The Razer Blade is the talk of the town among gamers. It’s got a similar look and feel to the MacBook Pro 17″ from Apple, plus the guts any game can love. But the recently updated MacBook Pros are no laughing matter; just put Windows on it and you have a formidable gaming machine, one that’s slick and offers some of the best battery life you can get on a laptop. So how do the two compare?

Design

Comparing any laptop to the MacBook has been trouble when discussing design. The aluminum unibody design, simple logo, light power brick…it’s simplicity at it’s finest. Razer takes a lot of those same elements and implements them into the Blade. It’s black instead of white, but otherwise could be mistaken for a MacBook closed except for the Razer logo. The Blade really is the darker, more devious brother to the MacBook Pro. In a strange twist of irony, the Blade is actually larger but thinner. Here are the dimensions of both:

MacBook Pro 17″ – 15.47″ x 10.51″ x 0.98″, 6.6lbs (2.99kg)
Razer Blade – 16.81″ x 10.9″ x 0.88″, 6.6lbs (3kg)

Based on size alone, the Blade is longer and taller, and has a bigger display, but is 0.1″ thinner and almost exactly the same weight.

Open both up and the main design difference is abundantly clear: the trackpad on the Blade is not below the keyboard. Instead, it’s based on the Razer Switchblade, a device with only LCD-backlit and completely adjustable buttons. On the Blade, users can pre-assign different functions to all ten buttons above the 3″ LCD display. That display also acts as the trackpad, so there is no chance of accidentally palming it with your other hand. And because it’s an LCD display, it can double as almost anything, from a secondary screen to watch YouTube videos to a number pad. Apple uses the extra space on the MacBook for speakers, which is nice. But for gaming, no laptop is going to be good enough.

It may seem like a tough call, because on the one hand people who like using their left hands to mouse just won’t like the Blade’s trackpad. It’ll be impossible to use. On the other hand, Razer matches the excellence in design from Apple and takes it a step further with something no one has ever done before.

Winner: Razer Blade

Ports

Ports may not seem so important, especially on a laptop, but if you’re buying a 17″ model for over $2500, you’re looking for a desktop replacement. Docks are a pain and expensive, so everything needs to be built directly into the machine.

The MacBook Pro features 3 USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire 800 port, Ethernet, audio in and out, and the new Thunderbolt port. The Blade has 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 USB 3.0 port, an HDMI 1.4 port (which supports 3D, 4K resolutions, 7.1 surround out, etc.), and a single audio in/out combo port. Deciding which is better appears tough, but based on today’s technology landscape, it’s a fairly simple choice. There simply aren’t Thunderbolt devices, but USB 3.0 is the up and coming standard. Video out is also hugely important, and right now Apple owners have to buy a mini-DV adapter plugged into the Thunderbolt port.

Winner: Razer Blade

Parts (components)

Here’s a look at the spec sheet:

The two machines are very similar in components, which isn’t surprising considering the pricing on both. There are three notable differences: the GPU, battery capacity and price (we’ll get to the latter two in a bit). AMD’s 6770M is a great card, and can definitely handle any and all of your gaming needs (though  OS X can’t). However, the GT555M is, while not the top-of-the-line mobile GPU (that would be the GT 580M), it’s damn fast. However, it’s not so much about the GPU speed in this case, but the GPU RAM. The Blade’s GT 555M comes with 2GB, compared to the 6770M’s 1GB. That will make the biggest difference in gaming (and application) use. Then again, with 8GB of RAM, most users won’t actually notice that except in heavier games. Other applications won’t take advantage of it, for the most part.

Update: As many astute readers pointed out, there are two major differences between both machines that were not originally discussed. The first is the CPU. The MBP has a quad-core processor, while the Blade uses a Dual-core processor. Both are i7, though the MBP will perform better with applications that utilize more than two cores.

However, the vast majority of today’s applications, including high-end apps, do not utilize more than two cores. Most only use one core. Most people who use two cores are running multiple applications simultaneously. The question here, frankly, is whether faster performance is more important than more cores (more simultaneous processes).

For someone purchasing either computer for gaming, the Blade is the clear winner. Faster is better, and there are only a handful and a small one at that, that use even two cores. Most use just one. However, the L3 cache is the big differentiator, and the base MBP CPU has 6MB of L3 cache, compared to the upgraded 2.5GHz with 8MB. Ultimately, I’d need to test both machines out, but what is clear is that the upgraded CPU will have better overall performance (perhaps not with today’s games and applications, but definitely over time) than the Blade’s i7. The base model CPU, however, likely will not be as powerful.

The second is using 3rd party hardware. The fact is most of us don’t do that, and likely never will. There is certainly the option to upgrade the RAM or from a HDD to SSD, but once again those are expensive steps to take. They’re not Apple expensive, but it’ll cost you no matter what. The same options will be available with the Blade as well, so they weren’t even discussed.

Finally, price. For the most comparable machine, Apple fans need to put down $750 more and still get a slower processor and a lesser GPU. If the SSD is scratched on the MacBook and replaced with a 750GB 7200RPM hard disk, then it’s roughly the same price, but as we’ve found with today’s applications and operating systems there is a pretty stark difference in speed and quality between HDD and SSD. But, again, for a desktop replacement more space may be the more important thing.

Winner: Razer Blade

Battery Life

The MacBook Pro has a denser battery, one that promises to last for 7 hours per charge. Razer isn’t advertising battery life on the Blade because it isn’t that great, but at CES I was told 1.5-2 hours of heavy gaming per charge. We’ll have to wait and see how it performs for daily use, because lord knows getting a laptop like this doesn’t mean we’ll be playing games on it every second of use.

Winner: Apple MacBook Pro 17

Features

Based on the specs, Razer wins thanks to a few minor upgrades over what Apple currently offers, such as Bluetooth 3.0 (over 2.1), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (a/b/g/n can cripple networks for users if one person is connected through the “a”, so eliminating it altogether is better for everyone). Apple does include the DVD-R drive (does anyone use those anymore?) which for some gamers who don’t download all their games will be a major loss with the Blade. Then again, who buys a $2,800 gaming machine and uses discs? Apple also has a denser 1200p display, compared to Razer’s 1080p. Apple also has an option for glossy or antiglare displays, while Razer ships only with glossy screens.

