Microsoft is reportedly preparing to unveil the Surface 3. If so, it may not only mean the end of the Windows RT OS, but it could also reveal some insight into Microsoft's tablet strategy going forward.
Microsoft debuted the Surface 2 RT tablet two years ago and at the time response was enthusiastic as it boasted lots of enhancements compared to Surface RT and got a slew of attention as it arrived with the Surface Pro 2, which gave consumers a Surface running Windows 8.1.
Then, inexplicably, in a move that many felt defied some logic, Microsoft pushed Surface Pro 3 out to the masses, but no Surface 3 came amid rumors of a Surface Mini option, which ultimately never came to fruition.
According to a report from WinBeta, the alleged Surface 3 will reportedly run, for the first time, on Windows 8.1, an Intel chip of some sort, possibly Core M or ATOM, and be fanless.
One report believes the Surface 3 represents the mini Surface that Microsoft shelved as it won't be on par with the Surface Pro 3 and will be revealed at Microsoft's Build event kicking off on April 29.
As many industry watchers have noted in the past two years, Surface is now somehow the stepchild Microsoft has been taking care of, while doling out most of its attention to Surface Pro. The next-gen Surface is likely to come well before Windows 10 due later this year.
The fact that Surface never made quite the headlines as compared to its newest sibling, Surface Pro 3, is tied to Microsoft's tablet OS strategy. If Surface had not boasted RT, some industry watchers believe, it could have given Apple's iPad some staunch competition.
The move to push out a Surface could also signal other portfolio moves expected this year, such as an updated Surface Pro 4 featuring a kick-butt depth camera.
Microsoft's Surface strategy is obviously somewhat tied to its processor strategy and reported in-development chips that may be coming down the pike from Intel and ARM.
With a Surface 3, many seem to think Microsoft is just taking the opportunity to fill in a gap in the Surface portfolio that it likely should have taken care of much earlier so it can completely focus on future iterations of its popular Surface Pro 3.
A quick look at Microsoft's Surface store reveals the Surface 2, which was retailing for about $550, isn't available, with Microsoft suggesting those browsing Surface 2 consider the Surface Pro 3, which is being sold with some impressive discount options at this point.
