When it comes to the Surface lineup from Microsoft, it has gone from strength to strength over the years. Last year, the company brought out the Surface Pro 4 and the new Surface Book, and this year, it appears that it is planning to add a Surface all-in-one (AIO) PC to the lineup.

There is an increased demand for devices that can work as both a tablet and a laptop and this has helped fuel the demand for the Surface line created by Microsoft. However, if rumors are true, the software major is planning to take on Apple with the next device in the Surface lineup and more importantly its iMac lineup. The rumors pertaining to the AIO addition in the Surface lineup arrived via DigiTimes and it stated that Microsoft has already contacted upstream suppliers about the device.

More importantly, the company is planning an AIO computer as it is very happy with the success that the Surface lineup has witnessed so far. Microsoft is also likely not to bring out a Surface Book 2 this year and instead bring out the AIO Surface device. There are also indications that the upcoming AIO Surface device will be marketed as an alternative to a Surface Book 2.

However, given that the Surface Book's design was praised when it released last year, Microsoft has no plans to shelve the line. Instead, DigiTimes states that the company is planning to use the Kaby lake processors on the upcoming Surface Book 2 to help it combat the power issues that the first generation device was plagued with. The new Kaby lake processors however are only scheduled to arrive next year and so the launch of the Surface Book 2 is thought to be happening sometime after this.

As for the launch of the Surface AIO, it is expected to happen in the third quarter of this year. Microsoft had also hinted that it was going to release new devices in the fall of this year but no specifics were provided about what they might be. There are indications, however, that a new Microsoft Band 2 will be arriving.