The big feature, of course, is Switchblade. We’ll have to wait and see how good it is in actual use, but even if you don’t use it to it’s every capability the mouse all the way to the right may prove to be an excellent design choice, so long as you aren’t left handed.

Winner: Razer Blade

Price

Pricing is tough in this case. The MacBook Pro 17″ can be purchased anywhere from $2,500-$4,100, and there are a lot of options to change. A jump between 2.4 and 2.5GHz may not seem like much, but the L3 Cache is 2MB bigger, which is a big deal. 4GB to 8GB is a big deal. The dealbreaker is Apple’s ridiculously expensive SSD drives. The 128GB SSD is only $50 more than the 750GB 7200RPM HDD, but the 256GB SSD is $450 more expensive. Add on $1K for the 512GB. SSD pricing has always been crazy, but as always Apple raises the bar.

Then again, for a gaming machine with 8GB of RAM and at least 1GB of VRAM, an SSD will help, but not all that much. Unless gamers plan on playing while in a car (which is going to be hard on a 17″ laptop), a standard HDD would be fine. The problem is even sticking with the faster HDD keeps the MBP at $3,050. You may say, “at these prices what’s a couple hundred dollars”, except that in this case you are paying more for slower parts.

Normally we award the winner in price to the product with the most choice, but in this case the Blade is more affordable. Even though it comes in only one size, compared to the customization of the MBP, the Blade is simply more bang for your buck.

Winner: Razer Blade

Of course, if you’re looking for a gaming laptop, the Blade my not be your best bet. After all, the RAM and GPU, and even the SSD, are all fairly limited when compared to what you can get on larger machines like the Alienware M17x or Maingear’s Titan-17. On the M17x alone, for the same price I can double the RAM, get a much better GPU and a hybrid HDD/SSD, and a 3D display for 3D gaming.

However, today there is nothing that offers the build and design of a MacBook and makes it game-worthy. The Razer Blade offers to do just that, and for the gaming industry and hardcore gamers, that’s exciting. It means we don’t have to lug around giant heavy laptops to play, or be ashamed of how big and bulky they are. There is a bright future, and perhaps it’s in the Razer Blade. We’ll see when it comes out, in February.

Razer may have shown off what many consider a game-changer in the world of tablets, but I think equally important is the Razer Blade, a full-fledged 17″ gaming laptop. It’s not revolutionary in any way but one: it looks as slick as can be. It has the same design finesse of an Apple MacBook Pro, but with the parts and specs of a high-end gaming machine. Put it next to a 17″ MacBook Pro and you’d think that Apple now has an evil twin brother, with snakes growing out the top of its head.

You wouldn’t be too far from the truth for thinking that. Razer, who has over the past year broken out of the standard mold of gaming peripherals into actual computers (starting with the Blade) is making waves with the Blade and with what they call Project Fiona. The Blade, however, is stacked, and isn’t for the mass market. It’s for hardcore gamers who want the finest gaming experience you can get when on the go, or at least on a portable machine. While some laptops can compare to the specs that Razer is showing off, nothing can compete with the build quality or design, at least with what I’ve seen of the Blade thus far.

There are two things that really stand out about the Blade besides for the whole “gaming laptop” aspect. First is that the touchpad is completely gone, replaced by what Razer showed off at CES 2011, the Switchblade. That includes ten buttons, each with an LCD display so it can be programmed to show anything (this is intended to work for hotkeys to open applications like Calculator, YouTube, an Internet browser, etc.), and a 3″ LCD display that act as a touchscreen. The main function of this touchscreen is as a mouse, so users can keep one hand on the keyboard and the other hovering over the opposite side of the keyboard. While it seems like an interesting idea, and will keep users from moving their hand back and forth between the mouse and keyboard, I’ll have to try it out long-term to see how it actually plays out. This, of course, means that the rest of the space is open, so there’s no accidentally resting the left hand on the trackpad and messing up your mouse use.

Stock photos used because my CES shots of the Blade are MIA

The second is the rest of those Switchblade features. The LCD panel works both as a mouse and as a secondary screen, utilizing a proprietary system (I think it may be a separate chip powering it, as similar functions have been available in the past, though not on laptops; Razer declined to comment on how exactly it works or where it gets resources from) to allow completely seamless use of the secondary display without interfering with the main computer. So you can play a game while also streaming YouTube video of, say, a walkthrough to get past a tough area in a game. Or switch the LCD to a number pad for when handling taxes (or even use the 10 buttons as a sideways numpad). There’s no limit to what the panel can do, theoretically. It’s unclear if the SDK will limit what can be done. All Razer shared thus far was that any application can be used for the Switchblade system, but that apps require an icon to appear on the buttons. Otherwise it won’t work.

The specs are as high-end as you can image for a gaming laptop. 1080p display, 2.8GHz dual-core i7, 8GB of DDR3 RAM (1333MHz), Nvidia GT 555 (2GB), and a 256GB SSD. It’s less than an inch thick, has one USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI out, and of course the Switchblade system.

A few additional neat features: the keyboard is completely anti-ghosting; I don’t know if that means it connects via PS/2, but it can read all of the keys simultaneously. It’s also completely backlit, and has a similar chiclet design to Apple laptops. The Blade has a 2MP webcam and supports 7.1 audio out.

What’s clear to me is that the Blade isn’t intended to be an on-the-road gaming laptop. The battery is not extremely high dense or extremely powerful; Razer estimates between 1-2 hours of heavy gaming use on a single charge, which is on-par with today’s gaming laptops. So for a flight from LA to San Francisco, it’ll certainly make the trip and then some, but gamers will be carrying around the charging cable. No, the Blade is intended to be more of a desktop replacement that also provides on-the-go gaming, an HD screen, and excellent build so that users can enjoy their computing experience as much as possible.

The Razer Blade is expected to release in February for approximately $3,000.

