The 17-inch gaming monster known as Razer Blade will launch later this month, giving you access to fast hardware and ultra-cool styling. However, what really set it apart from the competition are the integrated video touchscreen and the 10 customizable OLED keys. We go hands-on...

Razer Blade: Design

We really like the solid build and the understated design of the Razer Blade - it’s not blinged out with tacky details, giving off a much more serious and elegant vibe, and were it not for the well-known Razer logo on the cover, we easily might have mistaken it for a business laptop as it doesn't look nearly as imposing as the likes of the Alienware M14x and M18x.

For a 17.3-inch laptop, this thing is actually pretty thin and well designed. The full aluminium chassis measures just 2.2cm, and while you will never mistake this for an Ultrabook, at 3.0kg, this thing gives you a great deal of portability, particularly considering the potent hardware that’s packed away inside.

Razer Blade: Features

Razer Blade packs a punch with a 2.8GHz Core i7 2640M CPU, 8GB of Dual Channel DDR3 memory, and GeForce GT 555M graphics with 2GB of GDDR5 video memory. Originally, Razer planned to include a traditional HDD but scrapped that idea and instead went with a brand new and screaming fast 256GB SSD. An Excellent call, we reckon.

You’ll be able to enjoy the latest games in 1080p resolution on the 17.3-inch screen or hook it up to a telly thanks to the built-in HDMI port with support for 3D. Rounding out the package is a built-in HD webcam, two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, Gigabit Ethernet, as well as 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0.

The integrated battery offers 60 watt-hours, but something tells us you should never leave home without the AC adapter, as this machine is clearly one power-hungry beast.

Razer Blade: Performance

While we didn’t really get a chance to spend a great deal of quality time with the Blade, the idea of having a dedicated screen and customisable keys for games puts a smile on our faces.

Games are becoming increasingly complex, and when playing online, you need all the help you can get. Running on the machine was Firefall, a team-based action shooter, with good-looking graphics running at excellent speeds.

You can program the touch screen to display whatever else you’d like, and we tried out playing a video on YouTube and even sent a Tweet. Razer says that the trackpad is ultra-sensitive for the best mobile gaming experience; however, it didn’t really take well to our sweaty fingers.

In any case, if you’re planning on buying this gaming behemoth, you should probably also consider one of Razer’s award-winning gaming mice.

Razer Blade: Verdict

The Razer Blade is definitely a niche product, and an odd one at that. You’ll get some fast hardware in a well-designed package, but because of the placement of the touch screen, the laptop feels really wide.

Even though this thing comes equipped with a large 17.3-inch screen, there’s no optical drive, and hardcore gamers might also find that they’ll run out of space pretty quickly with only 256GB on the SSD. With a $2,700 sticker price, you probably have some incredibly specific gaming needs if you’re the target for this machine.

Razer Blade availability: January 2012

Razer Blade price: $2,700