Software
As one of the genius ideas, Razer discarded
all of the useless softwares from its original Blade laptop, a move that we
really want to see turning into standard practice for the company. Like its
ancestor, the second-generation machine only compatible with Razer's own built-in
Synapse software - a suite you'll need to make use of the rig's Switchblade
interface. In fact, the fancy keys are dependent on the software - if Synapse
crashes, or is closed for any reason, the only thing you can do is to say goodbye
to that 10-key program launcher. Moreover, the program contains more functionalities
than just manage the Blade's magic buttons. It allows you to click on any key -
not just the special Switchblade toggles and recreate its function. Do you find
the right Alt key to be a bit useless? Turn it into a program launcher or a
sensitivity switch for a compatible Razer mouse. The app is fairly versatile,
but not that easy to use. Managing the Switchblade keys in particular isn't as
straightforward as we'd like, and we found that the user manual could play the
most important role in this case because without it, you just cannot handle
with the Switchblade yourself. Again, like the interface, the Synapse software
suite can be further improved to reach perfection.
Built-in
Synapse software -- a suite you'll need to make use of the rig's Switchblade
interface
The competition
Razer’s second generation only has one
configuration under the price of $2,500 - with that Core i7-3632QM CPU, NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 660M graphics, 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a 500GB / 64GB solid state
hybrid drive for faster boot and load times. Apparently, there is none of the
gamming laptop on the market that can compare to the Razer about dimensions.
How about the price and performance? That is just a completely different story.
The Samsung’s Series 7 Gamer, for instance, is cheaper than Razer Blade for
about $600, outpacing it in game performance without making visual concessions.
Still too expensive? Let’s have a look at the MSI GT70 – it is almost $1,000
cheaper than the new Razer Blade and has the same performance, whereas it uses
the latest GTX 670M GPU. Each brand has its own advantages compared with the
Blade – GT70 with a perfect audio system, powered by Dynaudio. The Razer’s
average rated screen can never compete against the SuperBright Plus 400 nit of
Series 7 Gamer. On the other hand, these two competitors are inferior when it
comes to style.
The
Samsung’s Series 7 Gamer, for instance, is cheaper than Razer Blade for about
$600, outpacing it in game performance without making visual concessions.
If you're impressed by the Blade's slim
profile, but aren't sure black is your color - there's another option, but you
might be a weirdo in your next LAN party. Equipped with its own Kepler-based GT
650M and an Ivy Bridge i7 processor, Apple's latest MacBook Pro puts on a
passable facade as a Windows gaming machine - lagging only slightly behind the
Blade when running games at 1,920 x 1,080 on their highest settings. Starting
at $2,199 for the Retina display MacBook Pro, however, doesn't save you much in
cash - but if you do not like the Switchblade interface, if you're an iFan or
if you just want to spend money, it might just be a acceptable alternative. Make
sure you don't come to us if gamers on the other side staring at you with a few
nasty looks.
Apple's
latest MacBook Pro puts on a passable facade as a Windows gaming machine.
Conclusion
It is hard to be successful with a
self-given description such as “the world’s first truly gaming laptop”. Sound
quality is below the standard, a finicky hinge and crippled performance were
all common complaints about the original Razer Blade. The reaction among gamers
sent a shockwave through Razer, and the company had deal with all of them. As
for us, we're seeing a fixed hinge, better (but still lackluster) audio offerings
and a significant improvement in performance. And we would like to say this: if
we had to choose one gaming laptop to bring along when we are outside the
house, this could be a good choice. It's slim, attractive, slightly more
manageable than other gaming rigs and - perhaps most importantly - it won't look
like a sore thumb in public.
However, even though the price has been
lowered by $300, Blade is still considered as one of the luxury devices. Before
spending $2,500 on this laptop, you have to make sure to yourself that you are
paying for style, not for power. The new Razer Blade can run almost every game
up to now, but we are not sure about the future. Owning the best-looking gaming
laptop on the market means that you may need to make some compromises, lowering
your standard performance in games and accepting the fact that you may need to
upgrade sooner. That's a tough decision, and it's hard to say if it's worth it.
Nobody ever said these kinds of decisions were easy.
Razer
Blade (late 2012)
·
Price: $2,500
Advantages
·
Fast and powerful
·
Good graphics
·
Slim and luxury design
·
Good battery (with a gaming laptop)
Disadvantages
·
Bad sound system (even though it is improved a
bit)
·
Switchblade UI has a potential, but it still
needs more time to reach perfection
Verdicts
·
The second-gen Blade of Razer is basically what
we need from the original version: fast, powerful and slim for a laptop within
this class. Unfortunately, its price is still quite expensive as always.
The
second-gen Blade of Razer is basically what we need from the original version:
fast, powerful and slim for a laptop within this class.
|
Specification
·
Processor: Future platform with 3rd Generation
Intel CoreTM Processor
·
Chipset: Intel HM77 Express Chipset
·
Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
·
Storage: 500GB 7200RPM HDD (primary Storage)
64GB SATA III SSD (for caching)
·
Graphics: Integrated Intel GMA HD – Mobile
ModeNVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M 2GB GDDR5 VRAM with NVIDIA Optimus
·
Display: 17.3’’ Full HD 16:9 Ratio, 1,920x1,080
LED Backlit
·
Other features: SwitchBlade User Interface,
Synapse 2.0, Built-in HD Webcam (2.0 MP)
·
Battery: Integrated 60Wh battery
·
Dimensions: 16.81 x 10.90 x 0.88 inches
(width, depth, height)
·
Weight: 6.6 pounds
|