It may be one of the most important tablet computers shown at CES this year, not because of a unique build and design, but because it’s made to play full-fledged PC games. Project Fiona isn’t your everyday tablet; in fact, its about as far as you can get from an iPad or Android tablet. And that, along with some high-end and completely secret hardware, is the secret sauce that may make Fiona worth forgetting about any other tablet coming out this year.

After all, don’t you want to have a full-PC running in a tablet?

Razer, the gaming peripheral company that has recently grown to manufacturing a high-end gaming laptop (the Razer Blade), is working on a 11″ gaming tablet that functions just like any other tablet – full touchscreen, built-in battery, etc. – except that it currently has Windows 7 Touch Edition and will eventually ship with Windows 8. Besides for that it’s a gaming laptop sans keyboard, with built-in gamepad controllers on both sides of the tablet. The design is a little clunky now, but it’s not set in stone exactly how it will end up.

In speaking with Razer, I asked about possible designs where the controllers are separate and/or attachable, and it’s currently something that the company is researching. The tablet itself is pretty thick at a full inch and fairly heavy too. It runs an Intel i7 CPU, full-power (not the ultrabook low-powered models), so it can be anything from 2.4-3GHz, though likely dual core. It will also have a high-end GPU, though it’s unclear which model it will have, likely an Nvidia 600 model, but without knowing what Nvidia is planning in the future for their GPU line it’s impossible to tell.

However, the plan is to release the tablet with Windows 8 for under $1,000, thereby making it a perfect gaming tablet that can potentially replace gaming laptops. Ironically enough, it would in a sense compete with Razer’s Blade laptop.

I played Space Marine at 720p (the screen display was actually 1280×800, which is strange because it looks like a widescreen display (16:9), but has a standard PC 16:10 resolution. The game ran smoothly, but the control setup was a bit strange. Like joysticks on the Playstation Move Navigation Controller or Razer’s own Hydra controller. Holding the entire device is…well, it’s big. Razer reps assured me that the battery will last at least 1.5 hours, which means that more basic functions like email and web-browsing should last much longer, especially if Windows 8 has significantly better power management functions as expected.

The game quality was great, and though I’d love to know what the settings were, that info wasn’t shared. Once again neither were the specs. Project Fiona is expected to fully release, likely under a new name, in Q3 or Q4 this year. But it’s also all experimental, so we’ll have to wait and see. Because if suddenly people can play on the go, and it’s under $1,000, there will be a line around the block to pick one up.

I’ve been gaming nearly my entire life, though the PC has almost always taken a backseat to consoles. Still, with the advent of Steam and a lot of great games being released almost weekly, I could no longer ignore the computer I decked out with parts for gaming as an excuse to spend more for a high-end rig yet never gamed with. Now that I’m up to my neck in fantastic PC games to rival the best my consoles have to offer, I needed something a little extra to give me more control and really solidify a solid gaming experience.

Enter the Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse and Razer Vespula Dual-Sided Gaming Mouse Mat. Separate, each of them would have been a massive step up from the generic mouse I was using and the (don’t laugh) cutting board I had on my desk as a makeshift mouse pad. In tandem, the two work fantastically. After installing the drivers and getting access to a full profile of customizable settings including sensitivity, scrolling speed, DPI, and polling rate, I was good to go in probably ten minutes or less.

The DeathAdder features a lot of clever features that become apparent once the drivers are up and running, including the ability to program macros to any of the mouse’s five buttons, change between five profiles using a button located under the mouse, or even map a button to change the mouse’s sensitivity without backing out to the device’s settings – A fantastic idea for anyone running to a vantage point with a sidearm, setting up camp, and beginning a long-lived sniping mission. The mouse feels great in my hand, and Razer even makes a flipped model for lefties, moves smoothly across all surfaces, and is extremely responsive.

As for the Vespula mat, there isn’t a whole lot to say, but all of it is positive. Using a very traditional mouse pad material, the Vespula doesn’t slide around the desk at all. On top of the soft, floppy material, a hard plastic plate rests comfortably, wrapping around the built in wrist rest, giving a wide effective surface to move the mouse around. The plastic plate doesn’t bend or shift while using it, offering stability and an ideal space to move around on. With two sides, the plate can be flipped to the user’s liking. One side offers a slick surface ideal for quick, violent movements that need to be made in a split second, while the other offers a slightly larger amount of resistance for more controlled movements.

The difference, believe it or not, is noticeable almost immediately. Whether it’s flipping between the sides of the Vespula mat, changing mouse sensitivity on the fly, or the step up from standard mouse and odd kitchen equipment to professional-grade gaming peripherals, once you’re mid-game with the Razer in your hand, the transition is seamless. Everything you want to be doing with your mouse happens without snags, without having to pick up the mouse and continue moving in the same direction. Even on my dual-monitor display, I have all the space I need to navigate my full desktop smoothly. The change might be something you think of as being a massive upgrade, but the feeling of solid control is unmistakably there.

Editor’s Rating

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Bottom Line: The Razer DeathAdder offers a simple yet effective entryway into getting your computer rigged for optimum gaming. The product itself has no real shortcomings whatsoever, the only potential turnoff is that if you are the kind of person with more macros than actual commands, the DeathAdder only features five mouse buttons like a standard gaming mouse. It does, however, have a profile changing button located on the bottom to help you switch out settings as you like through progammed settings. For the price, and for the features, the Razer DeathAdder, especially combined with the effective, large surface of the Razer Vespula are going to be ideal fits for all but the most specialized of gamers.

Pros:

• Smooth movement ensures no hiccups whether you’re charging headfirst into a battle or carefully sniping your opponents
• The dual surfaces of the Vespula mat provide slightly different textures, offering a preference on how the mouse moves and how your hand feels on the surface
• Completely adjustable sensitivity, even on-the-fly, means that you can adapt to any situation without having to tab out of your window to make changes

Cons:

• Not many mappable buttons can be a downside for gamers used to intensely customizable mice
• A decent amount of desk space needs to be dedicated to fit the Vespula down
• Some of the settings like polling rate require a reboot to take effect, not a massive downside, but something to consider when fine-tuning the mouse before gaming rather than during

The Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse is available from Amazon for $45.23. The Razer Vespula Dual-Sided Gaming Mouse Mat is available from Amazon for $27.93.

