HP Backpack PC offers untethered virtual reality experience

Nobody wants a bulky computer, but since some of them offer crazy high specifications, many are happy with the trade off. HP is going to lengths to make the deal even more enticing. The company intends to launch a laptop in the Omen X lineup which will double as a backpack.

There’s no particular name for this model yet, but it will go under testing in about a month. It weighs less than 10 pounds (4.5kg). The VR-ready PC has been designed this way because HP wants your VR experience to be hassle free. Imagine putting the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive on your face, and not worrying about the portability and mobility. Currently, most of the virtual-reality PCs need tethered connection with your computer.

As for the specifications, it will come with a new Intel Core i5 or i7 processor with up to 32GB of RAM and a graphics card of unknown capacity. It ships with a wireless display, mouse, and a keyboard. There are multiple batteries inside the device, and the idea is to be able to swap a battery that has run out of the juice with another that presumably hasn’t.

There’s no word on pricing just yet, though HP says that it intends to have a price tag that appeals to a large consumer base. We will see about that. HP is not the only PC manufacturer that has tried backpack PCs. Many other manufacturers, including MSI have also utilized similar ideas into their product lines. Whether they will work is something that remains to be seen.