Microsoft Takes Another Shot at Surface Hub Video Conferencing
That’s a lot of sound and fury signifying what is, in essence, a really big iPad. Clearly, Microsoft has not been humbled by the delay-plagued original Surface Hub released little more than three years ago. That product, too, promised to reinvent conference presentations but ended up selling to relatively few customers. The main reason for this was price. The original Surface Hub cost between $9,000 and $21,000, depending on the model and additional features.
Microsoft has yet to assign a cost to the new version, but it would be reasonable to assume a similar range. At that price, the unit had better impress as much in function as it does in form.
Surface Hub 2 Features
Microsoft unveiled its new toy in mid-May without providing a price tag or specific release date (it won’t arrive until 2019). It did, however, include a list of features that promise to make it more than just a pretty face:
- Multi-person fingerprint login
- Multi-point stylus and touchscreen sensitivity, so more than one person can interact with the screen at once
- Microsoft Teams optimization
- Easel stand or wall mountable
- 3×2 aspect ratio (rather than the standard 16×9)
- Detachable 4k USB webcam
Not much has been revealed about the webcam, but the 50-inch video call display featured in the product demonstration looks very promising. Being optimized for Teams, you can assume that the Surface Hub 2 is capable of multi-person video calls, and for the file and screen sharing, live messaging, and integrated Office 365 features that platform delivers. The USB connectivity should also allow users to plug in their own web and conference cams, so even if the Microsoft version fails to impress, you could utilize other 4k models, such as the Logitech Brio.
Pairing 4k video conferencing with big touchscreen graphics would make the Surface Hub 2 a spectacular in-room presentation device, and that flexibility may be the only way companies beyond the Fortune 500 can justify spending so much on either aspect.
Is Your Business Big Enough for the Surface Hub 2?
In its early days, video conferencing was expensive and cumbersome enough to belong solely to the domain of big business, existing almost as a status symbol rather than a practical form of communication.
Those days are long, long gone. Today, video conferencing platforms such as Zoom charge less than $15 a month, there’s a big screen TV in every home, and a 4K camera capable of capturing an entire conference room costs less than $1,000. So why pay $9,000 for a Surface Hub 2?
Even if Microsoft aggressively prices its new device down to the range of the leading digital whiteboards that share its multi-person touchscreen functionality, such as the$5k-$6k Google Jamboard or Cisco Spark Board, that’s still a lot more than a traditional video conferencing setup. In fact, you can get Logitech’s new state-of-the-art group video conferencing system for less than $2,000, or Dolby’s Voice Room System for around $4,500, and those systems come with smart features that the Surface Hub 2 lacks, such as auto-framing and voice-recognition.
Microsoft’s new Surface Hub looks fantastic, and it would no doubt impress employees and clients alike with its slick interface and cinematic appearance. If, however, video conferencing is your focus, there’s much better value–and almost certainly better call quality–to be had by investing your money in camera quality and technology…even if that means you have to sacrifice a little on the spectacle.
Microsoft is giving you another chance to be spectacular.
Following the launch of its first Surface Hub in 2015, the digital colossus is back with another version of wall-mountable, touchscreen sensitive, giant tablet presentation technology: the Surface Hub 2.
This new iteration is a little smaller than its predecessor, but it’s far more agile and it comes with a video conferencing focus, thanks to a detachable webcam. You can rotate the 50-inch tablet 90 degrees and, more impressively, tile units together to make art installation-quality displays across your office walls.
Spectacle is everything with the Surface Hub 2, but lining your video calling conference or huddle room with (reportedly) better-than-4k visuals is going to be expensive. So, the question becomes, how much are you willing to pay for Surface Hub video conferencing–especially when your colleagues on the other end of the call can’t benefit from your groovy new presentation screen?
Surface Hub: Video Conferencing at Its Most Beautiful
At the height of its hubris, Microsoft imagines the Surface Hub 2 as one of the defining items of the office of the future. Its marketing team has long been a front-runner in creating tech that makes big visual promises.
Source: videoconferencingdaily
Latest Jobs
-
- Senior Service Desk Analyst
- Wiltshire
- Up to £32,000 Base + £6,400 Shift Allowance
-
We are currently working on behalf of an IT Service Provider based in Wiltshire who are on the lookout for a Senior Service Desk Analyst. The Senior Service Desk Analyst will be responsible for logging, managing and escalating internal & external incidents and requests. This is an excellent opportunity to join a business recognised for what they do and work with a number of top UK businesses. You’ll be able to manage your career development and gain additional training e.g. certifications etc. This role will include a shift (4 days on then 4 days off) which covers 24/7 12 hour shifts The ideal candidate will be currently working in a IT service desk / IT support role ideally in an IT Services business. Reference Number: PG7476 (Service Desk Administrator, Analyst, Support, Service Desk Support, shift work, traning, Information Technology, Customer service, Customer support)
-
- Data Centre Service Delivery Manager
- Hertfordshire
- Up to £50,000 + Package
-
A Data Centre Service Delivery Manager is needed to join a specialist connectivity provider in Hertfordshire. The company is going through a huge growth programme and this is an excellent opening for someone to join a business who are working with globally recognised organisations. You’ll be responsible for: Supporting the Commercial Director with management of existing and potential customers being the main point of contact. Maintaining and improving the company’s current and new services Customer relationship management Attending customer meetings in order to provide guidance to customers Keeping up a high quality level of service Updating appropriate documentation such as policy and procedures and making sure these are in place and followed Change and Incident management Service Level Agreements Experience required Must have current experience working in a Data centre environment in a Service Delivery role. An understanding of Data Centre technology and terminology. Experience of dealing with people of all levels within a business (Engineers to Board level) In return you'll have the ability to work in a cutting edge environment and work with a variety of well known international clients REF: PG7475
-
- Project Manager (Cisco, Microsoft)
- Surrey
- £450 Per Day
-
Project Manager (Cisco, Microsoft) A Project Manager with current experience on multiple Cisco (Networking, Security, UC etc.) & Microsoft (Server, Cloud etc.) projects is needed an initial 3 month contract in Surrey. Our client need someone who is Immediately Available as this is an Urgent Requirement. £450 per day Reference Number: CH7470 (Cisco Project Manager, Microsoft Project Management, Project Management)
-
- Data Centre Account Director
- London
- Up to £80.000 base with uncapped commission
-
Our client is looking for a Data Centre Account Director, the goal of this position is to be a trusted partner / primary point of contact and to achieve sales and margin expectations. You will also be growing new business and long-term growth across data centre services, Building good customer relationship at all levels for revenue growth and customer retention Working with presales specialists to propose relevant and cost effective data centre solutions for customers Understanding and identifying customers’ needs Leading bids, RFPs and proposals submissions Driving new business 60% of your time to new hyperscalers or enteprise customers. The ideal candidate should possess 5 years’ experience in selling Data Centre services. Self-driven, energetic, resourceful, creative and good account management skills and new business skills Ability to build good customer relationship at all levels, Be able to work independently. Reference Number: BD7467 (Data Centre, Data Center, Data Centre Sales, Data Center Sales)