Dell is showing of a concept for a smart desk of the future that combines a touch-sensitive tabletop display with a traditional model for a multi-display setup where the touchscreen is the one that’s closer to your hands.

The idea is that artists, engineers, architects, and other professionals would be able to write, draw, and manipulate digital content on the horizontal screen while viewing the results (or something else entirely) on a vertical display.

But while Dell is positioning this concept as a smart desk of the future concept, it kind of looks like something HP already offers.

dell smart desk

HP recently introduced an unusual PC called the HP Sprout. It’s a 23 inch all-in-one desktop with a touch-sensitive mat with support for 20-point input.

While the mat isn’t an LCD display like the one shown in Dell’s video, the Sprout has a DLP projector which can project images onto the mat so you can use it like a display. The HP Sprout also has a 3D camera system that lets you scan objects placed on the mat to create digital copies of physical items which you can then manipulate via software.

hp sprout_06

Dell’s concept and HP’s reality aren’t exactly the same. Dell’s smart desk supports pen input, has an actual horizontal display rather than a projector, and features custom software. But unlike Dell’s Smart Desk of the future, the HP Sprout is available now. HP sells it for $1900.

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5 replies on “Dell’s smart desk of the future concept resemble’s HP’s Sprout PC of today”

  1. Wow, this would be amazing on my desk. It’s a old Tanker desk with a black glass top.

  2. I have never been a fan of HP’s pc’s I do love their monitors though, but this is my dream pc. It looks to be the perfect pc for anyone even slightly artistic. It’s like something Apple should have come up with only much more affordable.

      1. Well still to high for me but considering what you get and what it would cost to buy all that separately….yeah it’s not that bad a price.

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