Microsoft Surface Book 2 News and Release Date: New Photo Leak Appears on Instagram; Updated Hinge System?
The New Microsoft Surface Book 2 Appears in Photos with Redesigned Hardware
The Microsoft Surface Book launched October last year was received very well by the tech community and the public alike. With most of its features hitting the right punches, one of the main criticisms is its hinge system. This seems to be resolved in a teaser photo of the upcoming Surface Book 2.
The Hinge Problem
Many tech reviewers heralded the Surface Book to be one of the most amazing performers in the 2-in-1 arena last year, despite being the pioneer of its lineup. The laptop and tablet hybrid combined powerful specification with premium build and design that captured the interest of many.
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As much as it received praises for its bold, and quite successful, attempt in breaking the already crowded 2-in-1 market, the original Surface Book was a feature shy from being perfect. While the detachable tablet connects to the rest of the laptop through the dock and a particularly sturdy hinge mechanism, the system was a polarizing factor that had many users scratching their heads.
The fulcrum-type hinge fully expands as the laptop casing opens. This allowed for a more unified look and feel of the device, giving it a solid unibody finish. However, upon closing the device, a huge gap is noticeable. Some users were concerned that if the laptop goes in a bag, small objects may slip through it and eventually damage the device. Dust may also easily settle in this gaping hole, concerning consumers with the device's future-proofing.
Photo Leak
For its successor, the Surface Book 2, Microsoft Surface teased in an Instagram photo a new hinge system, with caption 'Your key to success.' The device looks to be sporting significant design improvements, especially with the hinge having fewer ridges.
Windows Central editor-in-chief Daniel Rubino got inside intelligence and stated that the photo was not a leaked image of the upcoming device, but is in fact a screenshot from a concept video for the Surface Book 2. He goes on to say that the video has been making its rounds within the various departments of Microsoft. It may also have been a legitimate leak, but is very unlikely.
The photo posted is also that of a black device, suggesting that the new device may have a black variant. However, production models are usually black, as stated by Rubino, or it may have been a filtering issue on Instagram itself.
Possible Release Date
To date, no solid rumors have been leaked as for the specs and other details about the new device. Users are anticipating the usual upgrade for specs, as well as a new design. It is predicted to be released early in 2017, taking advantage of the new processing technology by Intel, the Kaby Lake, along with Nvidia's powerful graphics processors.