Man, where did summer go! We’re already in September, and Labor Day is this coming Monday, aka the official farewell to summer 2011. Wishing all readers a safe and fun holiday weekend with our weekly tech wrap up!

4. Bamboo Blackbox Cases

Made from Bamboo these eco-friendly, stylish and unique Apple laptop and iPad cases are just what you need to go back to school looking way too cool! Each case includes a leather strap engraved with the production number to make you feel even more special.

3. Necker Nymph Submarine Sea Plane

The three-person “aero submarine” is the perfect billionaire toy if you have the cash. It can dive up to 30 meters below the water’s surface and travels at the speed of up to 6 knots for about one to two hours at a time.

2. Razer’s Blade Gaming Laptop

Behold, the laptop for made especially for true gamers! The Razer’s Blade Gaming Laptop features a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 2640M Processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M with NVIDIA Optimus technology with 2GB of dedicated RAM, 320GB HDD and a built-in 60Wh battery. It’s every gamer’s dream come true!

1. Mutewatch

Don’t let its simplicity food you! The Mutewatch may appear to be just a gray, rubber strap, but underneath is a touchscreen watch with a capacitive LED display.

4. Two Chatbots Conversing

A hilarious video of what happens when two chatbots go at it! Bet you actually have conversations like this!

3. Inkling Sketch Manager by Wacom

The Inkling by Wacom allows you to digitally transcribe your notes, illustrations or just doodles in real time to your computer, using ultrasonic and infared technologies. A very cool device for designers and artistic types.

2. Slingshot Cannon

The manmade 200-lb. slingshot can destroy a small car, making for a very cool toy! Check out the video to see what type of destruction it can cause.

1. Shot By An AK-47?

Seriously, the title says it all. A must-see video!

If you’re a true gamer you probably own a behemoth of a machine that runs 24 hours a day and generates enough heat it can keep your bedroom toasty even on the chilliest of nights.  But any true gamer knows that the real fight is at the tournaments and lugging a 25lb machine 500 miles can be a back breaking experience.

Say hello to Razer’s Blade laptop.  They say it’s the “world’s first true gaming laptop,” and given its spec set we’d have to agree.  Unlike other machines in the same class, which can weigh upwards of 10lbs and measure over 2-inches thick, the Blade is just .88″ and weighs in at a hair under 7lbs.

And make no mistake.  Just because Razer has managed to trim this machine down to a portable level, the screen size hasn’t take a hit, measuring 17-inches and producing a full HD resolution.  Under the hood is a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 2640M Processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M with NVIDIA Optimus technology with 2GB of dedicated RAM, 320GB HDD and a built-in 60Wh battery.  There is of course built-in WiFi and an HD webcam.

If the name Blade sounds familiar you may recall that Razer announced a gaming laptop at CES earlier this year called the Switchblade.  The concept laptop called for a touchscreen and an LED keyboard that displayed keys according to the game.  While Razer has foregone the touchscreen, they’ve included 10 gaming keys that can adapt according to the game.  They’ve also included a mini LCD screen that doubles as a ultra-sensitive multi-touch panel and a screen to display in game information when an exteneral mouse is attached.

You can expect the Razer Blade gaming laptop to arrive in Q4 for $2,799.99.

Believe it or not, but stellar audio can mean the difference between winning and losing a frag session.  If you can’t hear your opponent creeping up from behind, they’ll probably get the jump on you.  And to be some what fair, and hopefully realistic, no home theater system can ever deliver enough detail to provide that winning edge. That’s why, assuming you’re a die hard COD or HALO player, you’ll need a pair of rock solid surround sound headphones.

That’s why we’re happy, and actually a bit giddy, to introduce Razer’s newest headset, the Tiamat.  It comes in two flavors: 7.1.-channel and stereo.  Why you’d opt for the latter we don’t know, but perhaps budget and a sense of nostalgia has got the best of you.

Razer says that the 7.1-channel Tiamat is the “world’s first 10 driver headset”.  Each cup contains 5 discrete drivers; 1 for center, 1 for the left or right, surround sound left or right, surround back left or right, and 1 for the subwoofer.  What it boils down to is pinpoint positional surround sound, at least that’s what Razer is laying claim to.

Included in the $179.99 package is a control unit that allows gamers to adjust the volume of each audio channel, position, and bass depth, as well as toggle between the 7.1 surround sound mode, 2.0 stereo mode or external speakers, provided of course that they’re hooked up to the unit.

If that’s a bit too rich for your blood, you can opt for the stereo version, which costs $99.99 and includes a total of 4 discrete drivers, 2 dedicated especially to bass.

Both versions of the Razer Tiamat Headset, 7.1-channel and 2.0-channel, will be available sometime in Q4.

Tigerdirect has a coupon discount available on this Razer RZ04-00270100-R3U1 Carcharias Gaming Headset which cuts the price to just $69.99 – $35 Coupon (DJP30877) + $2.99 Shipping = $37.98!

Get your game on with the he audio fidelity you crave! The Razer Carcharias Headset provides you with exceptional comfort and style for wearing long hours in the game without fatigue or irritation. It delivers True to life gaming audio with superior clarity and deep bass so you feel every explosion as it happens. The microphone picks up your voice with crystal clarity and includes an on/off switch right on the band for ease of control. The cable itself also includes in-line volume control and can clip on for quick access.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Gazing upon my workspace, I can only imagine the grief my 6th grade summer school English teacher would feel. Disorganized, unorderly…madness, in a sense. She might even be too taken aback to notice two keyboards connected simultaneously to my computer, instead focusing on clutters of yellow papers and very little visible wood for such a large wooden desk.

But there is some order in that madness. You know, in the way that we all know where to walk when the floor is just too unclean, or how the too-full refrigerator is still so easy to navigate so long as no one but you touches anything. We just know where things go, until someone else needs something. No, the interesting part of the above image is the second keyboard. The Razer Blackwidow.

I wrote a fine review of the Blackwidow but didn’t publish it. I blame divine intervention, so that I may write this instead. Perhaps it’s because I needed Pandora to publicly debut comedy channels, where I heard a magnificient line about being wary of the word love. The comedian – who’s name I dare not remember – claimed saying “I love you” all the time loses it’s meaning. Considering the strength and power of the word, it’s a fair statement to make. Likewise, I’m hesitant to say that I love the Blackwidow.

