As a joint venture between Lenovo and NEC, it seems that LaVie often has a little more freedom to have fun with their device designs, so for CES 2021, LaVie created a conceptual device that looks like someone is going to grab a Nintendo Switch, added some parts of the PC. , and then gave him a steampunk-reminiscent end.
Based around one 8-inch 1920 x 1200 screen, in normal use, the LaVie Mini concept is very similar to the netbook of yesteryear. However, when you add its distinctive white and gold color scheme along with the backlit circular keys, the LaVie Mini starts to look like something that could have been designed in the Bioshock universe.
While it’s just a concept now, LaVie Mini also has pretty decent components, including an 11th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU with Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, Wi-Fi 6, and a 26 WHr battery. And while the system is too small to include a full-size touchpad, there’s even a small cloud-sized postage stamp and a couple of thin mouse buttons to help you navigate.
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However, the real party trick of LaVie Mini is its ability to bend the keyboard and plug in an optional game controller, effectively making the LaVie Mini the PC equivalent of a Nintendo Switch. With the controller connected, you’ll get the full standard assortment of controller buttons, including a D-pad, two joysticks, and a assortment of face buttons and some triggers on the shoulders. and, like Nintendo’s handheld console, the LaVie Mini also has its own dock that you can use reload the system or send the video to a nearby screen.
After the massive success of the Nintendo Switch, LaVie Mini is not the first attempt we have seen by device manufacturers to create a hybrid PC-based console (see Dell’s UFO concept at CES 2020), but because there is still no PC manufacturer capable of getting the formula, the LaVie Mini concept is remains a ngel i tempting dream.
Unfortunately, LaVie just did it come up with a design. Next comes the hardest part: taking this concept and turning it into a real production device. There is currently no timetablefor when the LaVie Mini will go on sale, and if that’s similar to Dell’s UFO concept, there’s a good chance it never will. And unfortunately, that’s kind of descent of what could be a really interesting device.
And if you want to see more CES 2021 devices and new devices, click here to read our full coverage.