It’s been a while since we’ve talked about the Microsoft Surface table. And while the Redmond giant is no longer shipping product, Lenovo is stepping up to the plate with the new IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC. It’s a 27″ Windows 8 tablet, and it is by far the coolest thing I’ve seen at CES this year.
At last night’s CES Showstoppers event, Lenovo execs demoed two of the Horizon products by setting them up as gaming surfaces. With a multi-user interface, these giant tablets work for everything from air hockey to dice games to shoot-em-ups. Use your fingers, or grab a joystick, puck or die to get started. The accessories pair with the Horizon surface and bring back that retro feel of playing Pac Man at the Pizza Hut on one of their 1980s game tables.
Oddly, the Lenovo products really are full Windows 8 machines. But the company plans to market and sell the Horizon Table PC (at least initially) as a gaming device. The product is due to ship in the U.S. this summer, and will retail for $999*. At least if Lenovo is as good as its word. The company’s CES track record isn’t the best, but maybe this time is different. If so, go find yourself a Horizon Table PC to try out in about six months. These things are fun.
Specs from Lenovo: