Speaking in London this week, Microsoft chief product officer Panos Panay said the company's Surface line is a key part of its strategy.
Over the years of its existence, Microsoft has certainly built various types of hardware, with varying degrees of success.
But the Surface line – which includes laptops, tablet-PC hybrids and soon a foldable tablet and a smartphone – has been a huge success for the company, generating positive reviews for its sleek design and billions in revenue for the company.
But as Microsoft has shifted priorities under CEO Satya Nadella, the Surface line has become more than just a showcase for new laptop designs. These devices are becoming a showcase for a new version of Microsoft itself, where the PC and Windows ,while important, are no longer the company's primary focus.
Windows is no longer Microsoft's core, as the company has been evolving into a cloud and productivity apps company for some time now. Its focus has shifted.
This is one of the reasons why the Surface Duo will run on Android, a decision that Microsoft would not have made a few years ago.
Without a doubt, revealing its new devices a year before they go on sale is certainly an unusual move, and it's clear that Microsoft hopes to encourage other hardware developers to try out foldable Windows tablets.
The new dual-screen design may attract developers who otherwise wouldn't consider building apps for Windows.
Some people might replace their laptop with a foldable device, Panay said, while others might decide to have both.
However, this does not mean that the new devices will be successful or will meet the increased demands of the era.
