Forum Discussion
MicrosoftWelcome to the Surface Hub Community!
Tami_Moore While Cezar as a Microsoft representative has to be mindful of his responses, thankfully I don't.
First and foremost, if you expected Surface Hub to just be a big Windows PC, you clearly haven't done your research on the product. There is plenty of information out there and on Microsoft Docs that clearly outlines the differences and limitations of the product. It's geared towards meeting room environments, and there are strict security implementations on the product as a result, such as no win32 support, UWP store installs only, and limited functionality for the key things usually undertaken in meetings (VC, Whiteboarding, and screen-sharing).
This is what allows it to be a communal device where multiple people can use it as a shared device, while ensuring it is left in a ready state for next use.
If you honestly dropped $30k on the device without knowing the specifications in advance, that is frankly poor management! I have to justify every penny spent at my workplace and be very, very careful to deliver on those promises. I need to know, in advance, what I am delivering. Any quick search would have shown that running such applications like Unity, Photoshop, Illustrator etc. wasn't going to be possible.
Now, onto some better news. As Cezar has said, you can put Surface Hub into replacement PC mode and connect up a PC. This will let you use all the functionality of the hardware (touchscreen, pens, speakers, cameras etc.) while leveraging a standard Windows 10 environment.
Microsoft have also already indicated that they are planning to release a Surface Hub 2S that will run Windows 10 Enterprise, so at that point you can run win32 apps. Many industries require this (medical for one, education as another) so this will be possible soon, but will require you to purchase a new Surface Hub.
Frankly, if all you wanted was a giant touchscreen connected to a standard PC, you should have bought a giant touchscreen and connected it to a Windows 10 PC. Surface Hub is a very targetted device for a very specific scenario.
You can't hate on a product that doesn't fulfil your purposes when you clearly don't understand the product before putting the money down for it. The fault for that lies with you, not Microsoft.
As much as I love my 84" Hub, I equally despise it. The inability to download and install software is absurd. For example, Skype is blocked by my school district other than within the district. I bought the Hub to collaborate with industry representatives in my curriculum area.
Near to none of the software I use in class can be installed on it. No Unity game engine. No Photoshop. No Substance Painter. No Illustrator or any creative cloud items. No 3dsMax. No Mudbox. No Zoom. No ANYTHING.
Other large devices are far more compatible. I am disappointed that the $30,000 we spent was wasted on a device that for the most part is used to display PowerPoint presentations. It sucks as a teaching tool. And with Remote/Virtual learning it would have great to teach from it.
Tami_Moore While Cezar as a Microsoft representative has to be mindful of his responses, thankfully I don't.
First and foremost, if you expected Surface Hub to just be a big Windows PC, you clearly haven't done your research on the product. There is plenty of information out there and on Microsoft Docs that clearly outlines the differences and limitations of the product. It's geared towards meeting room environments, and there are strict security implementations on the product as a result, such as no win32 support, UWP store installs only, and limited functionality for the key things usually undertaken in meetings (VC, Whiteboarding, and screen-sharing).
This is what allows it to be a communal device where multiple people can use it as a shared device, while ensuring it is left in a ready state for next use.
If you honestly dropped $30k on the device without knowing the specifications in advance, that is frankly poor management! I have to justify every penny spent at my workplace and be very, very careful to deliver on those promises. I need to know, in advance, what I am delivering. Any quick search would have shown that running such applications like Unity, Photoshop, Illustrator etc. wasn't going to be possible.
Now, onto some better news. As Cezar has said, you can put Surface Hub into replacement PC mode and connect up a PC. This will let you use all the functionality of the hardware (touchscreen, pens, speakers, cameras etc.) while leveraging a standard Windows 10 environment.
Microsoft have also already indicated that they are planning to release a Surface Hub 2S that will run Windows 10 Enterprise, so at that point you can run win32 apps. Many industries require this (medical for one, education as another) so this will be possible soon, but will require you to purchase a new Surface Hub.
Frankly, if all you wanted was a giant touchscreen connected to a standard PC, you should have bought a giant touchscreen and connected it to a Windows 10 PC. Surface Hub is a very targetted device for a very specific scenario.
You can't hate on a product that doesn't fulfil your purposes when you clearly don't understand the product before putting the money down for it. The fault for that lies with you, not Microsoft.
Thank you for all the blatant accusations. You do not know me, nor the background of this purchase or any of the other hundreds of thousands of dollars of technology I have purchased for my students.
I am not an idiot as you infer. I did do my research. Face to face with Microsoft sales reps. And a Microsoft trainer who met with another tech teacher, representatives from my district's IT department and myself before we purchased numerous devices. He demoed the device and answered questions during the 6+ hour session. I was 100% clear about what I wanted to use this device for. (I had selected a different device from a different manufacturer, but we are a Microsoft district and I was assured by Microsoft this device would handle our intentions.) The ability to conference - my students with game designers and developers as they are located around the world - was the sole reason for a device this large. I was assured by Microsoft personnel this was possible with new updates, apps and capabilities in the making.
I do use the Hub by mirroring my surface book for Photoshop, Unity and other software. My real frustration is the lack of conferencing abilities. I do not need to place the Hub in replacement mode.
I was not "hating" on a device as you so put it. I was commenting on a frustration (during this COVID crisis) and the need to visually communicate with my students. Using the Hub would make teaching technology easier.
No need to respond because I am sure it would just contain more negative blasting of my character.
- cezarcretu
Hello Tami_Moore,
The concept of the Surface Hub is a bit different as you intend to use it. It is a collaboration device designed to be used by different users/teams in common areas. To ensure the users data is not at risk of being left over, some security restrictions were put in place, including the ability to install win32 applications.
However, you can still run the applications on your computer and take advantage of the screen and peripherals using the replacement PC mode.
In regards to Zoom, since there is no Modern App in the Microsoft Store, this can be done from Edge once the Windows Team 2020 update will be released for general availability. You can test it today using the Preview Build
Thank you,
Cezar
Thank you for your comments. I do use the Hub via mirroring my Surface Book. It is the conferencing that is so important now with remote teaching.
My frustration also comes from being assured by Microsoft personnel (prior to the purchase) the Hub would do what I needed/wanted it to to. And the capabilities would grow and surpass my needs.
Thanks again for the comments and the preview!
- cezarcretu
Hello Tami_Moore,
I believe there was a misunderstanding here. Microsoft cannot control 3rd party software development to UWP apps (Microsoft Store). I'm not sure which Microsoft employee said this but we can investigate further by opening a support ticket. I will take ownership of it and involve the right team for this.
Mirroring these applications to the Surface Hub would be the solution but since you are already doing this, can you expand on why this is not working for you? We can also address this in a support ticket
Thank you,
Cezar
