Oahu may be consumer version of Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface is nice,  no doubt about it.   It flows with the slightest touch, and is a hint of technology to come in computer interfaces.  Windows 7 is incorporating some of these features, but the real trick is to match up the hardware with the software to have a complete system.  The cost of the Surface system, however, is intimidating at best –  prices listed at 10k+.   Any hopes of having such a system being commonplace enough to be a standard is dashed by that high entry point.  So, it would seem that a high degree of market share by a Surface type computer might not be happening with the next generation or soon thereafter.

But the story does not end there.  Microsoft likes to hire companies to do market research, and often the research contains a lot of survey questions exploring various potential products and services. Recently some very interesting questions were asked in just such market research, including one about a device called "Oahu":

Oahu is a flat screen that sits horizontally like a table top. You can interact with Oahu by touching the screen, instead of using a mouse, and more than one person can interact with Oahu at the same time. You and others can move objects on the screen with your hands and touch icons to open up programs, games, or music. People using the device can also use their fingertips to expand and shrink objects on the screen. The screen recognizes people’s hand movements and touches and reacts accordingly. You can bring up an on-screen keyboard to input information.

Okay, so that sounds a LOT like Surface, at least from the demos I've seen.  The research went on to give more information (they are certainly  hungry for consumer feedback on this one):

Oahu also works with other devices (such as digital cameras, cell phones, and MP3 players) by getting information from or sending information to them. Oahu is on with no waiting time to start up. Oahu can come as a freestanding table, placed into a piece of furniture, or built into a countertop. The type of Oahu devices we are asking about today are not portable but if they are furniture or tables, they can be placed anywhere in your home.

Now, Microsoft has been known to do a lot of research in product areas that never actually produce a product.  But the stars are lining up here, with what we know about Surface AND Windows 7, we are betting that this is a new consumer product.  And with that, the price will have to be in a more consumer friendly ballpark than 10k.  Now here is the good news in all of this –  the survey included a price: $1,499. (There is apparently a website for Oahu, registered by Microsoft.  But it only takes you to the main Microsoft page with no other information.)

Oahu, a consumer version of Surface for $1,499.  Sweet. 

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