The Razer Switchblade concept slithers its way to GDC 2011
by Mathew McCurley 
Mar 10th 2011 at 4:00PM
The Switchblade was cycling through games, showing off different context-sensitive key setups depending on the game. Quake Live placed down a row of abilities ranging from grenades and rockets, alongside buttons for walk and crouch. A WASD array also popped up, and presumably a mouse would facilitate the view space. I couldn't touch it, of course, as the machine was guarded by a nefarious plastic box, but it was there, working, and impressing the heck out of everyone who stopped by.
The Switchblade looks very promising, even in its concept stage, showing that Razer intends to push a whole lot of boundaries with its new little darling. It is almost as if the machine were built with the express purpose of playing a game like WoW on the go, with other games as an added bonus. Now we just have to watch and wait, hoping this little beauty goes from concept to production as soon as possible.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jeremy Mar 10th 2011 4:07PM
DO WANT!!
Now if only they weren't going to charge an arm and a leg... =P
Pyromelter Mar 10th 2011 4:13PM
I think it's a neat concept, and I remember it from blizzcon if i remember you were talking about it then mat?
The problem is it just seems too small, especially for what will likely be a pretty hefty price. If this thing ends up in the netbook range, then yeah, I could maybe see some mobile gamers going for it, but that's what, a 7" screen? It looks like the size of a netbook, and I just wonder how much of a market there would be for such a device (again, unless it's very cheap like a netbook).
Drakkenfyre Mar 10th 2011 4:19PM
There's a reason this machine is shown only running low-spec games (WoW not included.)
It's running an Intel ATOM CPU. It's supposedly the next generation, but it's still an ATOM. It's a weak CPU not meant for gaming. Intel ATOM processors are what are used in most netbooks. Compare the performance to that.
The only draw of this thing (the thing the company is banking on) is the keyboard. The keyboard is NOT made up of LCD screens. There is a single LCD screen underneath it, and the keyboard and bezel above it was plastic and rubber, the keys are transparent.
As someone who likes Razer products, this is going to fail. It's going to be overpriced, and underperform.
If this ever actually makes it to release, I will be seriously surprised. And it won't be on the market for long. It's going to retail for $1000 minimum, and at that price range you can buy a decent gaming laptop which is actually useful for more than just games.
Arturis Mar 10th 2011 4:40PM
@Drakkenfyre
You should finish it off with a super move, your attack combo gauge is full and flashing.
burntpizza Mar 10th 2011 5:03PM
Low spec games? L4D 2 isn't low spec.
Bouille Mar 10th 2011 5:30PM
Keep in mind that the Screen Resolution will be small enough to compensate. Smaller resolution for equivalent graphics will actually perform better. I have good expectations even if it doesn't run everything on Ultra it should still look and play good.
Drakkenfyre Mar 10th 2011 5:37PM
L4D2 runs on the Source engine. The engine is incredibly flexible when it comes to specs.
It was originally written in 2004. It scales incredibly well. It won't run good on absolute crap, but will run well on things other games choke on. With the exception of WoW and L4D2, the ONLY games they show running on this thing are years old. Quake Live (which is a port of Quake 3) and WarCraft 3.
It's an overpowered netbook, nothing more. It has a fancy touchscreen LCD under the keys, and other than that, it's pretty much standard off the shelf. It's specs are terrible for gaming, it is NOT meant for gaming from a hardware point of view, whatever Razer says. The pretty casing does not change the fact that it's CPU is pathetically weak.
This is not the first article about this "gaming" system. It's the equivalent of sticking a 4-cylinder engine in an F1 car, entering it into a race, and saying it's going to win.
It wasn't even announced as a product at first, it was announced as a CONCEPT. Only later did they say it was coming out. Even Razer doesn't have confidence in this thing.
Pyromelter Mar 10th 2011 6:59PM
I have to agree with you drak - if this thing is retailing for over 1000, it doesn't have a prayer. You can get an ipad2 for much less, and will run much higher level apps and much more functionality, while being lighter and better looking.
It looks like a netbook with a fancy keyboard. I think the keyboard is the draw, so I agree with you there too. If anything, razer might sell this idea to alienware or create their own full-blown gaming laptops with that idea, but there is no way in heck that it will work on what is basically a netbook with a high price point. And at over 1k, it'll be like the atari jaguar - an overpriced machine that no one will buy.
Nawaf Mar 11th 2011 1:20AM
I really don't get what's so special about this laptop. It's just a small netbook-sized computer with a keyboard like epicus maximus.
If you like the keyboard just buy Epicus Maximus.
Drakkenfyre Mar 11th 2011 8:49AM
It's keyboard is nothing like the Optimus Maximus. Every key is not an LCD screen. The bottom half of the system is a touch-sensitive LCD screen. The keys lay over that. The keys are plastic, the bezel is rubber.
Considering the Optimus Maximus is $1600, if this were the same style, it would increase the price so much it would be a ridiculous buy, not that it already isn't.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/keyboards-mice/9836/
Snarls-at-Fleas Mar 10th 2011 4:48PM
Wanted to point out that it has on big screen not separate screens for each key. And clear plastic keys over it.
Jamison Banks Mar 10th 2011 5:19PM
I hate to say, you are right. At last check, no one is really using anything other Intel GMA chips with Atom processors. Atom 1.6ghz cpu is THE standard netbook processor. Even dual core atoms are pitifully slow doing ANYTHING. It CAN run WoW with a standard Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics chip . . . at somewhere between 5-10 fps.
If you are running through the countryside, killing regular mobs. Raids and cities will simply crash you or slow you to less than 2 fps. The Switchblade is TINY (7" screen), how are they going to use anything else but a GMA 950? Don't get me wrong, the keyboard/screen concept is freakin' awesome. But that chipset is pitiful, if they use existing Atom/GMA.
In short, this is the Justin Beiber of gaming rigs.
BigBadGooz Mar 10th 2011 5:25PM
Why would I want a 7 inch "gameing" netbook when my asus g73 laptop kicks ads. Dunno wouldent buy it even if I was looking for a new computer I need my screen size epeen of 1080p.
BigBadGooz Mar 10th 2011 6:35PM
Additonaly. I was happy to hear that dazed was going to make their own brand of computer I rember a few blizzcons back suggesting it to them but this wasent what I was expecting. Make a snazzy desktop or fullsize laptop I would consider buying it. I guess the mice keyboards and headsets will do.
USsoel Mar 10th 2011 5:41PM
It accepts a mouse, but can it also accept a headset at the same time?
Would it be capable of running vent/mumble?
Edge Mar 10th 2011 7:02PM
A switchable android tablet would make more sense. Make it use streaming, since that Atom processor won't be running anything decent anytime soon, and you might have a winner. As it is I'd take the Alienware m11x any day over this.
Dreyja Mar 10th 2011 7:43PM
I would love for this to work, and be affordable. I'm reserving my judgment though. When a cheap laptop can run most games these days I'm not sure that this is any better unless it's both uber portable AND powerful.
osbaldoadrien Jul 21st 2011 6:38AM
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