MSI’s backpack PC makes high-end VR portable

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Oculus-portable
Oculus in the park? Not quite.
Photo: Oculus/Cult of Mac

Thanks to headsets like Google Cardboard and Gear VR, the virtual reality experience is already pretty portable. But on a smartphone, you’re only getting a watered-down version.

That’s why MSI decided it would be a good idea to build a PC into a backpack, allowing you to enjoy high-end VR on the go.

No, this is not a joke. MSI actually built a gaming rig into a bag you can wear on your back. It features a speedy Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA’s beastly GTX 980 graphics card, which provides you with enough power to enjoy the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.

The actual Backpack PC.
The actual Backpack PC.
Photo: MSI

This doesn’t actually mean you can take these headsets to the park, though. Not only would you look incredibly silly, but the Backpack PC still needs power, so you need to remain fairly close to a power outlet.

MSI built it to make using VR somewhat easier. “No more worries about accidentally unplugging the wires between the VR device and the platform,” it says. “MSI Backpack PC renders greater mobility and freedom for VR gaming.”

But the Backpack PC does make the best VR available more portable. It means if you want to enjoy VR content with a friend, or take it with you on a trip, you just need to pickup your Backpack PC and headset and you’re all set.

MSI promises to tell us more about the Backpack PC, including how much it will cost and when it will be available, at Computex next week. And believe it or not, it’s not the only company that is doing this — Zotac has also built a wearable PC for the same purpose.

Of course, when you’re not using VR, you could always turn your Backpack PC into a Backpack Mac by swapping Windows for OS X.

Source: MSI

Via: UberGizmo

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