Razer has announced that it has sold out of the first batch of its Blade gaming notebooks within 30 minutes. The high-end notebooks were originally slated for the holidays, however the launch was eventually delayed until late January as the company made a last-minute decision to switch to SSD storage.
We had the opportunity to explore Razer's whole CES 2012 lineup this week. The company kicked off the year by shipping the Blade and revealing thhe Naga Hex mouse, but its true surprise was exploring tablets with Project Fiona. We'll see how all three have fared after the break.
Gaming hardware maker Razer has launched a new mouse targeting professional gamers and serious role-playing game (RPG) and multi-player online battle arena (MOBA) players. The Razer Naga Hex features six mechanical thumb buttons and can support up to 250 clicks a minute. The embedded laser responds at a sensitivity of 5,600dpi.
PC gaming peripherals maker Razer has released a teaser video for a mysterious new gadget it plans to reveal at CES on January 10. A video put up on the company's 'PC gaming is not dead' website (and embedded below) suggests something called Project Fiona will be unveiled. The video shows gameplay from Assassin's Creed Revelations, Tom Clancy's Hawx2, and FireFall, suggesting hardware capable of supporting these titles is coming. This may indicate a revamped or follow-up version of the SwitchBlade handheld gaming PC, which was unveiled at last year's CES as a prototype, may arrive.
Razer chief Min-Liang Tan stated this week that the Blade's SSD upgrade would lead to the gaming notebook missing the holidays. The switch to the much faster storage happened at the "eleventh hour," he said, making it impossible to ship in 2011. The first models of the 17-inch notebook would ship in mid-to-late January instead.
Razer has announced that its Tiamat 7.1 surround-sound gaming headset, which was first unveiled in August, will not arrive before the holidays. The company suggests it is still working on "final touches," pushing the expected launch date back to late January.
Razer's gaming notebook, the Blade, should soon be available for pre-order and shipping in time for Holiday gift giving. The portable was announced in August and targets gamers looking for a truly mobile playing experience. Razer claims the laptop's thin black design with silver highlights was inspired by the Army's KA-BAR combat knife.
Gaming peripherals and device maker Razer will release a small gaming system, the company's CEO, Min-Liang Tan, revealed to PCWorld. Currently, the only gaming system the company makes and plans to release next month is the 17.3-inch Blade, which is a gaming notebook. Tan simply referred to the products as small form factor systems and didn't provide any more details.
Gaming peripherals maker Razer has just detailed Synapse 2.0, its app for storing device settings in the cloud. This will allow gamers to access their customized button layouts, macros, and more personalized settings from any web-connected gaming rig. Onboard device memory, such as the original Synapse, will be made obsolete with Synapse 2.0.
Razer wrapped up its teaser run with word of its first-ever PC, the Blade. The gaming notebook has the 17-inch profile of a desktop replacement but is both inspired by the design of 17-inch MacBook Pro while beating it in key areas: at .88 inches thick and 6.97 pounds with an aluminum body, it's almost as light as Apple's system but is slightly thinner.
Razer hinted at grand plans this week with a teaser. Proclaiming that "PC gaming is not dead," it promised news on August 26. The company pitched itself as the champion of gaming and noted both the size of the PC gaming base and decried the "shoddy console ports" that people believe define PCs today.
Razer swung out a wide range of gaming hardware and accessories on Tuesday that included a few extras for Apple users. For everyone, the Tiamat 7.1 is billed as the first true 7.1-channel surround sound headset. By packing five drivers in each earpiece and coordinating their output, it can replicate not just the seven main satellite points but the subwoofer channel as well. Owners can individually adjust the output of each channel and revert to a regular stereo signal if they like.
Razer dipped into over-the-ear mobile audio Wednesday with the Electra. The over-the ear headset still has leatherette pads and a thick, flexible headband but is small enough to work for commutes and other listening on foot. They also carry an in-line mic and remote that work with iPhones as well as, officially, BlackBerry, and HTC-made phones.
