Samsung SUR40: large tactile screen and Windows 7

Microsoft has announced that the Surface 2.0 device presented during the CES show in Las Vegas is now available for pre-order with deliveries expected in 2012. It’s their partner Samsung who will be responsible for distribution of the device going by the SUR40 name to 23 countries around the world.

The SUR40 is presented as a 39.5 kilogram coffee table which is 10 centimetres thick, with the tactile interface being 40 inches in diameter. The glass is treated against scratches and can manage up to 50 contact points at the same time, while the display offers 2 000:1 contrast with a resolution of 1 920 x 1 080 pixels.

This can work as a giant tactile computer which can be used between family and friends (games for example) or as a non-tactile computer thanks to USB ports included for peripherals. It can also be used as a large external screen for a mobile device (smartphone, tactile tablet or laptop computer) with the help of a Bluetooth link.

Under the hood of the device we find a dual core AMD Athlon X2 processor running at 2.9 GHz, with 4 GB of RAM, an AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics card which is DirectX 11 compatible and a 320 GB hard drive. The system’s software is powered by the Windows 7 operating system, while the hardware is powered by a 230 Watt power supply, with the device using 2 Watts in standby.

The Microsoft Surface 2.0/Samsung SUR40 (click to enlarge)

As for the price, the tablet has been announced at 8 400 dollars. It is therefore a good chance such a device will only interest governments or companies, rather than home users.