14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft's #Windows10Devices event kicks off in a little over 6 hours and the company is expected to unveil a plethora of new devices, including a 14-inch version of the Surface that would help it step into the laptop market.
When first hearing about a Surface laptop, some people might be wondering why Microsoft is going that far with the Surface lineup, which actually debuted in 2012 with a 10.6-inch tablet that was supposed to compete with the iPad.
There are several reasons why a Surface laptop would really make sense and Microsoft most likely sees many more, so don't be too surprised if the 14-inch device sees the daylight later today. But if it doesn't, it doesn't necessarily mean that Microsoft doesn't want to go in that direction, but only that it needs more time to improve the first device that would compete against the other laptops on the market.
#1 - What you get is what you pay for
First of all, a Surface laptop would come with a 14-inch screen and the best hardware currently on the market, so if you pay around $2,000 (this is the cost of the most expensive Surface Pro 3 right now, featuring an Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage), you deserve something that really excels.
And that's what Microsoft could do with the Surface laptop. The device can come with powerful hardware that is really worth the investment, and although many people say that the Surface Pro 3 would really bring good value for the money, this would actually be the first Microsoft Surface device doing that.
#2 - A real Apple MacBook competitor
Back in May 2014, when Microsoft launched the Surface Pro 3, it promoted it as a strong MacBook rival, but if the company decides to launch a Surface laptop, this can be the true rival for Apple's ultrabook.
In addition to the latest-generation hardware that we've told you about, the Surface laptop can also be very thin and light, which once again would make it a good alternative to the MacBook. Plus, Windows 10 would come with all the things one would need to remain productive on the go.
The only missing piece of the puzzle is an appealing price, so it's up to Microsoft to decide whether it wants to compete directly with the MacBook or not. A $2,000 price tag could make sense though.
#3 - Living proof that Microsoft is serious about hardware
If a Surface laptop gets the greenlight, this is living proof that Microsoft is really keen on investing in hardware and it's not all just about tablets.
The Surface lineup evolved from a loss-generating device to one that actually brings home the bacon, so Microsoft is rapidly gaining the know-how to continue developments in this business. A laptop would be the living proof that Microsoft isn't only willing to expand the Surface lineup, but also to conquer new markets.
The only problem with the Surface laptop is that, once again, Microsoft becomes a foe for its own friends.