Microsoft might launch three new Surface tablets next year

Microsoft might launch three new Surface tablets next year:
Despite a “modest” Surface with Windows RT launch, Microsoft (MSFT) is adamant about building more hardware. According to insider MS_nerd, the Redmond, Washington-based company could be preparing three unannounced Surface tablets for release by the end of 2013. The first tablet will reportedly be called the Surface RT 2 and will sport a 8.6-inch display and Qualcomm chipset instead of the NVIDIA Tegra chip used in the current Surface RT. The second tablet will supposedly be a Surface Pro with an 11.6-inch display with a “yet-to-be-released AMD ‘Temash’ APU” instead of a the current Intel (INTC) Core i5 processor. Lastly, MS_nerd says Microsoft will release “Surface Book” with a 14.6-inch display and Intel 22-nanometer “Haswell” chip.
Nothing has been confirmed yet, but the rumors certainly jibe with Microsoft’s desire to compete with Apple’s (AAPL) iOS devices and Google’s (GOOG) Nexus lineup with compelling hardware. Microsoft is also rumored to be working on a 7-inch “Xbox Surface” tablet built specifically to cater to gamers, and a Surface phone.
Could 2013 be the year of the Surface brand? It could be, seeing as how 2012 won’t be.