Razer Blade Owner's Lounge

Good points. I have tried to use some of the apps on it for gaming, simple stuff like the timer and mirror screen, but I just haven't been able to make it an integral part of my gaming sessions though, maybe it's not meant to be one.

I agree too, outside gaming it's incredibly convenient! I'm hoping for a Skype app soon, would be great to have it as a VOIP screen while in game.

 

Things like that are what they need to spend development time on, it's really cool to say you have apps for games but they're so useless or boring functions that its not even worth using. The firefall one they showed off a year ago looked awesome it turned the trackpad into a mini map THAT is worthwhile


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I agree. The SBUI is positioned to be one of the unique selling points of the Blade Pro, so I'm definitely expecting a lot more development into it.

I guess the mirror image app can kind of make it a mini map in any game, but not exactly the best way to look at it.

I would focus on making the SBUI a tool to help clear up the screen clutter on your main display. So yes, basically a minimap and even a secondary hotkey bar for those games with them.

 

Just got my 14". It shipped relatively fast... I got it within a week of ordering it! I'll be using it for photo processing (Photoshop and Lightroom), engineering analysis and design (Abaqus, ANSYS, SolidWorks, MATLAB, and Mathematica), as well as gaming. So far, so good, but I haven't had time to play games on it yet or do extensive analyses or photo editing.

I tried using Skype and Google Hangout with friends, but even though I could see what my webcam was seeing, there was this blinking green "filter" at the edges (only this small circular area at the center has perfect feed) and sometimes the entire feed would lose saturation. After waving my hand and bright cell phone in front of it, it appears as though the webcam is trying to falsely correct for something. I tried updating Windows 8, but couldn't find the drivers for the webcam. Did anyone else have this problem? I also contacted support via email, but I would like to hear from you guys. Thanks!

 

What model did you order? SSD size?

 

Warning: Redundant Post

So it looks as though the Razer Store has decided to go with the concept of not dynamically updating the website with product availability for the Blade and Blade Pro. I placed my order for a Blade 14" 512Gb on Tuesday hoping for shipping before weeks end. Well it doesn't look like that is going to happen. Any one who placed a recent order receive their system? If so when ordered, when received?

 

256 GB. Response from support: "This issue is caused by external lighting in your room. Compact florescent light bulbs can cause the issue. Try to use the camera under natural or normal light and see if you experience the issue."

This is weird to me since I don't have this issue with my years-old Macbook Pro. At least everything else works just fine! I don't care too much about the webcam, anyway. If people want to know about the gaming and non-gaming aspects (photo processing and engineering design/analysis), let me know and I'll see what I can test out! Unfortunately, I ran out of SSD space for Battlefield 3, but I do have Guild Wars 2, Borderlands 2, Killing Floor, Torchlight 2, and Skyrim.

 

I ordered my 14", 256 GB on July 9, and it shipped out the next day. It was supposed to arrive on that Saturday. However, with FedEx truck delays, it arrived on the next Tuesday. I'm on the East Coast, and was worried when the last update I saw was "Departed Ontario, CA" on that Wednesday. FedEx did not uphold their 3-5 day shipping, but at least I got the Blade now.

I'm not sure if I read the CEO's comment right, but I think he mentioned that when it ships (not duration of shipping) and availabilities depends on where you live. Also, what does your order status say?

 

My status does not show any ship date and says in Proccess. I received the order confirmation as well as the backorder email the night I ordered the product. Ironically I live very close to Razers HQ. I would also assume that the CA in Ontario, CA is California which would put me an hour away from their warehouse. I could literally drive to their office in about 25 min from my home.

 

Yep, sorry, forgot to specify that it's California. When I first saw the shipping update, I was like, "Canada?!?!" but then saw "USA." That is weird, but it's possible that there could be many orders on the West Coast. Have you given Razer Systems support a call? Actually, it'd be awesome to drive to HQ and see what's what. Who knows, they might give you some freebies for visiting...

 

I believe this is normal, you're basically in queue for an available Blade. I was sitting on Order in Process until I got the email that it shipped.

I also wouldn't count on distance determining the shipping time. I just sent my Pro from the Philippines to Razer in CA and it took 4 days. My return address from Razer is also similarly as near as you, roughly an hour drive, but it's going to take 5 days according to the tracking website. I find it odd, but maybe there's something I'm not seeing.

 

I just need a new battery. I can have someone fix it up for a price because we Filipinos have resources for gadget and computer needs (Greenhills, and Gilmore). I just need a fricking battery. I can fix it on my own. Stupid Razer can't even give or sell me one. What a joke of a gimmick for a company "for games, by gamers" bull****. Gimme a break, they're just like any other. They need to get rid of that marketing ploy they have, Very very customer-unfriendly.

 

Opening your laptop voids your warranty for good reason. Based on that policy it wouldn't make sense for them to sell batteries to their customer, encouraging them to open their laptops and void the warranty.

