Re: Any info on the "addaptive" bezel on the Surface 4 Pro 14"
According to the rumor, which apparently originated at w4phub.com, the physical screen area would be 13.3 inches diagonally, but would switch to 12 inches diagonally when in a tablet mode of use (i.e., when it must be held by hand with a bezel).
A prototype of such a switchable display tablet, called "North Cape," having a "virtual bezel" or "smart frame" was demonstrated by Intel in 2013, using some version of Windows.
For hands-on videos of the "North Cape" 2013 prototype, search youtube.com for intel "north cape". Also, an explanation of the capability is at the artefactgroup.com website. (I was prevented from posting links because I have less than 10 posts. Some of the YouTube videos have identifications: DtTVqeKl5Ik, nG8CPaX1PxQ and Yv7Kuy8ybnw )
As an apparent constraint on device size, Microsoft has said the existing Surface Pro 3 peripherals will be "compatible" with later models. For the sake of argument, let us assume that this means that the SP4 will fit in the existing SP3 dock without an adapter.
A 13.3 inch diagonal display, at a resolution of 2160 x 1440 (the resolution of the current SP3 and the rumored SP4) would mean a display size of 11.07" x 7.38". The dimensions of the SP3 case are 11.50" x 7.93". Therefore, a 13.3 inch diagonal display could fit within the existing SP3 case footprint. (A higher resolution 13" display would have the same dimensions, assuming that the aspect ratio was maintained.) However, note that even if the SP4 case were slightly taller (in landscape position), it could still fit the dock, because it is the width of the case that is critical to fit the dock, not the height. Similarly, the area for the keyboard attachment at the bottom might require the SP4 case to be slightly taller in landscape mode.
Of course, if an adapter were used to fit the dock, then such restrictions on case size would not be needed. Also, a slightly wider SP4 case size may also fit the existing dock without requiring an adapter. However, the above figures show that an SP4 with a 13.3" diagonal display apparently could fit the existing dock without requiring an adapter, or at least that the raw dimensions don't indicate that it is not possible.
Precisely under what conditions the display would switch between the full display (13.3 inch diagonally) and a display with one or more holdable bezel(s) is not stated in the rumor. One can guess that, as in the prototype, by default it would switch to full-sized display when docked or when the keyboard is attached, and switch to a reduced size display when removed. However, there may be further refinements than that, permitting the user to designate which side(s) the virtual bezels would be present on at any given time. For example, if the SP4 is undocked and no keyboard is attached, but no large bezel is required to hold it, the user could instruct it to display full screen.
A 13.3 inch diagonal screen would have some 23% more screen area than a 12.0" screen, such as the one on the SP3. Such a large increase in viewable area is a powerful reason for providing such a "Smart Frame" or virtual bezel feature. Providing the maximum amount of viewable area would clearly be the objective, both in desktop mode and in tablet mode, within the constraint of the minimum necessary holdable area while the device is being held.
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