Microsoft may reveal new laptop at 2 May event

Microsoft is widely expected reveal a new laptop in a few weeks, which would be more robust than a Surface but not as fancy as a Surface Book.

The launch will take place at its education-oriented software and hardware event in New York.

Also rather than Windows 10, the new product could run something called Windows 10 Cloud, which reportedly would only be able to run apps available in the Windows Store.

Running other apps would required a certain change in preference Settings.

This will ensure greater security, though it would mean one will not be able to use certain apps like Steam that are not in the Store, on a Windows 10 Cloud device such as the rumoured CloudBook.

Earlier, Microsoft's original Surface tablet running Windows RT, on which older Windows apps would not work, led to the software giant ultimately having to take a $900-million write-down on it.

The base model retailed for $600 with a keyboard cover and $500 without one, but Microsoft had to slash the price of each version of the inaugural Surface by $150, before the write-down. According to commentators sales were lower than expected as the product was not good enough for the price.

Meanwhile, according to a Forbes article, Microsoft may announce a revision of the popular Surface Pro hybrid tablet. With Intel's new Kaby Lake processors available and no hardware updates to the Pro line since late 2015, the event could offer the software giant the opportunity to upgrade and release a Pro 5.