An issue that can be of concern with computer users is choosing the best way your computer should behave when it is in an idle or dormant state.

Since Windows 95 and the arrival of the ATX chassis with the software-controlled power supply, it has become more feasible to provide software control over a computer’s power needs. Macintosh users have had this ability all along and this was gradually implemented in to Windows laptop computers just before 1994.

Now there are a range of software-controlled reduced-power modes that a computer can be set to assume when you are not using it. The different modes work in order to make sure that work-in-progress data isn’t lost and that the computer “knows where it is” when it comes to.

Power conditions

Peripheral sleep

This mode is a common idle-operating mode for computers not actually doing something and is often set up by default. This is where hard-disks or other mechanical drives spin down and the the display turns off, but power is maintained to the RAM, system processor and communications circuitry.

The computer then operates at full steam when you operate the keyboard or mouse or, in some cases, connect peripherals or insert removable media.

System sleep / standby

A computer that operates in this mode has the processor and RAM and, in some cases, certain communications channels consuming power but the processor is operating under a low power condition. This mode then allows for instant-on wakeup when you need the computer. This power state is typically indicated with the power light slowly flashing  or changing to a colour like amber.

Then it may be woken up by, in some cases, you using a keyboard or mouse or just pressiong the power-control button.

Some Windows 7 and newer Macintosh laptop computers implement a “hybrid sleep” where the contents of the RAM are dumped to the hard disk / solid-state drive when they enter this mode. This allows for the battery to die down without loss of data.

Hibernate / Deep sleep

When a computer is placed in the hibernate or deep-sleep mode, the current contents of the RAM are dumped to a special file on the computer’s hard disk or solid-state drive. Then the computer shuts off completely.

The tradeoff with this mode is that it takes slightly longer for the computer to be at useable state due to reading from the hard disk. For SSD-based systems like netbooks, Ultrabooks and the Toshiba R830 that I reviewed previously, the restore time would be likely to be short compared to a hard-disk-based system.

When you need the computer, you just activate the power switch where the computer will start up and read back the data from the secondary non-volatile storage.

All Windows laptops have supported this power state “out of the box” but MacOS X computers require the user to download and install third-party utilities to implement this mode.

How can I best use these modes

If you are leaving your computer while it is transferring data or doing a long task, you could allow it to implement “peripheral sleep” for peripheral devices that aren’t relevant to the task. This can be done through setting up spin-down or display-off times using the power-control options in your operating system.

Implementing standby / system-sleep can be handy for computers connected to external power like desktops or laptops that are plugged in to their charger. But I wouldn’t recommend this for laptops running on their own battery, even Ultrabooks or other SSD-based power-optimised ultraportables.

I would implement the hibernate mode mainly as a preferred power-down mode on laptop computers. This works as a way of maximising battery availability especially if you want to have it available at the end of your journey. This is even though your journey may end up at your desk where you may plug the laptop in to power before using it.

The Hibernate mode is also more important for netbooks, Ultrabooks and similar units that you use as a secondary “traveller” computer and you may typically “lay them up” for a time period in an order of weeks or months as you stay working at your regular desk.

If you can, you may need to implement hibernate mode on your desktop if it doesn’t handle system sleep properly or is fed from an AC supply that is unreliable like in the country or peri-urban areas.

For laptops, it may be a good idea to check the power options to determine what closing the lid does when you set the computer up for the first time. This is more important when it comes to what it should do while on battery power.

It is also worth shutting down the computer and restarting it every few weeks, especially if you shift between networks a lot or connect and disconnect peripherals frequently.  The “boot” cycle that is part of the process gives the computer a chance to properly take stock of its storage, peripheral-device and connectivity environment.

Concluaion

Once you know what these low-power operating modes that your computer’s operating system offers are about, then you could be able to operate it in a power-efficient way especially when you are not using it and yet come back to a responsive machine.

Introduction

I am reviewing the HP Pavilion DM4 Series Beats Edition notebook computer which is a 14” notebook that is intended as a bridge between the ultraportable notebook class of portable computer and the common 15” laptop that most people would work with. This is a consumer-class laptop that has been optimised with the full functionality like dual graphics, “tuned” sound reproduction and high RAM / hard-disk capacity while sing a smaller screen to permit portability.

