Technology is continuously improving. Developers are enhancing graphics, and gaming computers are becoming faster and slimmer. And, fortunately, the premier tech is also getting cheaper.
Although CES displays all kinds of electronics, it usually does not have a wide variety of products for gamers, which usually are showcased at E3, explains PCMag. However, if you broaden your search to a wider variety of tech gadgets and consumer electronics, every gamer can find something interesting. That being said, here’s a look at some of the best tech revealed at CES 2015:
1. Origin Eon
This year’s CES was all about slimming down the most powerful gaming hardware on the market. With Battlefield Hardline PC hitting the market shortly, getting your hands on an Origin Eon-15X or 17X is a good idea. Battlefield Hardline weighs in at a hefty 60 GB install, so it requires a powerful computer. Origin has loaded up their 15X and 17X with desktop CPUs, which are up to the Intel Core i7-4790K, and the powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M mobile graphics card. This means that a slim and portable laptop, weighing only between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds, can run your game just like a desktop computer.
The X series also has a 240 GB solid state hard drive as well as 1 TB hybrid disk from Seagate. These two laptops also come with full color, backlit keyboards with a numpad and anti-ghosting keys, which means you don’t have to worry about input overlap when playing a fast game, explains Digital Trends.
And best yet, the Eon-X series runs at a slightly lower price than its competitors.
2. Oculus Rift
Virtual reality also is making strides in the right direction. Reviewers such as TechRadar note the vast improvement of the Oculus Rift in terms of mobility and functionality, but also comment on its short comings. CNET notes that you can move around in these virtual worlds created by Oculus, such as ducking under things or walking around them, but there still is no way to grab and hold a virtual object, which limits your virtual experience.
While the Oculus Rift propels users into an immersive experience (for instance, you can meet the dragon Smaug while playing as Bilbo in The Hobbit), the authenticity of the experience is somewhat diminished by the cords trailing from the hardware. The reviewer from CNET explains that he could feel tugs of the cords attaching him to the computer, which can be distracting when in another world. And, although you can walk, crawl, kneel and make other movements to interact with these virtual worlds, it may be difficult or dangerous to do so in your home and not in a padded test room. So, not until the Oculus Rift becomes wireless will it fully immerse users within the worlds they are playing.
3. Accessories
Gaming mice and keyboards can change the way you play, but only if you have the right accessory for your type of gameplay. If you’re an MMO player, for example, the Razer Naga Epic Chroma might be the mouse for you; however, if you are a FPS person, the Corsair Vengeance M65 is probably more aligned with what you need. The Epic Chroma has 12 buttons on the thumb-side of the mouse so you can control much more than your character’s movements while the M65 has eight programmable buttons, one of which enters your view into sniper mode and slows down the DPI of your mouse so you can take aim more carefully.
Logitech has a long line of wireless keyboards that are great for gamers. The Solar Keyboard K750 works well for late-night gamers because it can charge off of any light and stay charged for up to three months in complete darkness. On the other hand, the G510 gaming keyboard has a small LCD display that provides all the in-game stats for whatever you’re playing.
Although CES isn’t the biggest gaming tech show, it didn’t disappoint this year with powerfully slimmed down computers, virtual reality and gaming accessories. Now the question is, what will we see next year?
