CES 2013: Project Fiona gaming tablet reborn as Razer Edge
You can count on Razer to deliver unusual gaming hardware goods (just check out last week’s OrbWeaver), and they’ve delivered yet again at this years CES with the Razer Edge gaming tablet.
An updated version of last year’s Project Fiona prototype, the Razer Edge is a 10-inch full Windows 8 tablet that’s just as comfortable as a portable PC gaming machine as it is tablet or even desktop replacement.
Two models are available, the Razer Edge and the Razer Edge Pro. The entry level unit starts at around £650 and packs in a Core i5 processor, discrete Nvidia GT 640M GPU, 4GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD. The £1000 Pro model jumps up to a Core i7 with the same Nvidia GPU, 8GB of RAM and either a 128 or 256GB SSD depending on who much extra cash you’re willing to lay out.
With those specs (especially the Pro model) you’ll be able to do some serious gaming on the Edge, and thanks to a control pad convertor case that packs in analogue sticks and mechanical buttons, you’ll be able to play any number of gamepad enabled PC games through Steam’s Big Picture mode. HDMI-out also allows the tablet to be hooked up to a big screen HDTV.
Battery life is said to be comparable to other tablets, which should offers something between 8 to 10 hours of usage, with an option battery pack adding another two hours on top.
A keyboard and dock add-on, expected to land later in the year, will allow the Fiona to become a fully-fledged desktop replacement too, letting shooter fans add a mouse for pinpoint sharpshooting. Its one drawback? That touchscreen is running at a lowly 1366 x 768, which isn’t all that sharp at all, but is likely a conscious constraint to keep 3D games running at a smooth pace.
Expected to roll out in the US before the Spring, it’s easily one of the most exciting and well-considered devices at the show.
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