Microsoft launches Surface Book as it steps up competition with Apple

New devices include the new Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, challenging Apple's dominance at the top end of the laptop market

Microsoft is bringing "the thunder". That was the message sent to its competitors today, when Microsoft unveiled its Windows 10 devices, including the new Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, challenging Apple's dominance at the top end of the laptop market.

"We have competitors, you might have noticed. They are chasing us," Panos Panay, head of engineering of all Microsoft devices, said during the hour-and-a-half-long presentation. "What do you do? Do you double down and bring the thunder or do you reinvent the category again?"