Razer plans smaller gaming devices besides laptop

Razer plans to release smaller gaming systems after the launch of its newest product, a 17.3-inch (43.9 centimeters) gaming laptop, which will start shipping next month in North American markets, the company's CEO said.

"More products will follow including small form factor systems," CEO Min-Liang Tan said in an email interview on Tuesday. He did not provide more details.

The Razer Blade, unveiled in August, is the company's first gaming laptop. Powered by a 2.8 Ghz Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GT 555M graphics card, the laptop also features a programmable LCD (liquid crystal display) panel built next to its keyboard, which can display in-game information and commands customized for games. The price of the Razer Blade is US$2,800.

Razer in Carlsbad, California built the gaming laptop from a previous concept design known as the Razer Switchblade, a 7-inch device similar to a netbook. Instead of having a typical keyboard, the Switchblade came with a large LCD panel that could be changed from displaying standardized keys to icons configurable for games.

Tan did not specifically address in his email the company's plans for the 7-inch Switchblade device.

Razer announced last weekend it would be bringing its Blade laptop to the Chinese market, with shipments starting in mid-2012. Razer has partnered with Chinese Internet firm Tencent, which is optimizing several of its online games for the laptop and its programmable LCD panel.

"Razer has been ranked one of the top ten tech brands in China and we have a cult following in the gamers in China," Tan said. "As such, China is one of our key markets and we focus on this market to bring some of our latest innovations and designs."

Razer said the company has as yet no sales target for China, but expects demand for its new laptop to be high.

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