Kineti Windows 10 table shows what the Surface could have been

Before it became a tablet, "large screen", and soon all-in-one PC brand, the "Surface" was envisioned to be something that nobody really wanted back then: a Windows-powered touchscreen coffee table. Perhaps it was just too far ahead of its time, or the powers that be (marketing) decided it has no chance of retail success. The dream, however, is far from dead and French outfit Kineti is trying to prove that there is indeed a market for a Windows 10 table by making it available for anyone to buy. If they can afford the $5,600 price tag, of course.

Technically speaking, it's not actually that hard to put Windows, or even Android, on a structure such as this. All you need is a large enough touch screen, a table to put it on, and a SBC like, say, everyone's favorite Raspberry Pi. Of course, the OS needs to support multiple gestures and multiple simultaneous users, which is easier to do these days.

But it's the extras that might make the Kineti tickle the fancy of technology fans. For example, simple swipe gestures to transfer content from tablet to table or table to TV has always been a dream. The large display also makes for a great way to view the same or even multiple content together with other people. And with integration with smart home appliances and IoT devices, you can even turn it into a fancy smart home dashboard. Kineti is also teasing some secret future applications. And, of course, the table is also waterproof so you can actually use it as a regular table, should the need arise.

Although now available for purchase, there will always be a question of purpose. Kineti does seem to believe the time is ripe to sell the table. That said, the costs will probably make not a few shy away from a purchase. The la Table KIneti goes for 4,997 EUR, or roughly $5,560.

SOURCE: Kineti