Every year in Las Vegas, the Consumer Electronics Show is held to showcase the latest in television and entertainment developments. This year, however, the focus was drawn away from the status quo and placed on an extensive range of laptops that are set to become mainstream. With new devices undergoing release from the majority of the big name suppliers, the future of laptops is well and truly here.
When it comes to computing, it is commonly believed that all that companies can really do to improve this already-refined technology is to increase processing power or develop a sleeker design. In reality, this is not the case. Manufacturers are constantly innovating, trying new things that could revolutionise the way we view and use laptops.
Big names including Lenovo and Samsung have both announced the launch of a line of gaming laptops for the first time, although it should be noted that the Samsung Odyssey laptop will not be released in Australia in the near future. This is a shame, considering the product is a very capable, high-end laptop that is built with both storage and memory upgrade capabilities; a niche previously overlooked by many developers. Samsung also unveiled two Chromebook models, but as above, there is no sign of them coming to the Australian market any time soon.
For Lenovo’s showstopper, the thinner model of the X1 Carbon was announced, weighing in at a tiny 1.12kg and featuring a staggering 15.5 hour battery life. Of course, I took the opportunity to try out the X1 Carbon for myself and I have to say, I am impressed. However, as with all ultralight laptop devices on the market, don’t expect this model to be cheap.
It has been a busy year for Dell with the release of a new range of Inspiron Gaming laptops as well as updating a considerable amount of their core product line with the latest 7th generation Intel Core processors. This is quite a striking move on Dell’s behalf as they already own the coveted gaming brand, Alienware. This move has been justified by representatives as the Inspiron range aims to cover the mid-range niche of the market, whereas Alienware will continue to be a premium line. It is also worth noting Dell’s new Canvas development: a digital display that acts as a workspace very similar to Microsoft’s Surface Studio, providing its users with highly accurate control functions when completing projects such as video or photo editing.
When it comes to revolutionary ideas, gaming innovator Razer had the most unique concept for the future of laptops. Illusively titled ‘Project Valerie’, this model features three breathtaking 4K laptop displays – one primary, centrally-located display with the other two hidden in the back, ready to be used when required. This is such a beautiful concept and the resolution across all three screens is stunning, but it’s worth noting that specifications are subject to change as only a prototype was on display at CES.
While Razer was once again cornering the gaming niche, this design could easily be adjusted for creative professionals who already have adopted a three-screened display. Although no pricing has been released by Razer, the concept was showcased primarily to receive feedback about whether the device should go into production and how it can be improved. Taking into account the specs of the prototype displayed (not forgetting the fact there are three 4K displays alone), we can be safe in the knowledge that the final product will not be inexpensive.
