Razer Blade 17" i7 Ultrathin Gaming Laptop $2800

[Didzo]

I was having trouble getting my CC to go through on their website last night, I'm trying again today. Like I said, I'll let you know what I think of it. Worst case, I write up a review, then ship it back to them and I take my money elsewhere. Maybe they'll let me keep the hats.

Take pictures and trade away the hats for metal.

[at0m]

Apparently Razer is based outside the US, and charges CCs from outside the US. It tripped the fraud detection on both of my cards, and the charge won't go through. Going to call my bank + email Razer, find out if I can get the hats anyways (sale giving them away ends today).

@Didzo: totally tempted.

[StolenToast]

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I can't find any clear information about specs on the ASUS webpage. That's sincerely disappointing.

Best I can tell, both ASUS and Sager make desktop-replacement style laptops. That Sager you linked has a 3-HDD RAID-5 in it. How fucklarge does a laptop have to be to have 3 rotating disks + an optical drive? Too big for me to easily transport, I think Also, once you actually spec out a gaming rig with Sager, it ends up being $4k+, and essentially removes the battery entirely. What the actual fuck?

Thats nothing.  Sager used to sell $6000+ models. 
[/quote]That doesn't help my 'needs to fit into a backpack and also not completely break my bank but still play games' problem. That solves an entirely different problem, if I just wanted to ditch my main rig and use a laptop as my primary PC, docking it when I'm at home. I don't really want to do that, though.
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If thats what you want then you really can't do much better than the Blade.  A Falcon NW, or Alienware might cost less AND perform better but might not fit in your backpack with your other stuff.
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A Falcon? Cost less?

I played with their configuration tools and... yeaaaaaaah. No.


[/quote]

Yeesh, I hadn't actually looked at FNWs for years, but you're right.  Base DRX (their luggable) costs minimum $3200.

[at0m]

Found out I also had a daily spending limit on my debit card. They told me I had to request in writing that it be raised, and that request would have to be faxed or scanned/emailed.

I wrote it in red sharpie on a cardboard box, then took a picture with my phone and emailed it to them. They said that counted, and raised my limit.

Now I just have to get Razer to honor the goddamn coupon that expired Saturday >_<

[at0m]

This thing is XBox Hueg. I'm not kidding. Will post full review probably next week sometime after I've had a chance to actually play games on it. First impressions are positive, and it goes from powered off to a windows desktop in 12-13 seconds.

[Didzo]

This thing is XBox Hueg. I'm not kidding. Will post full review probably next week sometime after I've had a chance to actually play games on it. First impressions are positive, and it goes from powered off to a windows desktop in 12-13 seconds.

You're forgetting the most important detail...


DID YOU GET THE HATS?

[at0m]

[quote author=at0m link=topic=6297.msg242750#msg242750 date=1334028772]
This thing is XBox Hueg. I'm not kidding. Will post full review probably next week sometime after I've had a chance to actually play games on it. First impressions are positive, and it goes from powered off to a windows desktop in 12-13 seconds.

You're forgetting the most important detail...


DID YOU GET THE HATS?[/quote]I had to argue with them, but yes I did. As part of my review I intend to post a picture holding the laptop while wearing the modest pile.

[StolenToast]

Post a pic of the Blade wearing the hat!

SO WACKY!!!

[at0m]

I never did post any pictures, nor did I do a review. I'd say I'll do it later this weekend, but that'll be a lie. So I'll post a brief one now.

Overall, I like it a lot. I think it's overcosted, although they did bring the price down to a slightly more reasonable $2250. The build quality is amazing, and having a 17" laptop that's only 1" thick is super cool. It fits into my backpack, is lighter and 1/3 the thickness of my old one, etc etc. Having the touchpad off to the right side is really nice, but the gimmicky screen in it and OLED pushbuttons are pretty blah since I haven't taken the time to customize them. I mostly use the Orochi that came with it instead of the touchpad when I'm playing actual games on it, and the quality on that is super nice as well. I didn't like the matte finish on it (strange texture under my hand) so I ordered a replacement top in the normal finish (Chrome) which I like quite a bit more.

Also, they've updated the Razer Blade with a better processor, and a larger hard disk (hybrid instead of ssd). Since I own a Razer, they gave me a $500 off coupon off the new one. I'm not interested in dropping another $2k, but if anyone _is_, let me know and I'll sling it your way.

[at0m]

Original (aka the one I have) for sale for $1500, this weekend only. http://www.razerzone.com/cyberweekend-de...ium=edm_US

[at0m]

Comparison of the Blade v2 to a heavier dedicated gaming laptop: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/12/a...e-mk2/#p3n