 

I turn off my laptop at 100% power and when I turn it back on it will show 92-95%. Something wrong with my battery? Does anyone else have this problem?

 

How long between shutting it down at 100% and turning it back on? Instantly?

 

It sits overnight until I get to my office at work.

 

Nice review!

http://youtu.be/t6xOcX-DSf8

 

Seems a little quick IMO, but batteries do drain overtime. So that in itself isn't odd. If you let it sit for a minute does it not update back to a higher %? Just now shutting mine down then starting it up I lost 2%, so assuming a small amount of drain over night and the fact that its processing a lot as windows loads, etc, it makes sense it would lower it by that much

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

Well you lost 2%, I lost 5%. How long until my startup is at like 50% and I have to buy a new blade or only use it while plugged in lol?

 

That's 5% over night though...2% wsd shutting down and instantly starting it again


Interesting tidbit: if your sbui screen stays dark after coming out of hibernate or sleep or w/e, try adjusting the brightness. Made mine pop right back up!

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

Oh I see. Anyways what you think of the 14 Hemo, you gonna get that too?

 

If I had expendable income I would, but I'd buy a blade pro over the 14" any day of the week. I really wish they made 17" without sbui that would be perfect.

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selling a razer blade pro (r2)

 

How much?

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No reply means free Hemo

 

I got one for sale dirt cheap "$1350 USD + shipping". Amazing deal considering it is a 2 month old machine.....

 

Has anyone figured out if the New Razer Blade Pro has space for a HDD? I had heard a rumor that there was space from where the R2's had their HDD, or was it filled with the larger battery?

 

where did you get it? At this point I really want the razer blade but the expense is really disheartening

 

Lol, I bought it directly from Razer 2 months ago.... Than got my butt hurt when they announced the Razer Blade 14'' like 2 weeks later!

That's why I am selling, I love my blade but the 14'' suits my needs much better IMO.

Anyways send me a private message if your interested, it wont be available long at this price...

 

I want to buy a razer blade, but the screen is holding me back. I have read it has very bad contrast ratio, and it looks washed out. How bad is it really?

 

The screen is not worth the price but if you can find another alternative, or don't mind waiting a year for the R2, then you should know the answer

 

You answered your own question

 

Man I'll never get over people discrediting the screen...don't get it /shrug. I guess it your job is in graphic design it makes sense but otherwise why care? Lol

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It's a substandard display by any measure. I have a higher quality display in a two-year-old sub-$1k 14" laptop.

Anyone who says the display is without issue is rationalizing their purchase.

 

Well said. For me, having to constantly adjust the screen to get the right viewing angle is the worst part

 

Has anyone figured out how to make this mirror mode work? I just found out about this and I'm trying to get it be the mini map for some games but I can't figure it out

 

Guess I'm the one that broke the mold. I honestly can't tell anything wrong with the screen. I didn't even know it ran "cooler" (blueish) until a reviwer pointed it out with a screenshot of a before and after calibration. And you know what? The next day and ever since I've never thought about it or noticed it. I just really can't tell the difference or my eyes don't care lol...All this talk about this stuff makes me feel like I'm at a fancy wine tasting with a bunch of snobby wine people! You guys are debating after tastes, scent, etc etc and I'm the guy shrugging saying it all tastes the same to me!

Again, unless your job is in the industry where color has to be perfect, why does it matter? I'd rather Razer spend time on (imo) more important things for the Blade. It's expensive enough already I can't imagine its price if it had a better panel with 1 million % gamut or w/e it's called. It wasn't designed or even marketed to have a killer screen on it, you're just inferring that since it's expensive it should. It'd be like me complaining about the cup holders in my sports car...I obviously didn't by it for them, they didn't dream up the car with premium cup holders in mind, they are there becase they have to be, out of necessity (In 'Murica atleast). Obviously Razer isn't trying to woo and ahh the panel nerds.

Not rationalizing the purchase at all, I just don't knock peoples hard work for not spending money on things that something wasn't designed in mind for. If Razer said Oh yeah and the Blade has an AMAZING screen that has perfect colors, deep rich blacks, 0 bleed through, etc..then yeah, have at them, they obviously missed the mark then!

Do you have some strange disease where your head constantly inclines and declines or moves forward and back? I just open mine hap hazardly not even paying attention to where the screen is set and haven't had any issues with needing to adjust it at all...

 

Actually since 99% of all users who have seen the Blade 14 screen mention the horribly limited vertical viewing angles I could ask if you have vision problems... but alas we won't go there. This is a laptop not a desktop therefore it won't always be sitting nice and level on a desk. Viewing the screen on, say, your lap makes the viewing angle issue even more pronounced. Move your head an inch or two and you've lost the sweet spot

 

Do you or have you at any point been the owner of a Razer Blade 14"?

