Toshiba Tecra notebook: Better than most desktops
Written: Nov 07 '00 (Updated Apr 05 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Incredible performance; screen is awesome; can carry it anywhere
Cons: Annoying little mouse, high price
The Bottom Line: A powerful notebook whose performance rivals most desktops.
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| s_trimble's Full Review: Toshiba Tecra 8100 (PT810U-12CP7) PC Notebook |
I just started a new job about a week ago, and I had to give up my beloved iMac. I wasn't thrilled about having to work on a PC platform -- I find PCs less intuitive, less friendly, and generally less appealing. I know, I know, it's a divisive issue; mostly I think it's a matter of personal preference.
Anyway, that's not the point. When I started my new job, I got a brand new Toshiba Tecra laptop. This thing is amazing. It's got a Pentium III processor that runs at 700 mhz, 20 gigabyte hard drive, 128 megabyte ram, a DVD drive, stereo sound, and a huge 15-inch screen, among other niceties.
THE GOOD STUFF ...
It's easily the fastest, best computer I've ever used, desktop or laptop, Mac or PC. I'm no tech wizard, so I can't dazzle you with numbers and specs and jargon, but I can tell you this: I don't miss my iMac anymore.
For one thing, the screen on this machine is amazing. The color is true, and I often forget I'm looking at a laptop screen. It's big enough that I don't have to squint when I've got lots of text, and the color only fades minimally around the edges. I can stare at the screen for hours and I have yet to get eyestrain.
I work all day on my computer. When I'm not on the Web conducting research, then I'm writing in Word and perhaps in PowerPoint at the same time. Often I forget and leave several applications open at the same time. I have yet to have performance problems as a result. The computer's never crashed on me, network problems notwithstanding.
Another thing that endears this machine to me is that I can take it to project meetings -- it's easily light and small enough to carry with me for a short time. And it has all my data on the hard drive, so I can bring all my work to meetings without printing everything out.
NOT PERFECT, BUT ...
Naturally, the Tecra isn't perfect, enchanted though I am with it. The standard mouse is a small button in the middle of the keyboard. It kind of looks like a pencil eraser -- same size, same feel. It's quite annoying -- but there's a port for a normal mouse, which I requisitioned as soon as possible. Likewise, the keyboard itself is a laptop keyboard, which can make long-term typing slightly uncomfortable.
It also has an annoying habit of hanging up on the "shutdown" phase, meaning you have to actually shut down the computer with the switch. And that causes Windows to say you incorrectly shut down the machine when you boot it up again, and scandisk runs. Really just a time-waster, and my IT guru says it's a known issue with these machines.
Of course, the price is a bit high. You can get a low-end 600-mhz model for $2799, according to the Toshiba Web site.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: THUMBS UP
Yes, I love this computer. I wish I could put a Mac OS on it, but failing that, I'll take it as is. Thank goodness I didn't have to pay for it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
s_trimble
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Member: Stephen Trimble
Location: West Chester, PA
Reviews written: 127
Trusted by: 95 members
About Me:
I'm back to my roots, writing business newsletters for Progressive Business Publications.
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