It appears someone at Microsoft needs to learn how to use “Find and Replace” in Microsoft Word, as the Surface Pro 3 user manual contains multiple references to an as yet unreleased “Surface Mini” competitor for Apple’s popular iPad mini.
The manual makes at least four references to the more diminutive version of Microsoft’s tablet, referring to processes for pairing and using the Surface Pen with the Surface Mini. Microsoft watcher Paul Thurrott first discovered the references and they were published by PC World.
It had been widely expected that Microsoft would debut a smaller version of its Surface tablet at their media event late last month. However, the Redmond firm only introduced the Surface Pro 3, leading to rumors that Microsoft had pulled back on the smaller device at the last minute.
Panos Panay, the head of Microsoft’s Surface business, did tell Bloomberg that the company is still working on a smaller version of the Surface.
