Although, this is likely to be Surface version 1 not Microsoft's successor to Vista; Windows 7, it may provide a glimpse towards some positive changes to the next Windows OS, if there is another one.
Look!!! It'll now take you the same time to find a photo on a computer as it does in real life now (e.g. ages)! Thaaat's progress!!! (Although, if a mobile camera phone can download pictures and video to a computer that fast in the future - it really will be progress.)
Looks like you'll also be able to - in the future - when MM Surface is just a mat lying on the table in the restaurant - completely ignore all your other dinner guests and as the resturant owner, sack most of the waiting staff! Guess thaaat's progress again. My guess is that most people (bar the young and impressionable) will soon grow weary of tables that talk back to you.
I have to say, if this is a preview of windows 7. The application selection bit looks clunky and unimaginative like a version of the Mac app selection bar, but for babies.
This beauty (below) on the other hand, to me surpasses anything demoed by MS so far. Its more fluid, more imaginative and while, in demo no real work or play is being carried out, it just seems more interesting and fun. More Mac than Microsoft.
If the entire touch interface/layout/app selection and interaction can be customised in Windows 7, it should work for the next OS as well - because third parties will do a much better job than Microsoft. This is already evident on the latest Windows Mobile 6 which has many commercial and freeware iterations of its Today screen and alternative and fasterways to open apps. (Workplaces could have an option to prevent customisation or just have networked user profiles.)
When touch screen arrives, there MUST BE NO pull-down menus. From the first video this looks to be the case. Selection of options and application tasks need to be done with gestures and options displayed large, finger friendly and clear.
Microsoft need to change their attitude about what releasing an OS means. It should be about providing core tech to others to perfect or modify if they wish. We would then, finally, get real progress in the Windows world.
