In the world of computing innovation, there were some pretty outrageous unveilings in 2016, with Samsung’s rollable display and Microsoft’s vast touchscreen Surface Studio among the highlights. Slotting in at the more experimental end of the spectrum comes Razer’s Project Valerie, a laptop that boasts not one but three 17-inch 4K screens.
Revealed at CES 2017, the tech firm claims that it is the first portable triple-screen laptop of its kind. While it remains a conceptual product at this stage, it offers architects the tantalizing prospect of multi-screen BIM and ArchViz action on the move in the future. The two screens either side of the central display are designed to slide out at the touch of a button, while they pack neatly away when the laptop is closed.
“The 12K multi-display gives you the expansive workspace and flexibility to tackle any task,” says Razer. “Utilize the three displays as one to span your creative projects across the large screen real estate. Alternatively, take advantage of each display independently, running multiple applications simultaneously allowing for multi-tasking like never before.”
The main sacrifice for such a design is thickness — when folded up and closed, the laptop comes in at 1.5 inches. While this is thicker than most home and office laptops, it is comparable to most gaming machines.
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Indeed, the laptop is aimed primarily at gamers — linked together, the three screens offer a highly immersive video game experience — but the potential uses of this technology for architectural design are clear. According to the BBC, gaming analyst Jonathan Wagstaff noted that “industry data he had reviewed suggested widening interest in such machines from architectural and graphic design firms.”
“That is interesting; that is traditionally the territory of Apple’s products,” he added. While it remains to be seen whether Razer rolls this product out to a mass market, it is sure to have the tech firm’s competitors sitting up and taking notice. Meanwhile, those architects that can’t wait for this model to become available have plenty of other laptops to choose from, for various budgets.
UPDATE: As if any further evidence of this unconventional laptop’s desirability were needed, reports have emerged that two Project Valerie prototypes have been stolen from CES 2017. Desperate to protect its creation, Razer is offering $25,000 for information that leads to their safe return — watch this space for future updates.
All images via Razer
