Microsoft aims new Surface Pro 8 at hybrid work-home life

Microsoft rolled out is new Surface Pro tablet computer this fall, as millions of Americans continue to work in remote or hybrid arrangements. Further delays in companies' return-to-office dates have boosted demand for portable computing devices that can straddle an increasingly muddled work-life divide. 

The new Surface Pro 8 is billed by the computing giant as its "most significant leap forward" since the tablet's third-gen version in 2014, with a new design that includes a sharper 13-inch screen, redesigned pen and upgraded video and audio for a better experience on video calls. In Microsoft's view, the tablet is "the ideal hybrid device" for "the ultimate work-from-home set-up."

Tech companies have been jumping into the fray to cater to employees who need flexibility in their devices,  creating new laptops and tablets with faster processing power and improved video and audio quality to handle hours of video calls. About 1 in 10 workers are still fully remote, yet one study found another one-third of workers are juggling hybrid work arrangements as COVID-19 cases continue to be high, and as the new Omicron variant raises concerns.