Razer Blade Owner's Lounge

well i just tried it with both the f1 key and the del key. the f1 i had a little bit better success getting into bios, than i did with the del key but with both i had to be quick about it. i basically just started spamming the key as soon as i powered up, even before the little prompt came up, it worked each time i did it with f1, but with delete key it worked 3 outta 5 times, and the other two just went into windows boot. and yes, thats the same del key ive been using (one with the little ins secondary function) mine is 2nd gen blade and was win7 but i updated to win8 and did the whole firmware thing, however im pretty sure i tried it out when i was using win 7 too.


thats weird though that the ext keyboard would work fine but not your built in one.

i wonder if you can run the win8 firmware and see if that fixes anything. its technically not a bios, its a fw for the switchblade keyboard, but who knows, maybe it will fix something?

 

Awesome, doesn't sound too hard! 256 is more than enough for my games so I'm definitely looking forward to that, I guess a 512 ssd for the other HD would be a little overkill

Please do take detailed pics that would be great. Went and read up on Crucial msata SSD's, good thing it only has 1 screw because that's all crucial seems to be giving out with their supbar QA dept


Once installed sounds like it'd be pretty easy to use, I guess I'd just partition my flash drive for install purposes of windows 8, load it on the msata drive and I'm good to go since everything else SHOULD be stored on the 500 gig HDD right?

 

Ahhh, I didn't know that firmware was for the keyboard, maybe I'll try that. But right now I'm ok with using an external keyboard, since I wouldn't really be using it all that often anyway.

 

The Crucial 256Gb mSATA SSD is the best price/performance point right now. You don't need both screws, the 64Gb mSATA SSD that comes with the Razer Blade only has one screw holding it in.

Once you install it, boot up, go into your BIOS, change your startup disk from the 500GB HDD to the 256GB SSD and that's pretty much it. Make sure you have a bootable flash drive with Windows on it, pick the correct drive to install to and it'll take care of all the rest.

Everything will install to the SSD, Windows, programs, games, everything else you can store on the 500GB HDD. That's what I did when I had my Alienware anyway.

I might replace the 500GB HDD with a 512GB SSD down the road still, once you've had SSD speeds, it's hard to go back to traditional HDDs lol

 

OMG! Razer just officially announced the Razer fiona tablet (now the razer edge). It looks like it will have several versions, and options. HD screen with 10 point multi touch, 0.8 inches thick, less than 2 lbs, and will get 1-2 hours of battery life gaming, and upwards of 6 doing normal tasks. Will have full Windows 8, options for 64, 128, or 256 GB of SSD space, options for either 4 or 8 gigs of 1600 Mhz ram, a 2 GB Nvidia 640 graphics card, high speed wifi, 7.1 dolby surround sound, and options for an i5, or i7 processor, and a USB 3.0 port all starting at 999$. Considering the base model comes with full Windows 8, a USB 3.0 port, an i5, a gtx640, 64 GB of SSD space, and 4GB of ram, as well as other features, This thing absolutely dumps on the Ipad and even the windows surface pro (which starts at the same price point and doesn't even have as good specs).

It wont have the joystick handles, those will be attachable peripherals that will also extend battery life, they will also be selling a keyboard dock that will extend the battery life, and a "console" dock, that will let you plug it into your TV and play games with controllers with several people at once.


So pumped!
For those of you who wanted a smaller version of the blade, this is probably the best you will get. I was looking to get a sager NP9150, but this may change the game for me.

 

Yep, very excited about the Razer Edge (Pro). I just ordered a Samsung Windows 8 Ativ Pro tablet this morning and cancelled order as soon as I saw the press release. The samsung was $1200 with much weaker specs (aside from 1080p screen). I will definitley be doing a review. The question is which attachments to buy?

 

I don't really see a point for most people in getting the console dock, but it seems like like both the lapdock and controller handles are a must. Particularly the keyboard dock of you want to do all games including RTS on the go. Aside from the price, this thing makes the new Nvidia handheld seem pointless.

The resolution really is the only "weak point" if you can even call it that. Imo, as long as they use a screen with decent gamut and quality it won't matter to much. Sub 1080p resolution will also make it a little easier to play at good settings for the GPU.

Despite how cool this is, I would be a little cautious just because adopters of first gen products often get a little burned by the product not being fully optimized or up to potential yet. Just ask anyone who bought the first gen blade laptop or first gen retina MacBook pro or air. The second gen blade is miles ahead of the first gen in almost every way. I could see something similar happen with the next gen of the razer tablet.
However it does seem like razer really cares about its customers, and the 500 dollar coupon they gave to first gen blade buyers is one of the greatest signs of thanks I have ever seen a company give. That left a good taste in my, and many other mouths. I wonder if they will do something similar for first gen edge buyers.

