HP purchased Canadian enthusiast PC company Voodoo last year, but Wednesday saw the release of the first collaboration between the two teams: HP Blackbird 002.
It was designed to appeal to gamers -- sleek, black, made entirely of cast aluminum and supremely customisable -- but its performance should tempt avid photo, video and music enthusiasts too.
One of its most noticeable features is the foot it sits on, which HP says allows a sixth side for air to flow around, and lets the 1.1-kilowatt power supply be placed on the bottom of the chassis. The Blackbird costs between $2,500 and $6,500 in the US (£1,240 and £3,225), depending on the configuration chosen.
The Blackbird 002 is branded as an HP computer, but it has what the company is calling 'Voodoo DNA'. While still positioned below the price and quality of Voodoo's high-end gaming machines, HP hopes the Blackbird will pique the interest of a certain set of enthusiasts -- those who want complete control over their PC, but don't want to get out their tool kit.
The Blackbird was made to be altered completely without tools -- any of the non-proprietary elements inside the chassis are secured with tabs and locks, which means no screwdrivers are necessary.
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