The Tabletop PC: It’s Family Time

Will the Computer Market Go Horizontal?

Lenovo Horizon image

Back in 2001, Mitsubishi unveiled the DiamondTouch interactive PC. Effectively a large touch-screen computer with four legs, the device supported collaboration between up to four users. Long before most people knew about multitouch screens, Mitsubishi developed an enormous multitouch, multi-user table-top PC for enterprise users. In 2008, Microsoft introduced its first Surface PC, a large touch computer in the form of a Vegas bar table. It was an innovative science project that supported exciting usage scenarios and led to some interesting devices such as those introduced yesterday at IFA 2014 in Berlin.

Lenovo unveiled two updates to its aptly-named Horizon series of computers. The new Horizon 2s and Horizon 2e are large Windows 8.1-based, all-in-one PCs that can be used either as a desktop or tablet, but also have the added intention of being used as a family-experience machine. Placed in the centre of a table, these computers support up to 10 touch points simultaneously, meaning several people can use the device at the same time. The lower-end Horizon 2s has a 19.5-inch display and the Horizon 2e has a 21.5-inch display.

Lenovo also introduced a series of game companions for the Horizons, including a joystick and electronic dice. The Horizon 2e has optional NFC support, allowing the device to connect to NFC-enabled Android phones so that users can “shake” photos from their smartphones onto the large tablet. These are perhaps the most family-orientated computers to come to market, and they approach a board-game experience. With the right content, table-top PCs could complement the market for game consoles.

This is a market still in development, and the products are finding their place. Most PC-makers have introduced have introduced computers in this segment. But now they are getting thinner, lighter, more robust and more innovative. And though still expensive compared with other consumer electronics made for family entertainment (the new Lenovo devices start at $750), the prices for these all-in-one PCs are about a third lower than they were a year ago.

Lenovo’s brought some innovation to the market with its new Horizons. If the industry does it right, this segment could be something fresh. Tabletops could fill some gaps for PC makers.