 

Something I really am worried about is the availibility date. It says q3 2013. That's right around the time haswell and nvidias 700 series will be coming out. If this thing comes out with a 600 series GPU and ivybridge, were looking at the same situation the first blade was in, coming out with a low end 500 series GPU and sandy bridge processor literally weeks before the refrehes of Intel and Nvidias product lines. a lot of first gen blade buyers were a bit pissed about this. especially when razed came out with a new blade only 8 months after the launch of the first one.

Honestly, they should be holding their cards close to heart and announcing it now, but waiting a few more months to spill specific specs, and using the more powerful, cooler, and power efficient haswell CPUs and 700 series gpus.

 

Steambox or HTPC duty, though I hear there were some issues getting it to move up to 1080p over the HDMI output.

Yeah. It's a bit unfortunate the keyboard dock won't be out until Q3.

The keyboard and controller docks apparently have extra battery compartments, doubling the power available from 40whr to 80whr.

I think that's mitigated somewhat as long as the second gen works with the first gen's docks. That makes it a bit easier to replace.

I did, in March, 2012, and then bought the Blade R2 in October. No regrets. Someone has to go first.

I don't think that will be true for full bore gaming. Unlike the Blade, I don't think the Gen 2 Edge will change GPU architecture as I don't think we're getting Maxwell GPUs this year. Best I can see happening is a speed bump on the GPU and a switch to Haswell. Haswell will help with low power usage, but I think at full bore it's still going to be around as power hungry as Ivy Bridge is.

 

Good points. It will have Bluetooth 4.0 at least, so that means you could technically use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse not originally meant for it.

I wish the pro version used a 650, but that might have caused heating issues. No way anything 660 or above would be able to be crammed into that sort of form factor.

I could see the next gen getting a graphics jump like the blade did from 555 to 666. This from 640 to 750.

As is I wouldnt have any qualms about dishing out around 1500 for the pro if that price will get me the 256gb SSD.

 

I'm actually quite looking forward to the Razer Edge Pro being released, my only real concerns are how thick and heavy it is, and how hot it may get. It's hard to tell from the video but it makes it look rather thick, which would take away from it's handiness/portability somewhat, especially when just being used as a tablet.

 

It's .8 inches thick, so exactly 10% thinner than the razer blade.

 

Actually the 650 and the 660 are both 640m's just with higher clocks. Using the 640m is a brilliant move on their part, cuts cost and then leave it to the user to OC as required...

 

Maybe only problem is adaptability for PC games on a tablet, and heat.

Example - Windows 8 Skype App has no options menu to change ANYTHING which is okay for the phone version, but on my PC, I wanted to setup push to talk and I couldn't, so I have to use the PC version. Imagine that Vice versa, where making changes, or similar things, easy on a PC, becomes quite the task for a tablet to do, if at all..

And heat, smaller, thinner chasis, same video card our Blades have, just lower clocks. In theory it shouldn't be bad at all, of course if you OC it might get a tad hot. As long as the vents don't blow onto your hands on the side of the device, or into your lap, I think it'll be okay. You'll never "feel" heat if you're using the handle dock, which you should have. Kinda sad Razer is charging an extra amount for that, its basically a staple thing to have with such a tablet, should just be included off the bat, or atleast not cost as much. I suppose it's nice to have choices rather than increases base prices by including it they give the people that don't want it a way to get the Edge without paying more for it and getting stuff they have no use for..


I really wanna get one, but just because it's cool. Not because I need a tablet...thats probably why I won't get one...can't justify a 1200+ investment in something I want, not need

 

Saving my pennies now... Hoping first quarter doesn't mean March 31 or something, would prefer end of this month.

 

This 640 is clocked down 20% from normal laptop 640. Will it even be overclockable? Will the processor be overclockable?

 

Ah, didn't know it had a 20% lower clock. It will be overclockable whether its more of a mobile platform, or desktop type windows 8. But the processor, just depends. If Windows 8 on a tablet is similar to the desktop version, the processor should be overclockable, but that'll all be up to its Bios.

If it's running a mobile version, it will be they both should be able to be overclocked, but windows tablet development is already hard to find, let alone for a Razer Edge Windows tablet, so it's really all a matter of not if, but when. But with how slow adaptation will probably be to the development community, it's going to be a looooooong when. Just like finding an unlocked BiOS for the Blade to be able to OC the CPU will be...

Such is the problem with niche devices!