Razer has brought out special editions of three keyboards designed specifically for Mac gamers. The BlackWidow, BlackWidow Ultimate, and Anansi keyboards are now available with the standard Mac key layout. These keyboards also incorporate Mac native drivers and, as a result, can be programmed much like their Windows counterparts.
Gaming peripherals and accessories maker Razer has just unveiled three new products carrying Transformers 3 branding. This includes specially painted versions of the company's DeathAdder mouse, available in yellow, red, silver and purple. The former two colors are festooned with the Autobot logo, while the latter are only available with a Decepticon symbol.
Razer's atypical notebook gaming mouse got an update on Friday in the Orochi Black Chrome Edition. The hybrid Bluetooth and USB mouse is now available in a much more luxuriant-looking dark, glossy polish. Inside hardware remains the same and uses a 4,000DPI sensor that works at full speed when wired and at a still-fast 2,000DPI wireless to keep the bandwidth and battery life in check.
Razer has used E3 to unveil a new set of Star Wars: The Old Republic peripherals that we got a look at on the show floor through a glass csae. The Gaming Keyboard is by far the highlight of the group: it uses an Art Lebedev-inspired set of adaptive keys that change their context depending on the circumstances in a game, such as for calling up specific Force powers in SWTOR. A touchscreen, however, is genuinely new: the LCD resembles a large trackpad and supports multi-touch, and should potentially be very good for games that can use it, presumably including BioWare's online RPG.
Razer helped start a long weekend Thursday night by setting out its launch plans for the Hydra, its dual-stick motion game controller. Pre-orders for the peripheral we first saw at CES are due to start in May with shipping in June for $140. A full version of Portal 2 will come with the game and give access to a special Hydra-enabled add-on that lets users move and spin mirror boxes and other objects they can pick up in the game.
The Razer Switchblade introduced at CES will see its first market release in China thanks to a newly announced partnership between the device's maker and Chinese ISP Tencent, Netbook News said. The portable gaming device has Windows 7 preloaded and will not only get access to QQ Speed, a chat program, but be optimized for games like Crossfire, League of Legends, and Dungeon & Fighter. The netbook-like device's keyboard can change function and appearance depending on the software loaded.
After discontinuing its line of Sidewinder gaming peripherals in 2003 and then bringing it back in 2007, Microsoft has decided it will again axe the range, VR-Zone found. The move is believed to come as a result of added competition from dedicated brands such as Razer and SteelSeries as well as major but more universal companies, including Logitech. The software giant is also falling behind in releasing updated devices.
Gaming peripherals maker Razer has just introduced the third version of its DeathAdder USB mouse with the DeathAdder Black Edition. The new variant has an all-black finish and gets rubber side grips for a better hold. Otherwise, the same 3,500dpi 3.5G infrared sensor and right-handed design are carried over.
The Razer Ferox is an ultraportable stereo speaker set made for gamers. They deliver 360 degrees of omni-directional sound and have expandable resonance chambers for better bass than normally possible in such small sizes. Digital amplifiers are also built-in, and the integrated 470mAh battery is said to give 12 hours of audio.
Razer had an unusually strong presence at CES this year and brought two big devices: its Hydra motion controller for computers and its Switchblade handheld PC, both of which we saw first-hand at the show. The Hydra was the truly functional example and impressed us with a specially optimized version of Valve's Portal 2. The new version had a handful of new objects and puzzles designed around the controller's dual motion, dual analog stick setup.
Razer used the start of CES to show off a unique concept for mobile gaming. The Switchblade has a notebook-style clamshell but is just 6.8 inches across and is designed to be used while entirely handheld. Along with a multi-touch screen, it has a dynamic keyboard whose assignments change depending on the game context.
With Tron: Legacy upon us, Razer has unveiled its new Tron Gaming Mouse. The ambidextrous design means that it functions equally well for left-handers as it does right. The design is “inspired by the world and vehicles of Tron” and features light alerts based on in-game actions. It incorporates a 5600dpi 3.5g laser sensor for optimal tracking.
