Microsoft Surface 1.0 SP1: Getting Started Guide - Hardware Overview
A Microsoft Surface unit is built into a table-like form that is easy for users to interact with in a way that feels familiar in the real world.
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Microsoft Surface Hardware Products
There are three types of Microsoft Surface products.
Commercial Units with Microsoft Surface Runtime
Microsoft Surface commercial units are designed to be placed in venues where users can interact with them. The commercial unit includes the Microsoft Surface Runtime 1.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1) software, Windows Vista Business operating system with SP1, and all other software that is required to run Microsoft Surface touch-enabled applications.
The commercial unit is available with black acrylic panels for the sides of the unit.
Developer Units with Microsoft Surface SDK
Microsoft Surface developer units are designed for developers who are designing and building touch-enabled applications and IT professionals who are deploying and administering multiple Surface commercial units in the field.
A developer unit includes the Microsoft Surface SDK 1.0 SP1 software, Windows Vista Business with SP1, and all other software that is required to develop and test Microsoft Surface applications. This unit also includes a calibration board and two sheets of byte tags for making tagged objects.
The developer units include black acrylic panels on the sides of the unit.
Developer Microsoft Surface units include a Start Here guide to help you get started with the unit. You can also download an electronic copy of the Start Here guide.
Microsoft Surface SDK for Workstations
You can also install Microsoft Surface SDK 1.0 SP1, Workstation Edition, on a separate workstation. You can then use the included Surface Simulator application to develop and test Microsoft Surface touch-enabled applications without needing a Microsoft Surface unit. Surface Simulator replicates the behavior of a Microsoft Surface unit on a computer.
To use the Microsoft Surface SDK on a workstation, you must have the appropriate hardware and software. To learn more about the requirements and download Microsoft Surface SDK 1.0 SP1, Workstation Edition, see the Setting Up a Development Environment article.
For more information about how to develop Microsoft Surface touch-enabled applications, see the Microsoft Surface SDK documentation.
Physical Features of a Microsoft Surface Unit
A Microsoft Surface unit is a table-like form that is easy for users to interact with from any side. This section describes the physical features of a Microsoft Surface unit.
Dimensions
Microsoft Surface units with the black acrylic panels have the following dimensions.
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Hardware Components
A Microsoft Surface unit includes the following hardware components:
- Vision System and Display
- Tabletop
- Panels and Kick Plates
- AC/Main Rocker Switch and On/Standby Button
Vision System and Display
Every Microsoft Surface unit includes a 5-camera vision system with OSTAR® infrared direct illumination. The vision system uses infrared cameras to sense objects, hand gestures, and touch on the screen and then it processes that input.
Microsoft Surface applications respond to the input, and then the Microsoft Surface unit projects the resulting display on the 30-inch screen by using the following display:
Type: 30" XGA DLP projector
ATI X1650 graphics card with 256 MB memory
Resolution: 1028 x 768
Tabletop
The tabletop of a Microsoft Surface unit includes the 30-inch screen where the unit displays applications and where users interact with them, and it includes a clear, acrylic area around the screen. The tabletop has the following parameters:
Maximum standing weight on the tabletop: 180 pounds (lbs)
Maximum pressure on the tabletop: 50 pounds per square inch (psi)
Panels and Kick Plates
All sides of a Microsoft Surface unit are covered by panels. Some units have black, acrylic panels and others show plain, metal panels. Below the black, acrylic panels on the long sides of a Microsoft Surface unit, kick plates attach to the bottom of the long sides to cover up the bottom of the unit (and the power cord if it runs along the long sides).
You can remove only one side of a Surface unit. Under this removable panel, you can access the I/O connections. For more information, see Removing the End Panel to Expose the I/O Connections.
AC/Main Rocker Switch and On/Standby Button
There are two types of power buttons on a Microsoft Surface unit:
The AC/Main rocker switch turns on a section of the motherboard and the system control module (SCM).
The On/Standby button turns on the computer and the cameras inside the Microsoft Surface unit.
Note
Do not use the AC/Main rocker switch to turn a Microsoft Surface unit on and off; only use the On/Standby button for this. Even when the computer portion of a Microsoft Surface unit is turned off, a section of the motherboard and the SCM are always running.
The AC/Main rocker switch is located below the Microsoft Surface frame in the bottom-left corner of one end of the Microsoft Surface unit. The switch is located next to the receptacle where the power cord plugs into the Microsoft Surface unit. (This end is the opposite end of the unit from where the I/O connections are located.)
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AC/Main rocker switch
AC power connector
Kick plates
During normal operation, the AC/Main rocker switch should always be turned on.
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| is On
0 is Off
The On/Standby button is located at the opposite end of the Microsoft Surface unit, next to the I/O connections.
