Microsoft has unveiled a new touch-sensitive coffee table-shaped computer called "Surface".
Designed to do away with the need for a traditional mouse and keyboard, users can instead use their fingers to operate the computer.
Also designed to interact with mobile phones placed on the surface, Microsoft says it will initially sell the unit to corporate customers.
These will include hotels, casinos, phone stores and restaurants.
So-called "multi-touch" interfaces - which allow the user to "gesture" with several fingers at once to manipulate data, rather than relying on a mouse and menus - have been making waves in tech circles for some time.
One of the most hotly-awaited examples is Apple's iPhone, which is scheduled to be released in June.
'Multi-billion dollar category'
With a 30-inch screen, Surface will initially sell for between $5,000 and $10,000 (£2,525-£5,050).
However, Microsoft said it aimed to produce cheaper versions for homes within three to five years.
"We see this as a multibillion dollar category, and we envision a time when surface computing technologies will be pervasive, from tabletops and counters to the hallway mirror," said Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer.
Microsoft has had a mixed record recently with new consumer products.
While its Xbox games console has been a success, its Zune music player continues to lag far behind Apple's iPod.
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