I had been eagerly awaiting the announcement of the 2019 Razer Blade Pro in the hopes that I could replace my aging 12.5 year old 17" Macbook Pro. Since Apple has decided to completely abandon professionals, I (along with many other people) have been desperately searching for a high-quality laptop that can deliver a combination of power, elegance, and great build quality to create an enjoyable work experience. The only 17" laptops that come close to offering these characteristics are gaming laptops, so naturally Razer is near the top of my list. However, the announcement of the newest Razer Blade Pro left me very disappointed. While it looks great for gaming (it's intended purpose), it definitely leaves a lot to be desired for professionals. This is understandable since it's meant more for gaming than getting work done but it leaves me wondering if Razer has considered making laptops specifically aimed toward the many professionals that are disappointed with Apple's products and would be happy to switch to a competent and polished Windows laptop. If Razer would be willing to consider making laptops for professionals, here are some recommendations:
Must Haves
- Screen
- At least 15" and 17" screen options
- 4K OLED option for all sizes
- Do not require anything more than a 2060 for this option as that is plenty for most people with the exception of those doing video editing
- Keyboard
- Backlit (not necessarily RGB)
- Contoured keys
- Good key travel
- Trackpad
- Quality on par with Razer gaming laptops
- Upgradeability
- Ports
- USB-A
- USB-C (at least one with Thunderbolt)
- Ethernet
- SD card reader
- HDMI
- Battery
- 99 WHr option (especially for options with 4K)
Nice-to-Haves
- Aesthetics
- Silver aluminum
- More professional
- Visually differentiates it from your gaming laptops
- Text logo on the front
- More professional than the snake logo
- If illuminated, have a software option to disable illumination
Bonus
- Separate hardware switches to disable camera and microphone
While the new Razer Blade Pro offers many of these features, it focuses more on raw power than being a bit more cost-effective and power-efficient. Also, not offering a screen resolution higher than 1080p on a premium 17" laptop is a deal-breaker for most professionals. I've heard rumors that this is due to supply constraints but surely you must be able to swing something since you have that option in your 15" laptops.
I really hope that you will consider this market segment. While there are plenty of options out there for professionals, most of those options are underpowered, bulky, or poorly built. If Razer can make powerful, portable, and well-built laptops for gamers, then surely you can build something that satisfies the needs of professionals as well. Even if you just add an option for a 4K OLED screen in a Razer Blade Pro with a 2060 and a larger battery, that might be just enough to entice myself and many other professionals to let go of our aging Apple laptops. Please give this serious consideration!