Microsoft
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks at the Future Decoded conference in Mumbai, India, February 22, 2017. Reuters/Shailesh Andrade

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has announced a big Spring event on May 2. While he and his team are primarily going to talk strategy, the event is also an excellent opportunity to announce new hardware. One such highly-anticipated device is the Microsoft Surface Pro 5.

No hardware updates to the Pro line have been made till 2015. Now that Intel Kaby Lake processors are already available, it makes sense for Microsoft to bump up the specs of the Surface hybrid or release a brand new hybrid to stay in the game. The Redmond-based tech giant needs to take a call on whether to go with a new hybrid or simply upgrade the existing hardware. Unlike Apple, Microsoft does not need hardware sales to keep it going. Thus, bringing the latest specs ensures relevance of Surface Pro 5 but doesn’t generate excitement.

Microsoft has a whole lot of manufacturers taking care of the hardware. However, the company does need to promote its software and the solutions it offers. This is where Windows 10 on cloud must be considered in any new hardware Microsoft releases. Increasing the adoption of Windows 10 will also increase the adoption of cloud. Thus, in case Microsoft is looking to push cloud and create new spark among fans, the launching a Surface Cloud next month makes sense. Windows 10 can run on low-end hardware but still places a heavy demand on resources and storage that limit these laptops.

Windows Cloud can reduce hardware requirements and offer manufacturers another product line. This will also bring more users to the cloud. Moreover, it will be an amazing alternative to the Google Chromebook that is currently threatening the entire Windows 10 operating system, reports Forbes. With the Creators Update, Microsoft can now that the OS is suitable for smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops.

Microsoft’s mobile game has moved on from fighting Android because of an increased focus on its services and easy integration of cloud on iOS, Android, and macOS hardware. Thus, the May 2 event may not see the unveiling of the Surface Pro 5, Surface Book 2 or the Surface Phone. Instead, the company may unveil a mid-range laptop that may run the Windows 10 Cloud. Microsoft Surface CloudBook could be the first Windows 10 Cloud machine. The Surface CloudBook could run on an ARM processor.

Microsoft went into a partnership with Qualcomm late 2016 to give ARM another shot. Windows 10 Cloud would be Microsoft’s answer to Google Chromebooks. It will work with Win32 or Universal Windows Platform apps.

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