HP and Voodoo Launch Blackbird Gaming Machine

I never thought you'd catch me writing about gaming machines, but there's so much to love about this first collaboration between Voodoo and HP that I couldn't resist. Plus, I'm convinced that the coolest features in this mega-machine will one day trickle down to the rest of us.

Dubbed the Blackbird 002, this PC is nothing so much as a gamer's candy store. In addition to the "PC from outer space" design, the most striking feature of the Blackbird is how easy it is to take apart and put back together. No tools required!

The front panel unhinges like a cabinet door and the drives slide out inside an encased sheath. The tower sits off the ground on a raised foot, allowing it to self-cool by sucking up cool outside air. Inside it's got a liquid cooling system that draws heat away from the processors. The back panel has LEDs lighting up all of your ports so you can rewire without too much effort. The DVD drive, however, is hidden in the computer's front panel design. It's literally nearly invisible—just a thin vertical slot opening.

And, because the entire thing is made from industry-standard components and modularly designed, gamers will be encouraged to modify to their hearts' content. Go modders.

The folks at Gizmodo took some great photos of the Blackbird and list the pricing as beginning at $2,500. For more photos from the HP event where Blackbird was unveiled, visit YourLifeistheShow. It documents HP's event held in NYC last night where Blackbird took center stage.