Before getting into whether that’s a good or bad thing (it’s definitely bad), let’s look at the details. A patent filed in February 2018 titled “COMPUTING DEVICES, REMOVABLE SUPPORT DEVICES, AND METHODS OF USE” shows Microsoft’s intentions. The Microsoft patent explains how a connector can be attached to the device through mechanical and magnetic connections. This attachment can be removed or used as a stand. Microsoft details the basic function of the patent: “A computing device having an interface surface and one or more attachment features oriented on the interface surface is described. A removable support device with an interface surface and one or more attachment features oriented on the interface surface is described. A support system with a computing device and a removable support device is described. A method of using a support system is described.”
Making a Stand
The attached stand can be configured in several forms. At its core, the stand would be different from the existing integrated Surface kick stand. In fact, it would be more similar to the attachable case stands Apple uses for its iPads. I said it was a bad thing Microsoft was working on this stand. That’s because the kickstand has become one of the few unique features of the Surface tablet range. Without the stand, the devices become more like regular slates… good looking ones for sure, but still not quite as original. As always, this is just a patent and Microsoft may have no plans to see the stand through to fruition.
