If Microsoft is not planning to shelve its laptop-tablet product line, Microsoft Surface Pro 4 might probably be released next year. In a report by Master Herald, it said that Microsoft has decided to use the SSD of Korean electronics firm Samsung to improve the transfer rate of its newest tablet. Microsoft Surface Pro 4 was expected to be released on July 29, but this plan has been shelved following a decision to use the Samsung technology, according to the report.
According to Gazette Review, Microsoft has signed a deal with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. for the supply of solid state drives or SSDs to be used on its laptop line. The agreement involves the delivery of 20 million units of 256 GB SSDs to Microsoft in the second half of next year. It is not clear whether the order is meant only for the Surface Pro 4 or some other laptop lines of Microsoft, the report added.
SSDs are built using Samsung's non-volatile memory express (NVMe), a game-changing technology that can transfer data at 2GB per second, a significant improvement compared to Samsung Pro 3's 600 MB per second transfer rate.
Aside from this, Microsoft may have reportedly decided against the Surface Pro 4 launch this year because Surface Pro 3 is still doing well in the market in terms of sales. Introducing the Surface Pro 4 might dampen the salability of the older unit, the report said. Looking at the upside, the delayed launch of Surface Pro 4 might also mean that it may come with Windows 10, resulting in the the newest hardware with the latest operating software.
However, there are also reports that Microsoft may actually be looking to drop its Surface line, as the company, under its new CEO Satya Nadella, reportedly wants to adopt the "One Microsoft" approach, according to Master Herald. Nadella reportedly told its employees that Microsoft has to innovate in new areas, execute against its own plans, and make some tough choices in areas where things are not working.
The report noted that Nadella did not exactly say that the company is discontinuing its Surface line, however, the fact remains that Surface Pro is reportedly one of the product lines that is not doing well for Microsoft.
