In a private event for its employees, Microsoft shared a video presentation where it revealed the prototype of its new dual-screen laptop. The information was revealed by an exclusive source to The Verge website, and it claims that the video was only revealed internally. The employees even formed long lines to take a closer look at the product as it is said to be worth remembering and exciting to have.
Microsoft's plan to launch a dual-screen laptop is not exactly new. It is known that Microsoft is working on the Centaurus project (code name) about two years now, where the big goal is to create a device that redefines the concept of a laptop-tablet hybrid. With such a device, Microsoft would launch a breakthrough niche product, a device that could be seen as a tablet, but with the power of a laptop.
Windows Central was the first to report the code name Centaurus in December, and is very similar to the concept of Microsoft Courier tablet, which was launched nine years ago, and is already "dead" for a few years now. Microsoft was also working on a smaller surface device code name Andromeda, but the company stopped work at the expense of something larger, namely Centaurus itself.
The Centaurus Microsoft dual screen will also be one of the first devices to house Windows Lite, Microsoft's potential new operating system. which is a lighter version of Windows for dual-screen devices and Chromebooks.
It is important to note that Microsoft has never officially confirmed the existence of a dual screen laptop, the Centaurus project, or the Andromeda. After several failed concepts, the fact that this has already been revealed to employees makes experts believe that Microsoft dual-screen laptop can be launched later this year.
What's important to know at this stage, is that whether or not the Microsoft dual-screen laptop will be capable enough to spur interest and be affordable enough for buyers to take advantage of, when it arrives at the market. Earlier attempts at dual-screen devices by other brands have produced mixed results. Microsoft may suffer the same fate, even if the design and tech specs are exceptional.
Along with Centaurus, Microsoft employees were also able to see a functional version of xCloud, their online gaming streaming service. The company is expected to present more details about the xCloud service and public testing at the pre-E3 conference on Sunday.
Microsoft also demonstrated a new prototype version of Microsoft Teams, a company's chat application which they plan to extend to families and friends. Microsoft is said to be experimenting with features such as sending location, shared family calendars, and sharing documents through Microsoft Teams.
