Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 has been enjoying positive reviews since its announcement in May of this year, but all eyes are on the new and improved Surface 4 and what it can bring to the tablet table.
Despite rumors that slated the Surface Pro line to be going away, Microsoft broke its usual rule of not responding to rumors by stating in a blog last month that "Businesses can buy with confidence. We are here to stay."
Latest News: Microsoft will likely unveil Surface Pro 4 alongside Windows 10
Brian Hall, general manager for the Surface line continued, "We are pleased to share that the following Surface Pro 3 accessories are designed with our product roadmap in mind and will be compatible with the next generation of the 'Pro' line of Surface."
This seems to be official confirmation from Microsoft that there will be at least one more Surface Pro tablet, and some speculation has already begun about what that next Surface Pro will contain.
First off, it's assumed, going by Hall's comment, that the Surface Pro 4 will share a similar design and physical dimensions as the Surface Pro 3 to allows those accessories to carry over. A report from the Information Week blog states that the next iteration will share the current Surface Pro 3's 12-inch screen and run Windows 10. "This means businesses can invest in Surface Pro products without worrying about support issues down the road," the site speculated.
Earlier this week, the Surface Pro 3 passed strict guidelines from the General Services Administration (GSA) to allow the tablet to be used by U.S. federal, state, and local government organizations.
"One of the sectors that has expressed particular interest in Surface is U.S. government customers, which includes state and local organizations, as well as federal civilian and defense agencies," a post at the official Surface blog states.
This seems to be further confirmation that the product line will continue, especially if government agencies are investing this type of support.
But the big question is when we can expect this future Surface Pro. All industry speculation centers on 2015 for the big launch, or at the very least, an announcement. As for a timeline, Microsoft is expected to first release Windows 10, and then the Surface Pro 4, or perhaps even release them simultaneously, allowing the Surface Pro 4 to be Win 10's flagship device over desktops as mobile becomes the popular choice among consumers.
