Like most pro-gamers out there, I have my dedicated PC for gaming.
Trusty as it is, I can’t take it everywhere with me, considering how heavy that machine can be. While I could try and build a kickin’ Mini PC for LAN parties, or buy a high end Gaming Laptop, I could take a look at the Razer Switchblade.
Designed by peripheral makers Razer, this is their first foray into the PC market, a gaming machine that is 172mm x 115mm x 25 mm. To put those measurements into perspective, it’s about the average size of a small net-book that you could use for surfing the web. The only difference is that the portable machine is powerful enough to run today’s games. And as strange as it may seem, it makes sense for the pro-gamer in all of us, as Razer wants to make sure that gamers can play games anytime, anywhere.
Now, the product itself is still a concept. A pre production model was shown recently at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2011 in Las Vegas. As far as specifications go, the specs are still unknown, as Razer is still trying to improve the design. The machine will run on Windows 7, and Razer has revealed that the Switchblade will have ports for HDMI, USB 3.0, Stereo Headphone, and Microphone connections. The keyboard itself is actually a dynamic tactile surface that clear buttons rest upon. Customization is the focus for this unusual keyboard, as those buttons can display various icons, letters, and a whole range of game specific animated (or static) graphics. To top it all off, the device uses a multi-touch-screen, which replaces the track pad, although any compatible mouse (regular or gaming) can work with the device. For connectivity, Razer says that the device will support standard Wi-Fi and 3G options, so no gamer will be left disconnected.
Currently, there is no pricing on the device, as it is a concept design, but Razer hopes to sell the device with the price tag around the average net-book range (which means it will be affordable, much more economical than buying a gaming laptop, for example). If Razer can release an awesome product that is small, affordable, and powerful, the consumers will love it. And as a good start already, the Razer Switchblade received one of the “2011 Best In CES“ awards; beating, or matching, other highly respected contenders for this years most innovative product.
Hopefully, Razer can pull it off, revolutionizing both pro-gaming equipment and the way PC games are played away from the home.
More info can be found [Via Razer]