 

I believe he did, but was one of the first on this thread to overdramatize the issue by stating that he's returning it based solely on the screen that's "barely usable", which to readers contemplating buying the laptop (including me at one point) creates a false impression that further exacerbates the reviews already out there knocking the laptop based on the screen. Honestly, he's probably either a perfectionist or extremely stingy regarding the price point, and that's why he returned it. NOT because it was objectively that bad.

We get it, it's a sub par display. Show me ONE laptop that gets everything perfect to the teet. If the Blade's display was fixed to a 1080p IPS, it would indeed be the closest machine to perfection available to date. But then people will argue against no SD card, no Ethernet, the goddam top is too hot to touch etc etc. There's no end.

Don't go into this $2000 purchase expecting perfection, because an MSI GT70, a Sager W230ST, the most pimped out Clevo, ASUS U500Vz, Toshiba Kirabook, Zenbook Prime Infinity Retina MacBook Pro all have (arguably large) compromises as well. I made a pro-con list for 12 other laptops I was considering and this had the best net value (pro - con). I suggest other people do the same instead of bashing something they either don't like enough to buy or returned because they hated. Move onto the forum of the laptop you choose over the Blade, or maybe do some constructive feedback by creating a thread filled with user input of what they want to see changed in the 14R2 revision (mPCI-e SSD ala MBA, included Ethernet 3.0 dongle, 1080p IPS, Maxwell GPU, 7+ hours battery etc.).

 

Well I think I found our problem -- I have an R2 - the original "Blade" now known as the Blade Pro, so if the users that have the 14" version are having poor viewing angles that would explain a lot as to why we're in such disagreement! I've never had the issue on the "Pro" about losing the sweet spot, I probably just don't care enough about it to pay attention though but I've never noticed a huge difference. I played on the thing during a 2 hour layover in an airport and had no issues enjoying it

 

Amen...If it's not one thing to gripe about it's another typically. "I understand the argument is about refresh time..." so that's what they tried to push, refresh time, and the panel lacked because of it? That's what they're going for, I give you kudo's for pointing that out and not just saying the display is terrible, etc...Haven't seen the 14" display personally, so I can't speak for it, but I'd be willing to bet it's not that bad, because I've owned laptops that were knocked on their display, and I never noticed

 

While I'm sure you and I would both notice some material difference going from the above average Blade R2 17" TN panel, it's again, not THAT bad. A far cry from unusable to even the most elitist screen snobs who understand this isn't a graphics major computer (the Pro is more suited for that in that sense). Vertical angles are worse than average, but you will need to adjust. I'm like you in the sense that I can't comment on color accuracy, gamut or contrast because I wouldn't know to compare to my Kuros plasma, my ASUS 23" TN super-exaggerated warm CCFL LCD or my current 720p 14" Lenovo T410 which supposedly has a TERRIBLE display but I think it's quite good.

Skip to around 4:00 and you can see what to roughly expect when playing a game.
http://youtu.be/t6xOcX-DSf8

Edit: also skip to 7:40 if you want to see some viewing angle comparison.

 

I've tried it out for D3, it's not the best feature unless it's optimized for games, imo. It basically mirrors your entire display into that small trackpad screen and you can zoom in on any area of the screen. It's nice on paper, but it still lacks in my opinion. It would have been really cool if we could select what area of our display we could mirror, and it scales that area to fit the trackpad. Right now, it basically just allows you to zoom in into some area of your display.

To use it, I just placed it as one of the 10 trackpad hotkeys and click it in the game.

 

No actually the argument would be that 1080p is too big for the 765M's britches.. especially in a gaming notebook. They should just have an option for both like AW so those that want to sacrifice performance for more real estate and better quality can do so.

 

Razer delayed my Blade Pro 256 another week. Good going Razer.

 

Folks, if you're happy with your purchase, that's great. You have a high-powered laptop that has superb design and packs a ton of engineering into a clean, well-built unit. Just don't tell me that black is white with regard to the display quality.

The display was the breaking point for me. I waffled on sending my 512GB unit back for a week based on the display quality. It was when I set my $300 netbook side-by-side with the $2300 Razer that I realized I expected far more from the display. It's not a question of resolution - the 14" has an appropriate resolution for the hardware inside - but a question of quality.

There's no need to insult people who have a different standard with the display. It's a post-hoc rationalization of your own purchasing decision; nothing more. I've never understood why people self-identify with their computer purchasing decisions to the degree that gets expressed in forums like this.

 

What you're doing is akin to buying a new Alienware 14 then returning it because its 1.6" thick, then complaining about it. Then saying you're ASUS G75 wasn't even as thick as this laptop, and had better cooling to boot.

Just curious, but what are you planning to buy/are using now that you returned the Blade?

 

The display quality is poor. So poor, in fact, that nearly every review highlights the display as not just a weak point, but a major flaw with an otherwise well-constructed offering.

Sorry, I'm not following your analogy.

 

Yup. That's it. From what I've read the Blade 17 has a nice screen. Shame Razer let us down on the 14's screen. :-(