Razer, the world leader in entertainment devices and software, today announced it has enhanced its award-winning Razer Blade Pro laptop with next-generation graphics capabilities and a suite of new applications designed for professionals and gamers.

At the heart of the Blade Pro is a full-HD, 17-inch LED main display working in-tandem with the award-winning Razer Switchblade User Interface (SBUI), the latter of which provides users with one-click access to program tools, macros, key binds and other customizable functions, as well as full Internet capabilities independent of the main display. Features of the Razer SBUI include 10 dynamic adaptive tactile keys, a cell phone-grade LCD display that doubles as a track pad, and associated proprietary software.Among other professional-grade apps, the Razer SBUI comes equipped with programs supporting Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro, Maya, and GIMP. Six new Razer SBUI programs will launch with the updated Razer Blade Pro, including a Windows 8 Charms app that simplifies interface access to Windows Desktop functions, and a Twitch app that unlocks the streaming service's broadcasting and commenting features. Additionally, Razer is unveiling its first electronic dance music (EDM) initiative in the form of an app co-developed with world-renowned EDM producer and performer Afrojack. This proprietary Razer SBUI product will help producers make better studio-quality music and is emblematic of Razer's ongoing relationships with gamers in the entertainment ranks. Additional Razer Blade Pro collaborations include budding partnerships with DJ-producer heavyweights Borgore and Flux Pavilion.

"Today's professionals demand the latest in power and performance, and they want it all on a beautiful screen that they're able to take with them," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. "Our engineers packed the Blade Pro with the most advanced components available, and our software engineers designed some incredible proprietary apps to make gaming and creative work more efficient -- and more fun -- while staying firm to our commitment to true portability."

The Razer Blade Pro is powered by the next-generation "Maxwell" architecture NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M graphics processor for a boost in gaming performance. Video rendering, photo editing, electronic dance music mixing and performance, and other pro-level creative tasks also run faster than ever with the next-gen GPU. The Razer Blade Pro also features GeForce ShadowPlay and GameStream for seamless gaming video capture and streaming utilities, and GeForce Battery Boost, which works in conjunction with NVIDIA Optimus technology to provide up to double the battery life while gaming.

The Razer Blade Pro now features 16 GB of RAM, doubling-up on the previous iteration, a 4th generation Intel Core i7 processor, and a groundbreaking solid-state storage solution to make the laptop faster and more powerful.

"Gamers and professionals see the value in a premium, portable 17-inch laptop, which is why we partnered with Razer earlier this decade to bring this project to life," says Brian Choi, NVIDIA Sr. product manager. "The Razer Blade Pro created an entirely new category of high-performance laptops capable of meeting the demanding needs of professional multimedia designers and hardcore gamers. This next generation of the Razer Blade Pro will be even more powerful, thanks to the new GeForce GTX 860M inside."

At 0.88 inches thin and weighing 6.5 pounds, the Razer Blade Pro is among the most portable, high-performance 17-inch laptops ever brought to market. Every detail is sleek, slim and light, all the way down to the compact power supply, making the Razer Blade Pro the best choice for gaming performance and creative work on-the-go.

The Razer Blade Pro comes with Dolby Digital Plus Home Theatre Edition, featuring immersive audio quality that is custom-tuned to deliver a cinematic sound experience. All of this is topped-off with gaming-grade peripherals built right in, including a fully programmable anti-ghosting keyboard with adjustable backlighting and an ultra-sensitive track pad, along with Razer Synapse 2.0, allowing for ultimately customizable settings and configuration storage in the cloud.

The Razer Blade Pro is now available for pre-order. For more information, go to www.razerzone.com/bladepro.

Price: Starts at $2,299

Availability: Razerzone.com - Pre-Order Now, Shipping Late March

Product features:

• 4th Gen Intel Core i7-4700HQ processor
• 16 GB DDR3L (2 x 8 GB DDR3L - 1600 MHz)
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M (2 GB GDDR5)
• NVIDIA GeForce ShadowPlay, GameStream and Battery Boost Enabled
• Windows 8.1 64-Bit
• 128 GB SSD, with optional 256/512 GB SSD (mSATA)
• Intel Wireless-AC 7260HMW (802.11a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.0)
• RJ45 gigabit Ethernet port
• 17.3-in., full HD, 16:9 ratio, 1920 x 1080, with LED backlight
• Stereo 2.0 speakers
• 3.5 mm audio microphone/headphone combo jack
• HD Webcam (front-facing, 2.0 MP)
• Array microphones
• (3x) USB 3.0 port (SuperSpeed)
• Codec supports 7.1 (via HDMI)
• Dolby Digital Plus Home Theatre Edition
• Razer Anti-Ghosting Keyboard (with adjustable backlight)
• Razer Switchblade User Interface
• Razer Synapse 2.0 Enabled
• Compact 150 W power adapter
• Built-in 74 Wh Rechargeable lithium ion polymer battery
• Kensington Lock
• 16.8 in. (427 mm) Width x 0.88 in. (22.4 mm) Height x 10.9 in. (277 mm) Depth
• 6.54 lbs. / 2.97 kg