Mar 17, 2017 08:55 AM EDT By Khaleb Skye A. Cruz, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Surface Book 2 may not have its 2-in-1 tablet and laptop trademark design. Instead, Microsoft could launch it as a regular clamshell device for a cheaper price.

Various reports claim that Microsoft might launch the Surface Book 2 at the end of March or April. Apparently, it is just in time for the release of 2017 iPads from Apple. Read on for more details.

Surface Book 2: Why drop the 2-in-1 feature?

According to DigiTimes, the detachable design will be discontinued in the Surface Book 2 as it created conflict with the Surface Pro lineup. It also noted that Microsoft only had around 500,000 Surface Book shipments last year. The reason for the limited demand, per the same source, was the struggle between the company's laptop and tablet products.

Meanwhile, the Surface Book 2 recently entered a mass production, according to sources "from the related upstream supply chain." The new laptop is expected to showcase a decent 13.5" screen. Moreover, it may sport a magnesium-aluminum chassis.

While it is important to note that DigiTimes has an unstable record on gadget predictions, it is also vital to note that the publication did very well in 2016. It was actually the first one to reveal the plan for the Surface Studio all-in-one PC. More especially, it did the report in a very accurate manner so its forecast about the Surface Book 2 might be true at some point.

Price cut for Surface Book 2

Per Forbes, the Surface Book 2 could retail for around $1,000. This is, in fact, lower than the starting price of its predecessor. The latter's price ranges between $1,499 and $3,199. For one thing, the cheaper model aims to lure in more customers from the middle-class market. Thus, the Surface Book 2 aims to boost the demand for Microsoft laptops.

Microsoft may actually encounter up to 1.5 million shipments this year. On the other hand, the company has been pushing discounts for the Surface Book segment on a regular basis. To illustrate, the 128GB Intel Core i5 variant is now available for $1,299 from $1,499. Microsoft has not yet issued any official statement regarding the Surface Book 2.

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