Trying to decide between a laptop and desktop for your next gaming PC? MSI believes it can offer both in one package.

With MSI’s upcoming GS30 Shadow laptop, users can grab an optional desktop dock for a significant graphics boost. The dock has its own fan and power supply, along with a PCIe x16 slot for inserting any high-end desktop graphics card. Dropping the laptop in the dock lets it utilize the desktop graphics card’s power

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It’s not the most elegant solution, as the dock doesn’t look much smaller than a dedicated desktop rig. But it could be useful if you want the power of a desktop gaming PC with the option to take a thinner, lighter computer with you.

The GS30 Shadow laptop itself should be adequate for basic gaming, with an Intel Core i7 processor, Intel’s high-end integrated Iris Pro graphics, and up to 16 GB of RAM. It has a 13.3-inch 2560-by-1440 resolution display, dual solid state drives (with unspecified capacity), HDMI output, two USB 3.0 slots, backlit keyboard and Bluetooth 4.0 support. It’s also fairly thin and light for its size, at 0.78 inches and 2.86 pounds.

On the downside, MSI isn’t talking battery life or price just yet. There’s also no word on a release date beyond a vague January 2015 “target launch time” for the docking station alone.

Republished from PCWord.com. (View original version.)