 

I have couple of questions.
1. How do I change the default wallpaper for the switchblade UI's wallpaper? It's not a big deal but just for the sake of consistency, I would like to not see Razer's default wallpaper when booting up.
2. When booting up or waking from sleep, the screen (the main screen 17") flickers? Why? Again, not a big deal but I would like to fix it if possible.

 

I'm struggling to see a fault in the Edge to be honest...

 

1. Without recoding the Switchblade UI yourself, there's no option to change the default wallpaper for it, just have to wait until Synapse logs in and your wallpaper is applied...I guess if you wanted to fidget around with the code in the software you could :/

2. I've not experienced this that I'm aware of, maybe during sleep, but not during boot up I don't think. Sorry

 

I'm holding judgement til I see how it runs. If it's like a desktop version of Windows 8 running on a mobile tablet, that'd be pretty awesome. Browing the web with chrome, using vent, skype, etc...Being able to plug in USB'd headsets into it...

If it runs like that, I'll be seriously interested in saving up for one. Especially if it can play WoW and SC2

 

Does anyone know if any copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit will work with the CD-key printed on the bottom of each Razer Blade?

 

It is full windows 8.

 

CNET has given it the best of CES award. Kudos to Razer. Probably got the award b/c its just as light as the Surface Pro, maybe a bit thicker, but more powerful, and its not vaporware, will actually be in consumers' hands soon... Offering it for sale tomorrow would be nice. Maybe another discount for us repeat system buyers?

 

I just created a new step-by-step thread w/pics on how to install a bigger mSATA SSD in your Razer Blade if anyone is interested.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/oth...ger-msata-ssd-2nd-gen-razer-blade-w-pics.html

 

Hence why I'm asking how it'll work. Windows 8 is a mobile platform. All the apps on it are mobile version. I don't want that.

I have 8 on my Blade, I do not use the skype app 8 has on its store, I use the desktop version, beacuse the dekstop version actually has an options menu, so I can make skype PTT, or change settings...The Skype App doesn't because it was created with a cell phone in mind. I might not need PTT on skype on an Edge, but this is just an example, you get my jist yeah? I don't want a mobile platform to play my games, I want to be able to access full fledged desktop stuff.

 

They're giving people 50% off peripheral devieces and 10% off the Blade for 24 hours for winning that.

Damn! Anyone that bought a blade in that 24 hours, what a deal.

Would be nice to give out Blade buys like a $50-100 off on an edge, maybe more. Just to show they care

 

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!


Cyanide, if I'm not mistaken, to make a bootable USB drive for Windows 8, I just run the startup.exe you download from them and it gives me an option to intall via usb and flashes my 16gig card with files, thats it right? I noticed that the warning said you need atleast 8 gigs of space, but it only took up 4-5 gigs when I acutally did it? Just a little paranoid. I have windows 8 CD's but my dog chewed up my extranl cables for my CDROM drive so USB is all I've got

 

What are you guys getting for battery life? I only get 1.5 hours browsing the internet. That's with the display only at 5% brightness. I got a Razer 2nd gen running Windows 8.

 

I've squeezed a little over 3 hours on battery just browsing the web, and that was without everything being on low.

If you just got it you need to "break in" the battery, let it drain to 0% and fully charge it once or twice, you should see an improvement in the battery life.

 

Heads up guys, for the next 23 hours you're can get 50% off on all stuff on the razerstore (their FB post says peripherals) but I applied it to non-periph items and it worked!

10% off Razer Blades, that's $250 savings!!

When you get to the checkout apply this code

BESTOFCES2013 for anything

if you're doing the blade its code is

BESTOFCES2013BLADE

 

I used an 8Gb Corsair USB drive, no problems. And yes, you just use the .exe that Microsoft provides you. You can just test it, restart your laptop and press F12 and select your USB drive to see if it works. It won't install or mess anything up if you cancel it right after.

 

Most excellent, I will get right on buying that Crucial SSD Just gotta get the wife on board with the idea now >_<

 

I just canceled my XOTIC order right away and went with this I'm so excited to get my Blade! Which items apply with the 50% discount?

 

Congrats on the new Blade. Use mine for everything. Still pining for a January release date for the Razer Edge... Q1 is too vague. And I have money to spend now that if the wife finds out about, will not be here in March. Guessing I will have to join tabletreview or something to find a forum to discuss it...

 

Welp, my backlit keyboard stopped working. Was sitting around in Org in WoW and I guess the power plug got undone and the laptop died literally the second I plugged it back in - I tried doing a System Restore and tried reinstalling Synapse and still nothing. I tried running the keyboard firmware thing but all it does is say everything is up to date and that I'm good....

Anyone have any idea's how to fix this?

