Microsoft Surface Hub is now shipping to enterprise customers
Microsoft’s gigantic collaborative touchscreen PC, the Surface Hub, has finally began shipping to business customers.
The Windows 10 device was first announced last year as part of Microsoft’s upcoming range of Surface devices, alongside Microsoft HoloLens, but it run into production delays, pushing back the shipping date for enterprise customers.
The device supports multi-touch, as well as a marker-sized stylus compatible with Microsoft Office, and includes Skype for Business, and is capable of running all software applications that run on a regular PC.
The 84-inch model has a 4K display, and is priced at $22,000, while the 55-inch version with HD display can be had for $9,000.
Companies that have ordered and have seen Surface Hub in action, include AstraZeneca, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and SHoP Architects, as well as Barlit Beck, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University, European School of Management and Technology.
Apps running on Surface Hub:
- Buzz Radar - data presentation app
- FluidMath - educational app
- Mediator by Interknowlogy - media sharing application
- MURAL - collaborative drawing app
- Power BI - data presentation
- Sensavis The 3D Classroom - educational app and services
- Portal Mindmap by HeadCandy - Collaborative Mindmap application
- Stormboard for Surface Hub - Collaborative organization app
- TechSmith Loop - Video analysis application
- SharpCloud - Collaborative visual software
- tuServ by Black Marble - Collaborative app for teams
- Virbeya - Virtual collaborative environment
- and XOS ThunderCloud.- Sports coaching application
Microsoft Surface Hub’s emphasis is on cost effectiveness. According to Microsoft, Surface Hub “...resulted in benefits of more than $850,000 (3 year NPV**) based on savings in device deployment and management costs, avoided printing and device purchase costs, and improved sales...”. Also according to Microsoft, early adopters of Surface Hub have experienced a 75% increase in remote attendance during collaborative meetings, with much faster setup times,
Finally, Microsoft claims a 20% sales improvement reported by companies using Surface Hub to conduct presentations with their clients.