This arachnid is phenominal. It’s better than any mechanical keyboard I’ve tested, including the Das Keyboard Model S and Matias Tactile Pro. The keys are the best I’ve ever typed on, without reservation. The absolute power of typing, of the written word, is brought to life with this keyboard and not stained with overbearing sound – the TACK TACK TACK of hail in your head normally reserved for mechanical keyboards – nor is it tarnished with poor design, maligned keys or cut corners. There is so much to love that, as a matter of fact, I’m having trouble saying that I don’t love the Blackwidow.

Furthermore, this model is not even the more expensive “Ultimate” model, just the standard, non-macro, no-backlighting, no-extra-jacks standard fare. Even without these bells and whistles, I haven’t had this much fun and true enjoyment from typing since the Das Keyboard. But as great as it is, I’ve still got my older, familiar Sidewinder X6 plugged in, and insanely for just two functions: the quick media keys and the volume knob.

I can say that without a doubt I love the volume knob. I’m not the only one who would rather change the stereo volume while driving with a knob rather than a button, right? That tactile feedback, the turning motion…it’s really primal, but more importantly it’s an easy tool to navigate. I can easily press the wrong button…but it’s much harder to turn a knob the wrong way accidentally.

Incidentally, I have several available options to adjust volume. That volume knob, my Razer Mako speakers directly, the media controls on the Blackwidow…but that knob is just so easy, so deliciously tactile. It doesn’t do the Blackwidow justice that the media keys are shared with the function keys, and that the FN key itself is lodged between the right alt and Windows key.

That is to say that I’m a picky bastard. Because even though I loved the X6 when it came out (and it still is a wonderful keyboard), the typing experience on the Blackwidow is kickass. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I love it.

The Razer Blackwidow is available for purchase from Amazon for $73.12. The Razer Blackwidow Ultimate is also available from Amazon, for $155.99.

Almost no sooner than being announced, Panasonic’s Jungle gaming device is dead in the water, at least according to Reuters who reported that the company has “dropped development” of the portable gaming console .  

Seriously, though.  We’re biting our lips over hear since we want to climb to closest highest perch and scream at the top of our lungs “told you so”. But that would be childish and probably wouldn’t help instill confidence in Razer’s Switchblade project, which exudes a similar vaporware like quality. Fortunately, we can only imagine that not more than a handful of people we’re anticipating the Jungle, so nothing ventured nothing lost, right?

As of this posting the Jungle website, Facebook or Twitter account had not made an official statement concerning this matter.

Read

Razer’s Chimaera wireless gaming headset for the Xbox 360 and PC is one bad ass looking piece of headphone kit.  But one thing it lacked was a full surround sound experience.  Fear not audiophiles, they just announced a 5.1-channel version of the ultra sleek and wireless headset.

Much like the stereo version it sports 50mm drivers for some serious, or so we hope, bass thumping sound and the ability to create a private chat when you’re in proxmity of 1-3 other Chimaera headset users.  One caveat to the full surround is a reduced battery life of 8 hours, which is 4 hours less than the stereo version.

Included is a docking base that transmit at 5.8Ghz and recharges your gaming headset.  There is also a set of adjustable circumaural ear cups, independent audio and microphone controls on the ear cups, flexible microphone boom, and a digital optical connection.

Word is that it will go on sale this April for $199.99, which is a $70 premium over the stereo version, which start selling February 28th for $129.99.

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4 out of 5 stars

Portable speakers, eh? How about that. It’s been years since I first started reviewing hardware and tech, and this is the first set of portable speakers I’ve ever tested. The Razer Ferox is certainly a neat little bundle to start with, but what’s the point of portable speakers? As I pointed out in our first look, having speakers can be more comfortable than headphones. As someone who travels around often for work, I need a break from headphones, but does the Ferox make or break the case for this new type of audio equipment?

The Ferox is a set of stereo speakers that are formidably small and conveniently packaged. For $60, buyers get the two omni-directional speakers, a connector and charging cable and a carrying case to keep everything neat. And neat it is. The Ferox is remarkably simple. There are no buttons, no batteries to replace, nothing but plugging them in and listening. Forget cavemen, it’s so easy your cat could do it.

Once out of the perfectly designed zipper-opened carrying case, setup is a one step process. Plug the included micro-USB cable into both speakers (there is no right or left speaker, the split cable determines which side is right and left) and pop up the panels atop the speakers, and voila! A ring of blue light shines out the bottom showing that the speakers are on, and with any audio source with an auxiliary (3.5mm) input, you’re good to go.

The saucer-like speakers have a similar minimalist design, using a cylindrical cone-like structure to take up the least amount of space without compromising stability. The base has a thick layer of rubber to stay in place and the “back” has the micro-USB port. What else need there be on a speaker system?

What really makes the Ferox excellent for travel is the omni-directional sound design. This essentially makes sound blast in every direction, whereas most speakers face one specific direction to hit a sweet spot. Like the Razer Mako pro-grade speakers (which I use daily and love), it makes almost no difference which direction the Ferox speakers face. This means finding the sweet spot is much easier to find because it only involves moving the speakers into place, not aiming them.

I especially like the pop-up on/off, where the top of the Ferox speakers pop up and down, revealing the actual speaker and opening the air path for sound to exit, thereby activating the speakers. It’s so simple and brilliant. It’s even enjoyable to just watch the top open up entirely, which takes about four seconds.

Intelligent design is behind every aspect of the Ferox and included parts. The speakers don’t turn on if there is no micro-USB cable connected to them. Each speaker is a separate piece, so users can use just one if desired for listening in mono. Instead of using disposable batteries, rechargeable batteries are built into the speakers and last about 12 hours per charge. A ring of light shows when the speakers are on, glowing blue, and blinks red when power is below 10%. Finally, the included cable both connects the speakers to an audio source and acts as a charging cable for the batteries when they run low.