 

Have you tried the FN+F10/F11 key combos to see if that lowers or increases the keyboard back lighting?

 

Yep, tried that. Even went into the Synapse settings and fidgeted with the sliding bar for the keyboard too, no change. The Switchblade UI changes but not the keyboard

Oddly enough the capslock light on the capslock key works, watf?

 

Man! So jelly! I wish I could have bought my blade at 10% off...10% is a really good price for this thing - the 50% discount was only suppose to be for keyboards mice and headsets, but I bought some speakers, applied the code, then tossed non-periphals in the cart like the Blade stealth bag (I'll upload pics and share them) and then some screen protectors and a new mouse pad

 

I have seen the thread you have share very less videos and pics till now

 

I did a full review and pics of the original blade. Haven't supplied much for the new Blade as other owners have stepped up with plenty of great photos, some with detailed interior shots and how to swap memory. I don't really have much to contribute other than impressions of how various games run and at what settings. I've spent a lot of time tweaking my switchblade UI. I use it all the time with my slingbox actually, with custom channel icons and so forth. I'm waiting on the next big switchblade update...

 

What brand is the sound system on this bad boy? JVL? Klispch? etc.. and are they awesome sounding?

 

Well, nevermind guys, backlight started working again randomly

 

Anyone know what the grille is for where the screen meets the body? Not talking about the mesh grille for the speakers, talking about the slotted one that looks similar to the exhaust vents on the side that's on the side of the body where the screen attaches to the body.

I would say it's for intake, but thats on the bottom? Any ideas gents?

 

Hey everyone! I just purchased a Razer Blade and I would like to upgrade the hard drive and possibly the ram too. Does anyone know if these two options would work for upgrades?

Western Digital Scorpio Black 750GB
Corsair Vengeance 16GB 2X8GB

Thanks!

 

Yes those will both work, someone else has already Installed Veng RAM in their Blade and done a HD swap to an SSD, should be fine

Heads up, for those of you that haven't tried using the Screen protector on the track pad and hate using the track pad because it's unsensitive even with the sensitivity at 10 and the accerlation at 10, the screen protector makes it act like an actual track pad you'd expect. Love using this thing now with the screen protector! Plus it has a matte gloss to it, so now your track pad matches your matte screen

Who know a thin layer of plastic would make a night and day difference in this thing!

 

So I returned my Razer Blade and ordered a replacement. I purchased the Windows 8 version. Both laptops arrived with no battery life and wouldnt start without a wall adapter. I charged the new one for at least 3 hours every time i used it. I have only used it while on Battery. I only get 1 hour 20 minutes max. On low brightness and Power Saver.

Has anyone else bought the Windows 8 version and have better luck on battery life?

 

Windows 8 or Windows 7, it doesn't matter what verison you bought the internals are all the same...I've got Windows 8 on mine but it was Windows 7 for the first week or two that I hd it....you were the one that asked this earlier, and I'll say the same thing again even though it seems you ignored it - but there is typically a break in period for batteries...Fully charge it, full discharge it, then fully charge again, You should see better battery life, just like in cell phones, battery life isn't going to be at its peak out of the box...

Also, 1 hours and 20 minutes while gaming on battery is very very good. So if you're quoting battery life while gaming, that's fantastic. If that's battery life while surfing the web and not doing anything that requires anything more than using the Intel 4000 HD graphics, yes thats low, and I would suggest you break in the battery before you send it back again and get another laptop you won't be satisfied with. And don't look at what windows estimates your battery life to be, thats an average that it lists, and it full go and up down a lot based on what you're doing from your laptop. That thing has read 6 hours to me once as soon as I opened the lid from having it closed for a few minutes...So I hope these are your times you're quoting, and not what windows is telling you you'll get..

Also you may want to double check the nvidia control settings to make sure it does see your Intel 4000 graphics and that it's taking advantage of Optimus...I'd be very surprised if it wasn't like that as the laptop comes that way from the factory, and this being your 2nd unit...the liklihood that 2 units in a row would have the same problem...Just be patient, do some full charge cycles, and you should see an improvement in battery life.

 

battery saving tips, dim the screen to 10-20 percent, still plenty bright in most indoor environments. also, dont forget to dim the keyboard AND the LCD touchpad. In fact, I have a custom UI profile that turns them all off for conserving battery. hope that helps.

 

On the one I have right now, I never used it while on the wall adapter. Used it only browsing the internet and on very dim settings with NVidia card disabled. I would use it till it got to 15%-5% battery then charge it for at least a full 3 hours with the device completely off. I did this at least 12 times and occasionally charging it for over 8 hours.

I think it might be past it's break in period. The device came from razer with a totally depleted battery life.