CNETAnalysis: Starting out life as Project Fiona , the Razer Edge is aiming to bring PC gaming to travellers everywhere, offering up a tablet/laptop hybrid with a unique gaming controller feature. Project Fiona first surfaced at CES 2012, and the Razer Edge was given a more official outing one year later at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show . But just what makes Razer Edge worthy of our attention? And can it transcend its roots of a high-end and high-price Windows 8 machine to become something that gamers everywhere are queuing up to get their hands on? What is Razer Edge? At its heart, Razer’s Edge is a Windows 8 tablet – but it also allows you to attach a keyboard and use it as a laptop, and its USP is a novel extra bit of attachable hardware that makes this a fascinating gaming machine. You can slot the tablet into a case which has two handles on either side of the screen. But these are no ordinary handles – but actually gaming controllers with thumbsticks, a D-pad and a familar diamond of buttons. This brings console joypad-alike functionality to the machine, allowing you to play your games on a tablet, without having to tap your fingers on an unforgiving and imprecise touchscreen. The last mode for this hybrid is a dock that makes it more functional at home as well, allowing you to easily connect it up to a display, mouse and keyboard. Razer Edge specs The Razer Edge Pro is an incredibly powerful Windows 8 tablet, boasting a Core i7, discrete Nvidia GT 640M GPU, 8 gigs of RAM and 128GB SSD (or add some cash for a 256GB version). The cheaper version, merely the Razer Edge, is no slouch either packing a Core i5, discrete Nvidia GT 640M GPU, 4 gigs of RAM and a 64GB SSD. The screen is offering 1366 x 768 resolution which has already drawn a little criticism (although the 10-inch screen means that this sub-Retina display will be perfectly okay for games), and there’s a keyboard attachment ! and HDMI-out. Razer Edge price The Razer Edge Pro starts at $1299 (no UK or Australian prices have been confirmed, but as a guide this is around (£810/AU$1279). The Razer Edge starts from $999 (c£620/AU$979). The main difference from a high-end hybrid Windows tablet is the gamepad case, which brings the funky game analogue sticks, D-pad, face and shoulder buttons, but beware, this is an expensive extra at $249 (£166/AU$246) The keyboard is also an extra – with no price yet released – and the dock is another $99 (£66/AU$96).So if you want the full package you are looking at an expensive machine. What else should I be aware of? With a beat of a processor, a high res screen and peripherals to boot, the battery life is likely to be a major issue with the Razer Edge. It’s also worth pointing out that the Razer Edge tablet alone weighs in at just under 1kg, or a couple of pounds in weight; stick a keyboard and the console case in your rucksack as well and you may well be looking at a chiropractor’s bill before too long! Razer Edge release date The Razer Edge is available for pre-orders in the US and Canada, but the keyboard peripheral is not as of yet. This sets io For a Razer Edge UK release date, you’ll just have to wait and see. We’re chasing Razer for an answer but we haven’t got anything concrete as of yet. The same is true for Australia. Posted by: Maryum
