Best Electronic Reviews

Specification:

Operating system: Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, Windows Vista Premium;

Dimensions: Height = 1.53″; Width = 11.6″; Depth = 9.80″; Weight = 4.5 lb;

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7200, 2.00 GHz;

Memory: comes with 1024 MB PC5300 DDR2 SDRAM, or 2048MB PC5300 DDR2 SDRAM; Maximum RAM is 4096 MB;

Hard drive: comes in 60, 80, 100, 120GB, 5400 RPM;

Graphics/Display: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 8MB-128MB shared graphics memory, 1024 x 768 resolution;

Sound: Stereo Speakers (built in), Built in Microphone;

Ports: RGB output port (for monitor), Headphone and Microphone ports, 3/4 USB v2.0, RJ-11 Mode, Docking connector (Underneath the computer), Ethernet port, PCMCIA card slot, 5-in-1 Media Card Reader (Memory stick, Xc Card, Multi Media Card, SDIO, Memory Stick Pro for new Sony Cameras.);

Networking: Wireless 802.1 a/b/g, Dial up modem, Inter Pro/1000 Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0 plus EDR (Toshiba Bluetooth Driver Software), Integrated Verizon Wireless EVDO (On newer Protege M400, Specially S4034);

Included: Li-Ion (4700mAh), AC adapter (75W), Finger Print Reader, Hot key Security and password Security;

Warranty: 3 years parts and labor and 1-year Battery (exchanging old battery for a new one.)

Pros:

* Very good Processor for a computer of this kind. This computer is the first Tablet PC to use the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The battery life is amazing. Our tested life is around 3 hrs and 30 minutes, which is pretty close to what Toshiba says ( 4 hrs.).

* If the computer comes with Windows XP tablet edition, 1 GB of RAM could be enough, but most likely needs to be upgraded to 2 GB; If the computer comes with Windows Vista, it is highly recommended to get 2GB or higher.

* The CD/DVD drive is pretty powerful; Maximum speed for the CD-ROM is 24x, CD-RW 10x, DVD-ROM 8x, DVD-R double layer 2x, DVD-RW 4x

* The Wireless 802.11 a/b/g is decent, but the bluetooth communication makes the networking of this computer very impressive.

*The 1024 x 768 resolution on the LCD screen gives you a nice, clear picture.

* I like the design of the Pen. When stored, it hides on the side of the computer, unlike the Fujitsu Tablets, whose pen’s tend to fall out of storage.

* This computer has nice features like a built in Media card and express card readers (xD, memory Stick, memory Stick PRO and Multimedia Card). The finger print reader is very useful, especially if you leave your computer near other people, but you still want it to be secured.

Cons:

* The fact the the screen only turns to the left is inconvenient. Toshiba needs to work on that aspect of the design.

* The graphics is all shared and there is no dedicated graphics and that gives you not as good graphics as dedicated computers would do.

* The computer’s wireless card does not support ‘n’ routers. ‘n’ is the new upcoming technology of wireless cards.

*The battery life is great for the first year, but the battery dies very fast after a year or so.

* After a year of use the AC adapter cord tends to get cracks at the joints near the adapter. This could be dangerous. If you are under warranty, you can call Toshiba, and they send a new one free of charge.

* The screen has a tendency to mess up and dead pixels appear after couple of months. Also, dust particles collect under the screen over time.

* The HDD (Hard Disk Drive) protection tends to malfunction. Occasionally when this happens, the HDD freezes.

* The speakers are rather small and do not provide a quality sound.

* Toshiba’s customer service is poor.

* The cooling fan for the HDD is very loud and sometimes becomes annoying.

* The wires connecting the screen to the base sometimes short circuit and don’t function right. This causes the screen to flash off for a second or two.

Overall:

Overall, this laptop is a good choice for a business man or student. Definitely not a good choice for gaming or picture/movie editing. The higher amount of RAM, the better performance you will get out of the computer. The 2.0 GHZ intel core 2 Duo is excellent for a computer of this kind. The CD/DVD drive is pretty powerful and does most everything you need to do now-a-days. The fact that you get a Media Card reader to download pictures from your camera on a computer of this kind is very good. The weight of this computer is 4.5 pounds, very light! The battery life is very good for the first year. After the first year, life starts to decline. It is a good idea to get a free battery from Toshiba (from the warranty) near the end of your first year as your battery declines.

This computer has a feature called the HDD protection software which protects the HDD from shocks. Based on experience, I highly recommend that you not turn off this feature. Otherwise your HDD will start freezing frequently and you have to send it to Toshiba to get it fixed (usually it is covered under your warranty). Toshiba’s customer service can be frustrating.