This level of great design is uncommon, and I was pleasantly surprised as I used the Ferox. Even the carrying case, made specifically for the Ferox, can be used for anything thanks to a removable middle Velcro wall. My only concern is how short the included cable is, only three feet between the two speakers and one foot from the speaker base to the audio source. Even using the set in a hotel, with my laptop the speakers with just enough distance, there should be a little leeway for the cabling. I was forced to move around the speakers or audio source, specifically my iPhone or iPod, uncomfortably to accommodate the short cable length.

Audio quality from the Ferox speakers is decent. Bass is lacking, which doesn’t come as a surprise considering the size (though the recent SteelSeries Siberia headset I tested has excellent bass). This is partially because the Ferox only supports 150Hz-20kHz, probably to help conserve power. However, higher-pitch bass is also weak. Mid-tones are accurate, though the sound lacks definition and richness. Sounds tend to be flat, though soft. High-tones differ somewhat, with some sharp tones and occasional static. In the lab, I wasn’t impressed with the audio quality.

The Razer Ferox, sitting atop the Razer Mako speakers

However, testing sound and actually using the speakers day-to-day are very different, and the Ferox is undoubtedly not meant for DVD-quality audio. Listening to most modern music, streaming at 192kbps or lower, the Ferox proved more than adequate at reproducing accurate audio. Bass is still problematic, and some high notes are still too sharp.

Some other problems occur with volume: the Ferox speakers can get very loud, but they begin to suffer above 75 decibels. Since they rely on the audio source to control volume levels, using the Ferox on your PC will require some basic volume changes to ensure you have reasonable volume levels. Most media applications have their own volume controls, and the computer itself has a master volume control. Application volume should never exceed 100% or there will be static and sound fragments. The same applies to your computer volume if using on-board audio, which shouldn’t exceed 85%.

Yet after hearing the Ferox, my final question came down to general happiness. Was I happier wearing various headsets and earphones, ranging from $50-$350 in price (and all generally good products) for a few hours, or using the Ferox speakers? The best way to describe it is a line graph where over time, the Ferox is a better solution. Speakers are always better than headphones, even if they don’t offer the same audio quality. Having to wear another peripheral – especially hours on end – takes its toll. The Ferox succeeds in every aspect of convenience: they’re small, light, simple to use, have great battery life, and are easy to store. For the low price of $60, I’ll take the Ferox over headphones any day of the week.

You can buy the Razer Ferox speakers from Amazon for $59.99.

Summary

Pros:

• More convenient than most headsets for travel audio
• Brilliant design
• Good battery life and easy charging solution

Cons:

• Sharp highs and muffled/muted bass
• Connecting speaker cable too short

4 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Wonderful visual design
• Great for MMO and general gaming with all keys programmable
• T1-T7 keys are brilliant

Cons:

• Mid- to high-profile keys are mushy, soft
• Two USB cables required for keyboard and backlight
• Several minor gripes, like the name and single function key

Games come and go, but MMOs are forever. Whether it’s Everquest, World of Warcraft, Eve Online or another version of digital crack, they all have one thing in common: a ton of commands, a smorgasbord of functions. That’s part of what makes MMOs great, that players can do so much, and have so many different abilities that it takes not hours, but days to learn, and sometimes years to master.

Having such vast capabilities is strenuous for gamers, and thus MMO gaming keyboards sprouted to accommodate. Most just take a standard keyboard and tack on anywhere from 6-18 programmable keys. Others use software to make every key programmable and drop macro-specific keys entirely. The Razer Anansi meshes both concepts together, without making the keyboard huge and putting on too many keys. Instead Razer employs a minimalist design. The Anansi is shockingly small average looking, but under that very old-school keyboard shell is a dazzling, ethereal masterpiece.

Taking a look at the Anansi removes all doubt that this is just another keyboard. As you saw in our first look, it’s anything but average. Sleek glossy sides and a crisp black coating make the Anansi stand out the most, but that’s just the start. The font on the keys is sharp and loud, yet refined. The secondary functions are visible, but they don’t stand out. Glass on the top right hides the indicator lights for Caps, Scroll and Number lock, without anyone taking a second guess. The Anansi doesn’t look like it was designed by a game peripheral manufacturer, but by someone who almost nabbed a designer job at Apple.

It really does look good, like the Anansi was made to be just as stylish as it is functional. Playing games when you can customize any key is nothing new, though Razer does an excellent job with their software for the Anansi. Users can assign any function to any key instantly with the downloadable drivers, or by hitting the macro recorder key and typing away. This feature is nothing new, but it works excellently nevertheless.

What’s more important are the macro-specific keys, those extra keys included specifically for programmed functions. The Anansi includes 12 in total, five on the left side of the keyboard, and seven beneath the spacebar. This placement is unique, to say the least, and ingenious. Most of those can be reached by a left-hand thumb, and unlike needing to move over to one side of the keyboard, using these keys requires little to no change in your current hand posture. These T1-T7 keys are also thinner, lower-profile and differently shaped so they don’t match other keys or get in the way. If you’re just typing away, users won’t accidentally press these keys. They’re well made and well placed.

For gaming, the Anansi is great. On the fly key adjustments with the macro recorder works flawlessly, and keypresses read just fine. While the experience you have will be wholly different – no two people will use identical custom key settings – using those T1-T7 keys is something I believe will be universally adored.

Dual USB cables would be fine if the Anansi also acted as a USB hub

It’s actually outside of gaming that I found my troubles with the Anansi. First and foremost is the 2-USB cable design. The first USB cable connects the keyboard to the PC, while the second powers the backlight…which raises the question, why is that necessary. Hundreds of keyboards do both in one cable. Is the LED backlight so much more powerful that it requires its own USB cable? I already use all eight of my USB ports, I really don’t want to be forced to either unplug something or use a USB adapter for a backlight.

Next is the name. I can just imagine the conversation people have discussing their gaming hardware. “I have a G19.” “I have a Tarantula.” “I have an X6.” “I have an Anansi…” It sounds like a deer playing cards with a lion, tiger and bear, oh my. That’s not even mentioning that Razer is once again breaking their animal nomenclature for a fictional character, or that every time I have to actually speak the word it feels more proper to say “Ansani”. Heck, I struggled with it in the unboxing video, which is partly why I scrapped it entirely and just had a quick first look.