Gaming peripherals maker Razer has just updated its Nostromo gaming keypad, co-developed with Belkin. The device is ergonomically designed and sports 16 programmable Hyperesponse buttons along with an eight-way directional thumb pad. A soft-touch rubberized and adjustable wrist pad holds the wrist to decrease fatigue.
Razer has just introduced a rare keyboard tailored primarily to online RPG gamers, the Anansi. It targets the inputs common to MMO, with the ability to execute seven times more commands than a standard keyboard. There are seven thumb modifier keys under the space bar to actuate every possible combination of frequent modifier keys like Alt, Control and Shift.
Professional gaming peripherals maker Razer just announced its latest wireless MMO gaming mouse in the Naga Epic. It sports 17 MMO-optimized buttons and can be customized thanks to three included and interchangeable ergonomic side panels. The mouse lasts for up to 12 hours of continuous use (72 hours in casual use) and can be wired when the battery runs low.
Gaming peripherals maker Razer has produced two special edition versions of its Naga gaming mouse, including the Razer Naga Maelstrom and the Razer Naga Molten. The mice have 17 MMO-optimized buttons with macro functionality, just like the original. The Maelstrom gets blue light for a custom effect.
At the Gamescom show today, Razer introduced its upcoming BlackWidow mechanical gaming keyboard. The move back to traditional design is said to provide a more physical response but a quicker response similar to a mouse click. The key actuation point is placed halfway through the full travel distance so gamers don't have to put in as much effort.
PC gaming gear maker Razer released this ultra-bright Orca headset on Tuesday. The earpiece uses a short braided cable with an in-line switch that lets users quickly switch between music listening or gaming modes. A 6.6-foot extension cable gives it a more comfortable link for longer distance.s
High-end PC gaming peripherals maker Razer has refreshed the performance of its Lachesis mouse. The only thing it shares with the original is its exterior look, as the new one packs a more precise 5,600DPI, 3.5G laser sensor and a multi-color LED lighting system. There are 16 million colors gamers can choose from, and each illuminated area on the mouse can be set to glow in a different color.
Disney Consumer Products together with gaming computer peripherals maker Razer earlier this week introduced a keyboard and mouse inspired by the upcoming movie TRON: Legacy. The mouse will sport Razer's 5,600dpi, 3.5G sensor for high precision. The keyboard, meantime, will have programmable keys and macro capabilities, while its keypad will detach. As with other TRON gear, the two items will light up with a signature blue hue.
Computer gaming peripherals maker Razer on Tuesday partnered with game maker Blizzard Entertainment on three new StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty-branded gaming peripherals. This includes the Spectre mouse, Marauder keyboard and the Banshee headset. The three share Razer's APM (Actions-Per-Minute) lighting system, have StarCraft styling cues and are portable.
High-end gaming peripherals maker Razer on Tuesday announced that its new Abyssus Mirror Special Edition gaming mouse is now up for pre-order. It now sports a unique black chrome finish that sets off the look compared to other designs. Capabilities are still the same on the inside but mean a 3.5G, 3,500DPI infrared sensor as well as a 1GHz polling rate and a 1ms response time.
Today at the currently ongoing Game Developer's Conference, gaming peripherals maker Razer said that it will release drivers that will give Mac users the ability to play with all upcoming Razer products. The company will also backtrack and release Mac drivers for existing products. To validate its statement, the company also today released a Mac driver for the Naga MMO gaming mouse, along with the Razer DeathAdder mouse for right-handed gamers.
Razer today launched a high-performance mousepad that caps off a series of launches this month. The Vespula is Razer's latest dual-sided surface and has textures that alternately provide more speed or more control, whether for gamers or pros with high-accuracy mice. Regardless of the side, a gel-filled wrist rest provides a more comfortable position for longer-term use.
Razer on Tuesday introduced its latest gaming mouse, the Imperator. Designed specifically to give comfort to right-handed users, the ergonomic mouse's design is optimized for both palm and fingertip gamers. To this end, the Imperator is the first to sport side buttons that are adjustable and slide on a track to let users find the best position for their thumbs.
