Organizational changes at Razer

This happened a few months ago; didn't think to mention it but given all the hubbub today over Razer quality and customer service, maybe some will find it interesting.

Up through the launch of the 2016 RBP, all Blades were designed by a razor thin team in San Francisco. Basically it was one EE, one ME, a couple ID guys, one thermal guy, and a couple people working on firmware. QA and Operations support are handled out of Razer HQ in Singapore. As of a couple months ago, the function of designing notebooks has been moved to an entirely new and larger team in Taiwan. The people in San Francisco basically have to find new jobs within the company or leave.

What does this mean for Blades? My hunch is that this about cost, as Taiwan salaries are about one third that of San Francisco. I expect the new team will iterate / update the three current sizes, but I would not expect much more innovation. I also would not expect changes in quality since QA and operations were already and will still be handled out of Singapore.

 

Wow a team of like 6 people. Truly the elite I'm sure.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the designs got better with this new team. Just because they don't make as much doesn't mean they are worse necessarily.

 

But according to Tan, they are already "years ahead" of the design of other companies! That's why they have ****ty HDT heat sinks. Not because it's cheaper. I swear.

 

I do kinda wonder how being smaller with a team of like 5 puts you years ahead.

 

Years ahead? More of like years behind.

 

Soooooo, what's next? we're going to have the BIOS chip in place of the "windows" key on the keyboard? I mean, why not, we've had it under a heatsink for several years, time to make sure it takes a full blunt of someone's first or drink.

 

I can't stop laughing, this is great! Thanks for sharing

 

Nah, the team was bigger, they outsource A LOT. They basically designed it and gave the designs to a manufacturer that also gave their insights regarding manufacturing.