Computer Components
The computer within a Microsoft Surface unit includes similar components to a personal computer and includes locations where you connect to the computer.
Computer
The computer within a Surface unit has the following pieces:
Processor: 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and an ASUS motherboard
RAM: 2 GB of dual-channel DDR memory
Hard disk drive: 250 GB SATA hard disk drive
I/O Connections
All input and output (I/O) connections on a Microsoft Surface unit are located in one area on one of the short ends of the unit. This area is exposed on a developer unit and covered by an acrylic panel on a commercial unit. (For more information about the types of Microsoft Surface units, see Microsoft Surface Products Overview.)
You can use the I/O connections for such things as attaching an external monitor, connecting a keyboard and mouse, connecting the Surface unit to a network, loading content on the computer, and so on. For example, on a commercial unit, you might use the I/O connections to load applications and content. Or, a running Surface unit might use the Ethernet port to connect to a network, use the stereo jacks for external speakers, and use the USB connections for external peripherals.
The Microsoft Surface unit includes the following I/O connections and other features:
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Single-pin stereo headphone jacks (2)
Two USB ports with the I/O fully exposed
5-pin SCM firmware update port (do not use)
SCM status indicator lights. (For more information about what these lights mean, see Troubleshooting Surface Hardware Issues.)
Four USB 2.0 ports
Component video (RGB out)
Component audio, with the following output:
Type: Stereo flat panel built-in speakers
Compliant standards: Stereo
Ethernet port (Gigabit Ethernet card [10/100/1000]) that complies with the following network protocols and standards:
Network adapter: Intel Gb LAN
Wireless LAN connectivity supported: Yes
Data link Protocol: IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet
Network Standards: IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0
External monitor port (VGA out)
Conduits (channels) for routing cables
On/Standby power button
Air exhaust vent (one on each end)
The Microsoft Surface unit also includes support for WiFi and Bluetooth.
For more information about how to use the I/O connections, see the following articles:
Environmental Requirements
You must always operate a Microsoft Surface unit indoors and transport it in a secure and dry container. Whether the Surface unit is turned on and in use, or turned off and in transport, it can tolerate a range of environmental and atmospheric conditions.
Environmental Requirements for Turning On and Running a Unit
Before you turn on the Surface unit, check the ambient temperature and humidity conditions. If you move the Surface unit from one location to another and the temperature varies widely between those locations, you must allow the Surface unit to reach the prescribed temperature range before you turn it on.
Before you turn on a Surface unit, make sure the ambient environment meets the following atmospheric and temperature requirements.
| Altitude | Ambient temperature | Ambient relative humidity |
|---|---|---|
0–1,000 ft (0–305 m) |
41–104°F (5–40°C) |
8–85% non-condensing |
1,000–6,500 ft (305–1,981 m) |
41–95°F (5–35°C) |
8–85% non-condensing |
Environmental Requirements for Storing or Transporting a Unit
Whether you are storing or transporting the Surface unit, it must remain dry and secured.
Note
When you transport a Surface unit, make sure that the temperature changes at a rate such that condensation does not form on the unit. For Surface units, the maximum temperature change is 50°F per minute (10°C per minute) over the temperature range of 0–113°F (–18–45°C).
When you store or transport a Surface unit, make sure the ambient environment meets the following atmospheric and temperature requirements.
| Altitude | Ambient temperature | Ambient relative humidity |
|---|---|---|
–1,000–21,500 ft (–305–6,553 m) |
–104–140°F (–76–60°C) |
8–95% non-condensing |
Setting Up a Microsoft Surface Unit
When you first set up a Microsoft Surface unit, you can follow these steps to get started quickly and start to use the unit. You can later follow these steps as a reference to use a Microsoft Surface unit that has already been set up.
To set up a Surface unit
(First time only) Unpack the Microsoft Surface unit and position it in a level area, preferably under fluorescent light.
Save all packing materials in case you need to move or ship the unit.
(First time only) Connect the power cord to the AC power connector under the frame on the opposite side of the unit from the I/O connections, and then plug the power cord into an electrical outlet.
Turn on the AC/Main rocker switch, and press the On/Standby button.
For more information, see Turning a Microsoft Surface Unit On and Off.
(If you want to attach a mouse, keyboard, or external monitor) Remove the end panel that covers the I/O connections.
For more information, see Removing the End Panel to Expose the I/O Connections.
Attach a mouse, keyboard, and external monitor.
For more information, see Installing a Keyboard, Mouse, and Monitor.
(First time only) Follow the on-screen Windows Vista prompts to set up the operating system for the first time and create the administrator account name and password.
Run a basic calibration to make sure that the infrared cameras are correctly aligned.
For more information, see Running Basic Calibration.
Test and adjust the ambient light around the unit.
For more information, see Ambient Light Indicator Tool.