Gaming peripherals maker Razer has began shipping its Abyssus gaming mouse. Rather than focus on extra buttons, the wired mouse is designed for simplicity first and improves only behind-the-scenes features. The ambidextrous three-button mouse has a 3,500DPI infrared sensor that gives it added precision in different types of games. Users get two switches, allowing them to set the sensitivity and speed of the mouse.
Gaming peripherals maker Razer has recently unveiled an updated version of its DeathAdder mouse with a higher resolution optical sensor, now capable of 3500dpi instead of 1800dpi. The updated DeathAdder has five customizable buttons and its sensitivity can be adjusted in real time. The Death Adder is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.
Razer made its contribution to the Gamescom expo today through the Naga. Positioned as the ideal mouse for massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, the USB controller has a unique 12-button pad on the side in addition to the regular five-button layout common to most mice. The sheer range lets any app that supports assigning custom mouse buttons, as well as Razer's own Windows software, use a wide range of shortcuts for very specific tasks. It's particularly tailored to World of Warcraft, where the buttons can replace the usual weapon and spell keys.
PC gaming peripherals maker Razer on Tuesday announced it will soon reveal some new, high-end controllers for Blizzard's StarCraft II strategy game, with some placeholders already on its site for upcoming peripherals that include a mouse, keyboard and headset. The hardware maker promises the devices will be tournament-grade, though no other specific information was revealed.
Razer on Thursday introduced its latest gaming mouse, the Orochi. One of the company's first real notebook mice, it communicates over Bluetooth 2.0 but sports a very high-sensitivity 4,000dpi optical sensor. The design is ambidextrous, and a 3-foot cord is included in case the two AA batteries lose their charge. There are seven programmable buttons, with their custom functions saved in built-in memory.
Razer on Tuesday announced the release of its Razer Moray+ in-ear noise isolating headset and inline microphone combo. The replacement for the original Moray, the device is meant for those who do their gaming on a wide array of portable devices, including cellphones. The headset's 3.5mm audio jack fits into all iPhones, and Razer includes three adapters that make the microphone usable with Sony's PSP 2000 and 3000, the Nintendo DS Lite and DSi, as well as netbooks and most other notebook PCs.
Razer today officially released a pair of keyboards aimed at its characteristic gaming crowd. The Arctosa is its first real budget gaming keyboard and is shaped similar to the Lycosa but sheds the backlighting, USB, and audio output jacks that lift the price of the earlier input hardware. It continues to use the short-travel keys and macro programming features and claims to wipe out the "ghosting" effect that hinders movement when using the WASD key layout in many first-person shooter titles. Razer ships the Arctosa in November for $50 with either silver or black lettering on its black keys.
In an unusual move for an often Windows-centric company, Razer on Tuesday launched the DeathAdder Mac Edition, its first gaming mouse specifically tailored to the Mac. The new version includes drivers specifically geared towards first-person shooters on Apple's OS and lets users reprogram any of the five buttons or make adjustments to the mouse's sensitivity in real time. The optics in the DeathAdder peak at up to 1800 DPI with a one-millisecond response time and make snap responses to game events possible.
Following a teaser campaign, Razer today used CeBIT as the venue for the introduction of the Salmosa, its first mouse targeted directly at gamers or others interested in performance mice for the first time. The three-button mouse has an unusually high-resolution 1,800DPI optical sensor that provides precise responses but is set apart most by its weight, according to Razer: the pointer is one of the lightest in the class and is designed to be easily flicked across the surface for fast responses in action games.
Premium mouse manufacturer Razer will unveil a new mouse in almost six days time, according to a vague teaser located at Speedofthelight.com. A brief flash of a curvaceous mouse glides across a black background as lights whizz by, briefly illuminating the pointing device. A message that reads "Speed of the Light" – with "the" wedged between the words "of" and "Light" – appears for a moment before fading to "4 March 2008, stay tuned for details", and a small counter, counting down to the aforementioned time.
