Microsoft's latest Surface hardware could pave the way for a modular PC

Microsoft unveiled some intriguing changes to its Surface Hub 2 earlier this week. The 50-inch giant screen will now be available in two versions, and the Surface Hub 2S model to be launched next year will include a modular "processor cartridge" that will allow owners to switch to the Hub 2X surface in 2020. Surface Hub 2 and upgrades its internal components, including processor, motherboard and RAM. It's just the courage of the entire PC in a size comparable to that of a puck.

These cartridges will be used to upgrade the Surface Hub 2 over time, and even to repair peripherals in case of parts failure. Essentially, the Surface Hub 2 is now a giant screen with a removable PC. This seems to be a great way for other Microsoft all-in-one PCs, the Surface Studio.

The all-in-one PC from Microsoft was unveiled nearly two years ago and includes a 28-inch screen with all PC components housed in a base unit. Patents appearing for the Surface Studio detail the exact drawings of the device and a modular concept of stackable units so that the PC can upgrade and modify the components over time. The Surface Studio never debuted with a modular design, but it seemed to be the perfect monitor to connect to an existing Surface device or to have a scalable base.

These new processor cartridges in Surface Hub 2 seem to be an ideal candidate for a successor to Surface Studio. Microsoft was clearly studying this design at some point, as shown by the patent filings, but it is unclear whether its projects have progressed. The Surface Studio comes with unsatisfactory specifications and the hardware requires an update. Microsoft will host a Surface hardware event next week in New York, where we hope to learn more about the latest devices from the company.

Modular hardware is not an easy task, however. The phone makers have tried it with little success, Samsung has made its smart TVs scalable, and even Lenovo has been trying to sell the idea of ​​a small PC connected to a monitor. Microsoft might not want to try this for its more traditional Surface tablet hardware, but that seems like the perfect time for its PCs to become modular in general.

We're already in an era where you do not have to upgrade a PC every year, and the latest processors do not always have a significant impact on desktop performance. If you create a custom PC, you will usually need to refresh the CPU, RAM, and motherboard if you want to upgrade components. Combining this hardware into a simple upgrade module (such as Surface Hub 2) could appeal to businesses and consumers alike. Microsoft is clearly testing this idea with Surface Hub 2 for companies that are updating hardware over a longer time scale, but whether the company can combine the benefits of a hardware and software cartridge with a more compelling, modular PC.