they were? Well businesses invested in them and demand began to grow until it became commercially viable - today, they're relatively cheap.

Besides all of the R&D from Surface goes into Windows, which goes into the hands of the regular consumer. As for the low sales and high cost of tablet PCs... I think that's going to change from Windows 7.0. Basically, all you'll need is a regular notebook with a swivel screen - you get the best of both worlds.

[dascha1]

Ah, the historical the dream of AllianceWall... but, please, help! I can't afford business travel these days so how can I participate remotely to continue working on all-in-wall for School Systems, Colleges and Churches? I understand that Claridge is traveling to the dry erase companies to demo these types of tools for the OEM's across the USA now so could Microsoft do the same? Thanks!

[Imalittleteapot]

Wonder if it's going to come with a platform simulator of some kind or I wonder if the programs you write with the SDK will run on XP or Vista. If they do run on Vista then there wouldn't be much point to Windows 7

However, if they don't then there won't be too many people writing programs with this SDK until 7 comes out. Cause if not you'd need surface or 7 to debug your app. Perhaps this is just for the big boys that own a surface until others can use it.