https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2020/1/6/21048262/alienware-concept-ufo-prototype-gaming-pc-nintendo-switch-ces-2020

"Alienware is best known for its beefy gaming laptops and preconfigured desktop rigs, but at CES 2020, the company showed off a wild new prototype, the Concept UFO. It’s a full Windows 10 gaming PC, shrunken down into a very similar form factor to a Nintendo Switch — complete with detachable controllers and a dock to hook it up to a TV or monitor.

The Concept UFO consists of four pieces: there’s a main “head” unit, which has an eight-inch, 1200p display; the battery; and all the processing and graphic hardware. There are two controllers, which attach through an enjoyably solid magnetic rail system. And there’s a “hub” unit that’s similar to the Joy-Con controller grip, which allows the two separate controller halves to combine into a single controller for playing either on the head unit (which, like the Switch, has a built-in kickstand) or on a connected monitor.

USB-C ports are located on both the top and bottom of the Concept UFO, which can be used to both charge the device and connect it to an external monitor. Given that the Concept UFO runs regular Windows 10, you can also use those ports to connect a mouse and keyboard for use as a regular PC.

The entire thing weighs just under two pounds, which is more than three times what the Switch weighs, but it was comfortable enough to hold in my limited time with it. The entire thing looks very Alienware-y, too, with white plastic, hexagon accents, and sharp angles everywhere.

The prototype I got to try out was surprisingly functional, with working demos of a variety of games, including Rocket League, F1 2019, and Mortal Kombat 11. Obviously, they’re not the best graphics ever seen for any of these games, but gameplay was smooth and lag free, and looked far better than comparable ports on a Switch.

The Concept UFO runs a custom launcher on top of Windows 10, but the underlying software is still standard Windows: launching a game like Rocket League actually brings up the usual Steam launch dialog.

And it’s there that the potential of Concept UFO lies. The Nintendo Switch has seen great success simply by taking existing console games — like Skyrim, The Witcher 3, or Overwatch — and offering them in a portable form factor that can be played anywhere. But those games still require developers to port them over, and often result in graphical downgrades or poor performance (not to mention the requirement to buy them again).

A truly portable Windows gaming PC, though, could offer the same library of games that a regular gaming laptop or computer could, which is an intriguing concept."

Interesting. Definitely has the Alienware look to it. Doesn't look near as ergonomic as Switch though, other than it's overall larger size.

Now why isn't SNY doing this instead of building an electric car?

There are already a few things like this out there and even before Switch existed. Look up the Morphus X300 tablet. This won't affect Switch in any way. Every approach to take on Nintendo in the handheld space has been the same. A more powerful version of what Nintendo does. It has never worked yet companies still try the tried and true failed approach. Honestly, this seems like another CES gadget that will be a footnote much like the UMPCs of 2007 from OQO and Sony.

No one is attacking Nintendo or Switch on PC market. Dell is PC target consumer, the price of this thing will be super expensives. This should be a statement of compliment on how creative Nintendo Switch is. 

It looks like this lives too far outside the sweet spot of size vs. battery vs. performance vs. cost.

That viewpoint may ALIENate him from this thread. I'll see myself out...

Hmm... I wouldn't call the PSP a failure. It sold over 80 million consoles. Sure, it was plagued with pirate firmware... But damn.. What a gaming machine.

It also sold significantly less than the ds but to call it a failure is a bit of a reach. 

PSP is one of my fave handhelds ever. When I say failed I mean never overtook Nintendo (unless you count PSP selling better than GBA but they were not competing so eh) . Nintendo has never lost in the handheld market. I liked Game Gear more than GB. I like PSP and Vita more than DS and 3DS but none sold better than Nintendo. All of them tried the same thing. Be more powerful than Nintendo's offering.

Nintendo filed the patent for the Switch on June 12th 2015. The Morphus X300 wasn't shown off until October 12th 2015, and has no patent. The people that made the Morphus likely saw Nintendo's patent and hastily threw together a ripoff prototype in time for an October trade show. You'd be surprised by how quickly chinese tech firms can make a prototype based soley on blueprints.

In 2013 Razer had the Razer Edge Pro tablet, but that thing didn't have controllers that slid off, and came together to form another controller. It did have a dock, but I don't think the dock could power it. The dock looks like it just gave you HDMI output to a TV, without powering it. Also, the tablet, dock, and controller were all sold separately at insane prices. I think the whole kit would have cost you $1700 in 2013.

Finally, the idea of putting real game controllers on the side of a tablet have been a thing since before tablets were even around. Just look at the GBA. It's literally a screen with buttons and a D-pad bolted on.

Fugly