The biggest feature is that although it is a handheld PC, it is equipped with abundant buttons and sticks necessary for games. It has an ABXY button, a cross key, and a joystick, making game control easier than with a keyboard or mouse alone.
The output terminals are also substantial. It is also equipped with a miniHDMI connector and can be output to a TV screen or monitor.
Battery capacity is 6,000mAh. In addition to being able to play online games for 6 to 8 hours, it also supports 8 hours of video playback and 80 hours of music playback. Charging is via Micro USB.
"GPD Win" can be used not only as a game console but also as a PC that fits in your pocket. In this case, slide the "mouse / gamepad" selector switch located almost in the center of the keyboard to switch to the "mouse" mode. In "mouse" mode, the L1 button attached to the upper left of the main unit functions as the left button of the mouse, and the R1 button attached to the upper right functions as the right button of the mouse. You can move the cursor with the joystick on the right.
It measures 15.5 width x 9.7 depth x 2.2 cm thickness and weighs about 300 grams. If you think of it as almost the same size and weight as the NINTENDO 3DS LL, there is no doubt.
The developer, GPD Technology, is conducting a campaign to recruit investors on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo for the commercialization of "GPD WIN". At the time of writing this article, one "GPD WIN" is available with a $ 299 investment (shipping charges, etc. are not included). Shipment is scheduled for October 2016.
At the moment, various questions remain, such as whether "GPD WIN" has acquired the technical suitability mark. The editorial department of Enuchi inquired about this matter by e-mail, but could not get an answer by the time this article was published. It may be a good idea to wait and see until the product is shipped and you can see it in kind. However, it is certain that "GPD WIN" is an exciting product. This excitement is similar to what I saw a while ago when I saw new products for mobile phones and laptops.
Not long ago, a number of excitingly designed products were shipped, such as dual-display products for notebook PCs. However, since mobile phones have become smartphones and notebook PCs and handheld PCs have become tablets, mobile devices have stopped evolving in terms of design.
An example of "exciting" products in the era when notebook PCs were the flower of the times KOHJINSHA DZ series equipped with a retractable dual display (images are from KOHJINSHA's official website)
"GPD Win" is a product that reminds us of the excitement of those days. However, at the same time as I am excited, I also feel dissatisfied with the fact that such products are no longer available from Japanese manufacturers. I hope that products like "GPD Win" will come out from Japanese manufacturers.
Sharp's handheld PC "NetWalker PC-Z1-r" I would like to sincerely expect Sharp's revival (image from Sharp's official website)
