AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck - Gizmodo Comments

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

spyguy99 — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:20:17 EDT

Hmm, its a shame a lot of the AT&T stores are closing, at least in my area (near Chicago). It seems that all the stores are now owned by Verizon

spyguy99

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

1roll20s — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:23:37 EDT

I think its a great idea to get product info to people. The real downside is that it'll probably only serve 1-2 people at a time, and everyone will want to use it. Could end up being a real bottle neck. Especially so if the employee learn even less about their product and other in-store displays become weaker.

1roll20s

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

wolfsunfire — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:04:11 EDT

Did anyone notice the city the demo map shows? It's Las Vegas, NV. If I remember correctly, that's not one of the places they are installing these things. The problem is that I live in Las Vegas and REALY would like to check one out.

I have an iPhone and want to see how well it works with it.

wolfsunfire

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

tomcod — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:48:42 EDT

Mod it to run a virtual Whack A Mole game.

tomcod

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

quikboy — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:31:13 EDT

Absolutely amazing. Can't wait to check it out!

quikboy

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Step666 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:44:56 EDT

@nutbastard: if they did that, I'd have a new hobby - going round car dealerships and stealing their models!

@tophtucker: just so long as it doesn't accidentally switch into Airt Traffic Control mode, were moving those little model planes makes changes to the holding pattern...

Step666

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

tophtucker — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:25:52 EDT

I'd like to see this in airports. It'd be fantastic to see where all the flights were, in real-time, on a Virtual Earth map, plus weather and stuff. And you could just lay your boarding pass on it and it could read your flight data and give up-to-the-minute status updates.

Plllllleeeaassseee, Microsoft???

tophtucker

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

sisiay — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:47:10 EDT

@frigg
wow...shows how ignorant I am. I had no idea that strip clubs were more off limits than computers. I never know what I'll learn on Gizmodo....

sisiay

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Evangelion — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:35:07 EDT

@Marty_MacFly: Me too :) Seeing as how I love Microsoft, I think this table rocks!

Well anyways, back to the table. I remember seeing all the videos about it and I cant wait to actually see how it works in person.

Evangelion

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

frigg — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:43:51 EDT

@drewheyman: As I'm Amish (Mennonite, actually), I've never been in a strip club. However, I would imagine that if you were comparing strippers by moving them around on a table, you could pretty much do that with any table capable of supporting the combined weight of flesh and silicone.

frigg

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

ripfire — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:34:10 EDT

I'll probably buy this if I ever build a situation room next to the den.

ripfire

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Gofastmazda — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:33:28 EDT

@SchruteBuck: Yes, you get AT&Ts service which is a great thing. There's a reason they have the most customers.

@europria: Lumping every salesperson into your ignorant hate his job assumption is ridiculous. I'm sure there are people in every line of work who hate their jobs and don't do them well. Hell, I bet you're one of them!

Gofastmazda

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

drewheyman — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:39:53 EDT

@Joseph: strip club hmmm...i'd love to compare strippers side by side!! by placing them on a table and moving them around.

drewheyman

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Joseph — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:15:33 EDT

@dingus: I think you're right but from Microsoft's perspective, I don't think they really care who buys it. They are just trying to sell those tables. They probably don't care if it's a cell store, car dealer, dry cleaner, McDonalds or s strip club as long as they get paid.

Joseph

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

MrBlahBlah — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:12:57 EDT

@recklessinoz:

unnecessary for a phone store. but if it makes the shopping experience better, than maybe it is necessary

MrBlahBlah

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

nutbastard — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:56:57 EDT

@alukard:
nah they should have little scale models of the cars to place on there!

nutbastard

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

reckless_inoz — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:55:47 EDT

I love how it's "unnecessary" when Microsoft makes something cool, but Apple comes out with Coverflow and everyone oohs and aahs like it's the fucking second coming.

reckless_inoz

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

SowndOfDeth — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:46:14 EDT

But wouldn't it be difficult to park 2 cars on it?

SowndOfDeth

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

MrBlahBlah — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:39:13 EDT

unnecessary, but cool. it may sell more phones.

MrBlahBlah

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

zsleek7 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:37:09 EDT

Mass layoffs in the future for AT&T stores?

zsleek7

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

alukard — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:25:41 EDT

@nutbastard: This is the first of many places that will have this installed. So a car dealership could be one of the many. Place a leaflet with a tag on it, on the Surface and up comes info for you.

alukard

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Marty_MacFly — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:23:43 EDT

My phone buying process was already streamlined when I walked into an Apple store, bought my iPhone and went home to activate it with iTunes. From there I researched any accessories I needed and ordered them online.

No big ass table required.

Marty_MacFly

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Nongeek — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:09:59 EDT

Oy! Where's the video?

Nongeek

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Oneon1isto — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:03:25 EDT

You can touch your way all the way to a new iphone.

Using a Microsoft product!

*head explodes*

Oneon1isto

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Abnormal — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:56:04 EDT

All this tech and no video? For Shame!

Abnormal

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

dingus — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:46:32 EDT

@nutbastard: Maybe I'm full of crap, but cell phone contracts are way higher margin than cars.

dingus

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Amiash Loves You — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:42:47 EDT

Wow a table with screen and a cellphone you can place in it to browse its features?... coo.L *smug*
ow MS when will you stop asking money from us?

Amiash Loves You

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Zarian — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:42:32 EDT

I like how the 2 devices being compared are a blackberry and a Windows mobile phone. No iPhone, hmmmm....

Zarian

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Geisrud — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:41:21 EDT

@nutbastard: It's hard to get the car on top of the surface.

Geisrud

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy! — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:37:21 EDT

@nutbastard: It can attract more people to come into the store. This doesn't guarantee extra sales, but it still brings that possibility.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Digo — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:32:18 EDT

Wait, two evil companies unite for something good? I guess this disproves the whole two wrongs don't make a right thing. Take that Mrs. Berkowitz.

Digo

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

europria — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:31:24 EDT

So, how can a computer match unprecedented service quality of annoying cell phone salesman who hates his job and knows nothing about cell phones but only "if you push the green button, it dials".

I swear, if they read just one manual a day, they could master their job in 10 days but they don't even do that. When I go shopping I usually know more about the phones than they do.(Thanks to Gizmodo)

europria

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

SchruteBuck — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:27:40 EDT

@nutbastard: First time ever for an MS product.

SchruteBuck

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Joseph — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:27:27 EDT

COURTESY OF MICRO$SOFT--let's not forget.

Joseph

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

nutbastard — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:24:12 EDT

cool" seems to be the word of the day in here!

nutbastard

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Evangelion — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:23:33 EDT

Sorry about the double post...

Evangelion

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

nutbastard — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:23:29 EDT

Is this really a problem that requires a dedicated, expensive solution? Im not saying this isn't cool, but i think this would be better put to use in, say, a car dealership.

nutbastard

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

SchruteBuck — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:23:04 EDT

Cool, but don't you still get AT&T's service?

SchruteBuck

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Evangelion — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:21:48 EDT

Looks pretty cool!

Evangelion

AT&T Surface Retail Demo: Buying a Cellphone Finally Doesn't Suck

Evangelion — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:21:06 EDT

Cool!

Evangelion