Razer refreshes Blade gaming notebooks, offers new 14" device

Razer updates 17" Blade notebook with a Haswell processor while introducing an ultra-slim 14" version.

Omar Qudsi, Published 05/31/2013

Razer's original Blade notebook was touted as a revolution in gaming when it was introduced last year, largely due its Switchblade UI - a programmable keyboard and secondary LCD display. Now the company is revealing the next generation of the Blade, along with a smaller, ultra-thin gaming notebook.

To start things off, the 17.3" Blade will now come with a 4th-generation Haswell processor, the same Full-HD display and 8GB of DDR3 RAM. True to its gaming nature, the device will also be powered by a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M graphics card, up to a 512GB SSD and features 10 programmable buttons as part of the Switchblade UI.

In addition to the refresh, Razer also released a new 14" device that is supposedly "the world's thinnest gaming laptop" at a thickness of just .66 inches. Molded after the MacBook Air, the device is similar to the larger model, but it foregoes the Switchblade UI and features a resolution of only 1600 x 900 pixels.

Both notebooks will be available for pre-order in the US and Canada starting June 3rd, with the 17.3" starting at $2,299 and the 14" starting at $1,799.

Source(s)

Razer: http://www.razerzone.com/

The Verge: http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/30/4381050/razer-blade-shrinks-down-to-size-beefy-new-14-inch-model

+ Show Press Release

Press Release

Razer Introduces The Blade Pro—Designed For Work And For Play

Thursday, 30 May 2013

Razer Introduces the Blade Pro—Designed For Work and For Play

The Razer Blade Pro: 17-inch HD Screen, Intel Quad Core i7, NVIDIA GTX 765M; comes with built-in professional-grade SBUI applications for creative professionals

For Immediate Release:

SAN FRANCISCO – May 30, 2013 – Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software and systems, today announced the Blade Pro, the latest evolution of its award-winning 17-inch gaming laptop. Powered by a future 4th gen Intel® Core™ processor, next generation NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 765M graphics and groundbreaking storage performance, the new Blade Pro is faster and more powerful than ever before.

“With the Razer Blade Pro, we’ve designed a gaming laptop for work and for play—appealing to on-the-go hardcore gamers, game developers, creative artists and aspiring video professionals,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “The Razer Blade Pro can flawlessly run the most popular creative software applications, and is powerful enough to run the most graphically intensive games on the market today.”

Razer’s designers and engineers refined every inner component to increase performance, while staying true to portability. At 0.88 inches thin and weighing 6.5 pounds, the Blade Pro is the most portable 17-inch gaming laptop in its class. Every detail is sleek, slim and light, all the way down to the compact power supply, making the Blade Pro the best choice for gaming performance and creative work on-the-go.

The Blade Pro, the third iteration of Razer’s ground-breaking, ultra-portable laptop, features a 47-watt Intel chip, 10 watts more than the last 17-inch Razer Blade and the most powerful CPU ever fitted into a Razer system for increased professional performance. The latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GPU is also included. All of this is packed into the thinnest and lightest form factor in the 17-inch laptop class. The Blade Pro comes with Dolby® Home Theatre® v4, featuring immersive audio quality that is custom-tuned to each Razer laptop to deliver a cinematic sound experience. All of this is topped-off with gaming-grade peripherals built right in, such as Razer Synapse 2.0, a fully programmable anti-ghosting keyboard with adjustable backlight and an ultra-sensitive track pad.

“Innovation is happening across the PC industry, and what Razer has done with the Blade Pro is groundbreaking,” says Navin Shenoy, vice president and general manager of Intel's Mobile Client Platforms. "Utilizing a future 4th gen Intel Core processor, the Razer Blade Pro delivers top-class gaming and professional performance in a very portable form factor.”

“The Razer Blade Pro packs extreme performance in an ultra-portable form factor,” says Rene Haas, vice president and general manager of notebook GPUs at NVIDIA. “Thanks in part to the performance-per-watt efficiency of the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPUs, the new Razer Blade Pro is incredibly thin for a 17-inch gaming laptop.”

At the heart of the Blade Pro is a full-HD 17-inch LED display linked in combination with the Switchblade User Interface (SBUI), allowing users to take advantage of tools and creative possibilities at their fingertips. Driven by 10 dynamic adaptive tactile keys, a revolutionary LCD track pad and professional-grade and game apps, users can work harder and play harder. Razer’s SBUI now includes several new, professional-grade apps and a wide array of new tools available at no charge, including programs like Adobe Photoshop® and Adobe Premiere® Pro, Maya®, GIMP and more.

The Razer Blade Pro also features 8 GB of fast 1600 MHz DDR3L memory and now comes standard with 128 GB of total solid-stage storage, with optional 256 GB and 512 GB SSDs. With solid-state storage technology, gamers will now experience up to four-times the performance of a traditional 5400-rpm notebook hard drive.

Razer is also offering a new creative professional pricing program, allowing design students, game developers, development staff, Kickstarter partners and others to purchase Razer products, including the Blade Pro, at special prices. Selected developers and partners are now listed at www.razerzone.com/creativepro. Those not listed are encouraged to fill out an application on the page for a chance to be included in the program.

The Blade Pro will be available for pre-order June 3. For more information, go to www.razerzone.com/bladepro.

Price:
Starts at $2,299

Availability:
Razerzone.com – Pre-Order June 3
United States and Canada

Product features:

Future 4th gen Intel® Core™ processor (formerly codename ‘Haswell’)
8 GB DDR3L (2 x 4 GB 1600MHz)
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 765M (2 GB GDDR5) & Intel HD4600
Windows 8 64 Bit
128 GB SSD, with optional 256/512 GB SSD (mSATA)
Qualcomm® Killer™ NIC N1202 (802.11a/b/g/n + Bluetooth® 4.0)
17.3-in. Full HD 16:9 Ratio, 1920 x 1080, with LED backlight
Stereo 2.0 speakers
3.5 mm audio microphone/headphone combo jack
HD Webcam (front-facing, 2.0 MP)
Array microphones
(3x) USB 3.0 port (SuperSpeed)
Codec supports 7.1 (via HDMI 1.4)
Dolby® Home Theater® v4
Razer™ Anti-Ghosting Keyboard (with adjustable backlight)
Razer™ Switchblade User Interface
Razer™ Synapse 2.0 Enabled
Built-in 74 Wh Rechargeable lithium ion polymer battery
Kensington Lock
16.8 in. / 427 mm (Width) x 0.88 in. / 22.4 mm (Height) x 10.9 in. / 277 mm (Depth)
6.58 lbs. / 2.98 kg

For more information about the Razer Blade Pro, please visit www.razerzone.com/bladepro.

Images
http://www.razerzone.com/bladepro/images

Video
www.razerzone.com/bladepro/video

About Razer:
Razer™ is the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software and systems. Founded in 1998, with its headquarters in Carlsbad, California, the company has offices in nine cities around the globe. Used by the most demanding professional gamers who compete in global tournaments, Razer provides gamers with the unfair advantage of cutting-edge technology and award-winning design. We live by our motto: For Gamers. By Gamers.™

For more information, please visit www.razerzone.com.

Press Contacts
The Americas
Kevin Scarpati
Kevin.Scarpati(at)razerzone.com

Europe/Africa
Henrike Rohloff
henrike.rohloff(at)razerzone.com

Asia Pacific
Jarieul Wong
Jarieul.Wong(at)razerzone.com

China
Chris Chen
Chris.Chen(at)razerzone.com

Global
Alain Mazer
Alain.Mazer(at)razerzone.com