Finally, and definitely most pertinent to heavy typers, is the key design. These are medium-profile rubberized keys, and they feel mushy and soft, not clicky and springy. Now, this is a realm of personal preference. My experience is that everyone likes their keyboards differently from the next person over. My preference is for mechanical, low-profile keys, like the old IBM Thinkpad laptops, most recently seen in the last IBM-labeled Lenovo line of Thinkpads a few years back. For me, typing on the Anansi was mediocre. I could do it, but I wasn’t enjoying the length per keypress and the feel of the keys. For gaming, that didn’t make any difference. Once again, feel of the keys is personal preference.

The Anansi’s software allows for immediate and simple keyboard customizations

Included with the standard keyboard are not additional function keys, but a built-in function key and the F1-F8 keys acting as media keys when pressed in tandem with the FN key. This model is a smart way to maintain a reasonable size for the pad without adding extra buttons. However, I was annoyed far too often that there was only one FN key, by the right CTRL, and not a second one on the left side. As many heavy computer users and PC gamers, I keep my left hand on the keyboard while my right hand moves between the mouse, keyboard and media keys. The Anansi’s design forces me to use my right hand to hold down the FN key and my left to press the media keys.

The Razer Anansi certainly has potential and does many things right. It’s a strong gaming keyboard and will suit many MMO gamers thanks to both every key being programmable and the below-the-spacebar T1-T7 keys. Exquisitely designed and sleek, the Anansi is a great keyboard. However, using 2 USB ports is excessive; the keyboard’s name is weird; I also found the typing experience far less than stellar (once again a personal preference). These few things are a significant hindrance to an otherwise great keyboard, which frankly makes it more difficult to score. The annoyances add up over time, and so do the great features. I struggled between 3.5-4 stars until I decided that MMO gamers are far more interested in the gaming features than anything else. That is to say the Anansi is a good keyboard with plenty of room for improvement. I look forward to the Anansi V2, whenever it comes around.

The Razer Anansi MMO Gaming Keyboard is available at Amazon or direct from Razer for $100.

Update: Checkout our Razer Ferox review.

You’re probably asking yourself, why would anyone want portable speakers? Just grab some headphones or earphones and go. No need to carry extra stuff when on the go. But I’d disagree, especially now that I spend more time out of my office, working and playing from the road. That’s why Razer built the Ferox, for people who use headphones so much but don’t want to be forced into using them for everything.

Hit the jump for the unboxing video.

After just a few minutes of use, I instantly liked the Ferox. They are, from my first impressions, exactly what you’d want to replace headphones. They’re small, lightweight, easy to set up and they provide good audio. Actually, I first accidentally hit the sweet spot and sound was overlapping itself (a 1 in a million chance, but not completely unexpected all things considered). That was coincidentally a good thing, because it reminded me of the omni-directional design, which allowed me to turn the speakers in any direction and the sound is still very good.

Unlike most speakers, which are made to play in one direction (forward), both the Razer Ferox and larger, more professional Mako speaker systems use a circular shape to send music in all directions. This design also allows for better bass control within the speaker itself, which is excellent for the Ferox since no one will carry a subwoofer around just for those heavy bass moments. I’ll test the bass, along with a full writeup on the sound quality, in the full review.

It was actually quite surprising how quickly I started the Ferox up. I literally shot the above unboxing video and within ten minutes had them functioning on my desk. Just plug them in, pop the speakers up and a blue light underneath both speakers gently lights up to tell you that each is on. That’s it! The USB cable is only for charging, so the Ferox does not rely on USB audio, which is great for anyone using a portable USB soundcard for their laptops.

And from a good twenty minutes of music and editing the above video, I can say with absolute certainty that I like the Ferox! I mean, they aren’t on par with the Makos – nor should they be…those are $300+ speakers – but the sound quality has so far been great.

Stay tuned for the full review, where we’ll try these bad boys out in real, live public places, on the road, at home and everywhere, and pit them against some good headsets and other speaker systems.

The Razer Ferox speakers are available for purchase on Amazon right now, though they are on back order direct from Razer.

Razer’s Anansi MMO Gaming Keyboard is the peripheral maker’s first MMO keyboard. In fact, this year is a huge year for Razer, after revealing the Switchblade, and practically announcing the release of the Onza Xbox 360 controller, Ferox portable speakers, and the Hydra motion controllers. Thing is, we have no idea when the rest will be available…but the Anansi is in my office right now.

Hit the jump to watch our first look video on the Razer Anansi.

I’ve been playing with the Anansi for about a week, and as far as MMO keyboards go, it’s solid and sleek. If it weren’t for the M1-5 keys on the right and T1-7 keys below the space bar, the Anansi would look like a standard keyboard with contoured sides and a decent backlighting system. Of course, even with the 12 program-specific keys, every single key on the keyboard can be programmed, as we learned a few months back.

As shown in the video above, the Anansi has seven media keys that overlay the F1-F3 and F5-F8 keys, and work when pressed in tandem with the function key. Surprisingly, there is only one function key, beside the right Alt key. The F11 key cuts off the Windows start key, but not the Windows drop-down. In fact, before installing the drivers that key functioned properly, but after installing drivers it now acts as a mouse right-click. This can of course be adjusted.

Installing the drivers is easy, and only requires going to Razer’s website and downloading them (or by clicking here). The installation process takes just a minute, but does require a reboot.

So far, I like the keyboard, but it’s not the best for typing. My measure of a good gaming keyboard is how good it is all around, and not just for gaming, because we all use one keyboard per computer (ironically, I use two normally, or three when testing a new one). The keys are high profile and very springy, but spongy, as is expected with rubberized keys. The backlight system is weak for the keys but too intense for the Razer logo, which sits in the center of the keyboard, directly below the right hand when typing.

I do like the design, for the most part. The glossy sides look stunning. The clean look of the light-up Razer logo does too, as does the LED display on the top right. I almost want to keep Caps Lock, Scroll Lok and the G-key all active just to keep their symbols lit up. The Anansi does require a second USB for lighting, which I find odd, and was problematic for me because I already had 5 of 6 USB ports taken.

However, I still need to play around with the Anansi a bit more before giving a full review, so stay tuned! A full review of the Razer Anansi MMO Gaming Keyboard is coming soon.

Update: Checkout our Razer Ferox review.

When Razer released the Mako speakers nearly two years ago, most were skeptical about the gaming peripheral maker’s entry into high quality audio. I got the chance to review it way back when, and they are still the best 2.1 speaker system I’ve ever tested…for under $400. I still use them today for all my musical and gaming needs.

This morning, the company announced the Ferox, which was absent at CES. This is a portable 2.0 stereo speaker set offering the same omni-directional audio as the Makos, but in a much smaller size. As you can see in the image above, the speaker itself is on the top, while the bottom helps generate true bass and is intended to keep sound flowing fluidly. Razer has yet to give dimensions for size, instead only saying they’ll last 12 hours of continuous use. Depending on their size, they may be well worth lugging along. The last few months I’ve been carrying a mouse, headphones and keyboard on trips (thanks to a half-decent laptop), so if the size is right, I could see myself bringing a decent set of speakers.

Razer plans to release the Ferox this month, so anytime this week or early next week.

That may be exactly what happens, if Razer’s own website is any indication of the famed product’s release. I’ve loudly been waiting for it since last year, and am sad to not have it in my hands that much later. Perhaps my hope for owning one will be vindicated soon enough.

Razer’s online store lists only the standard edition of the Onza as expected to release on February 28th. A Razer spokesperson couldn’t comment on a strict release date, but they do estimate a release around the end of February. Which, of course, is great news all around. Can’t wait!

Just when we though Razer had reached the limit of complexity for peripherals, and they would outdo their latest keyboard, which had 139 gaming specific buttons, give or take, here they are making a move into the gaming PC market.

And it’s awesome. The Razer Switchblade is a small laptop with a touchscreen and a dynamic flash keyboard, which as far as we know is completely innovative, at least in the PC realm. The keyboard reconfigures not only its functionality, but also its look based on game concent. Keys are different depending on what you’re playing, with the in-game icons for various actions actually making an appearance on your keyboard, lighting up individual keys.

Unfortunately it’s just a concept, but Razer promises at least some degree of realizing it, as a consequence of “working with selected partners to design and launch products based off the Razer Switchblade concept design.”

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Again, a Razer product I’ve seen twice in the past year that may yet come to fruition. The Hydra, previously known as Sixense by it’s development team of the same name, is a motion-gaming controller that instead of using accelerometers (like the Nintendo Wii) or a camera (like the Sony Playstation Move), uses a magnetic field that, according to Razer and Sixense, is far more accurate than the technology behind the gaming giant’s controllers.

Why? Because using a magnetic field, the base can read the controllers in perfect 1:1 motion within at least a 20 foot radius. It requires no cameras, no accelerometers, and no expensive hardware or software. And from what I’ve seen, for the third time now, it still works great.

But as I found out, the Sixense guys are actually bastards. They’ve been playing Portal 2 for months now, testing their controller out with the game. What the hell, I want to play Portal 2! No, they’re great guys, and Valve has seemingly given them free reign on the PC version to make the game exciting to play with the Hydra. Nobody was allowed to play Portal 2 at CES except for Sixense employees showing off the controllers, but I did get my hands on the Hydra.

The Original Sixense Controllers, as seen at CES 2010

The controllers themselves are wildly different from what they were a year back. As you can see above, they no longer follow the original rounded design, and rid of the glossy surface to give a more striking, sharper aesthetic. The looks please, though the feel is…light. The Hydra is expected to release – at some point – in two models, wired and wireless. Only the wired ones were available on the show floor, and they were far too light, just a tad heavier than the Wii Nunchuk controllers. The wire sticking out of the back gave some finger support, but it was just weird to feel a cable sticking out the back of the controller. That’s not how gamepads are supposed to work.

Thankfully the current model is still in development, so this is by no means a finalized product. And while these controls are pretty unique, I can’t really think of a way that they’ll succeed considering not the competition, but the consumer. Unless they go for a low price, maybe $60 at the most, I can’t see PC gamers picking up a controller like this. Valve doesn’t put out enough games to warrant it, and no other developers have been announced to be interested or working with Razer or Sixense. At the same time, the reason motion controls don’t work on a PC is because PC gaming is a sitting down, bent-over-the-keyboard endeavor, not a get-up-and-move activity.

Assuming the price is right, and Razer actually releases the Hydra sometime soon (since Portal 2 will release in April), the Hydra could be promising. Or it could be a dud and blow up in Razer’s face. Or, like so many new technologies today, it could have a slow start and build on a community of freelance developers who like the technology and create new applications for it. We’ll just have to wait and see.

I saw the Onza back in June at E3. I saw it last year at CES. I played games on it both times, and both times was impressed. Today was no different. So why the hell can’t they finalize and ship the damn thing already?

I have no idea, though the company seems convinced it isn’t quite done yet. But it’s nearly there, supposedly! Considering pre-orders start in just two weeks, it has better well be, because the Onza is one fine looking controller. And that’s not even including the four extra buttons on it.

No, I played with the Razer Onza today and had a heck of a time. My shooting was accurate, the feel was spectacular, and while the face buttons are clicky (like a mouse) instead of the standard mushy gamepad buttons, they just worked. Without a doubt anyone can pick up the Onza and instantly play as good as with a standard 360 controller, and with just a few minutes, I firmly believe that it will improve gameplay.

It does this in a few ways. First, the analog sticks are tighter, which does two things: makes them more precise and makes them stop faster when released. The triggers are also tighter, and require less pull to press, enabling faster shooting. And, of course, four programmable buttons (two secondary bumper and two rear buttons) mean never having to move a thumb off a thumbstick.

In limited practice, I’ve found that the Onza works great. It’s one of the few peripherals I can’t wait to get my hands on and really test extensively, because it has the potential to overshadow Microsoft’s design significantly. Even if it remains restricted by a wired connection, I can easily see gamers going back to a cable for better controls. I mean, who needs batteries, recharging kits and throwing all that money away anyways? Wires for the win!