The computer itself

Aesthetics and Build quality

The HP Pavilion dm4 BeatsAudio Edition is finished in an all-black finish with red lettering throughout. The keyboard surround is a rubberised finish while the lid and the rest of the base are finished in a satin-black metallic finish. The display and its surround are, on the other hand, finished in a reflective finish.

It doesn’t feel “tacky” in any way to use and there is a sense of good build quality with this laptop, in a similar way to most consumer laptops that are on the market nowadays.

User interface

The keyboard on the HP Pavilion dm4 BeatsAudio Edition notebook has a lot of issues that can affect its useability. For example, the keys are finished in that cheap slippery plastic and are labelled with dull red lettering which can be annoying for most users. This is due to the emphasis on the “BeatsAudio” design and could be improved with illuminated keys. It still works well for touch-typing but the home keys need to be made easier to locate by touch. It is also worth noting that the B key is marked in the form of the “BeatsAudio” logo as another way of highlighting the marketing theme in this computer.

Even the B key is styled like the BeatsAudio logo

The trackpad works as expected and is distinctly identifiable, with distinctly-identifiable selection buttons. This goes against the trend with some laptops where the trackpad is simply an unmarked area with two buttons or a “Macbook-style” large square area with zones for primary and secondary selection.

This is augmented by a one-touch key for opening the Web browser and you have to use the Fn key and the function keys  to operate other functions like on most laptops.

Audio and Video

The audio subsystem has been tuned by BeatsAudio, which has been founded by Dr. Dre, one of the US’s major rappers, in a similar vein to how Leo Fender, the name behind the iconic Stratocaster electric guitars founded BBE as an audio-reproduction tuning technology.  This has led to improved bass response and presence in music playback with older and newer pop-music recordings even through the integrated speakers. Here, the sound appears to “come forward” and the notebook’s speakers sound on a par with a midsized portable radio. This isn’t just true for music playback. Speech and sound effects in movies and similar audiovisual work comes forward with the clarity and this can also help when the HP Pavilion dm4 is used as a speakerphone with IP telephony software like Skype.

Left hand side connections - VGA video, Ethernet, HDMI video, USB 2.0 x 2

The graphics subsystem is a dual-mode type with Intel Sandy-Bridge integrated graphics and an AMD Radeon discrete graphics chipset. The graphics operating mode is set according to the application you run on the computer rather than a manually-selected “all-or-nothing” setup. This is so you can have the advanced games and graphics-editing packages engage the “overdrive” offered by the discrete graphics when they are used whereas the computer works in economy mode with integrated graphics when you are working with other applications that don’t depend on the graphics performance like office applications.

The only letdown with this is that the laptop uses a very glossy screen which can be annoying to use in bright lighting conditions. This is especially if you dim the display in order to gain more battery runtime.

Connectivity and Expansion

The HP dm4 Series has the typical list of connection options expected for a mainstream consumer laptop. This is in the form of 3 USB 2.0 sockets, a Gigabit Ethernet socket as well as VGA and HDMI video-output sockets and a jack for use with headphones or a microphone. It has Bluetooth and 802.11g/n Wi-Fi as its wireless connectivity options.

Right-hand side connections - DVD burner, headphone / microphone jack, USB 2.0 port, power socket

But there are a few connectivity options that I would like to see for this laptop in this day and age. For example, I would like to have one of the USB sockets be a USB 3.0 type or a USB / eSATA combo socket in order to allow one to benefit from high-speed connectivity to direct-connected external storage devices i.e. external hard disks. It could also benefit from either dual-band 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity or one of the newer multi-stream 802.11n Wi-Fi network setups for increased reliability and wireless network throughput. But the connectivity set may appeal to most typical household users.

Battery life

I ran the HP Pavilion dm4 BeatsAudio Edition through the DVD run-down test with a feature-movie DVD and it was able to play on for 4 hours 14 minutes. This is using the integrated graphics but having Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on. There may be a slight reduction in the runtime if Windows Media Player was to use the discrete graphics. Similarly, I was able to engage in mixed activities involving word-processing, Web browsing and, in some cases, YouTube video viewing with this laptop running on battery power.

Other facts about this laptop

Rear view with the BeatsAudio logo

This laptop also has a “Quick-Web” shell that allows you to head to the Web when you switch it on. This starts by default when you cold-boot it from “Hibernate” mode but you can head to Windows using the “Stand-by” option on this shell.

Limitations And Points Of Improvements

The main limitation that I have noticed with the HP Pavilion dm4 Series BeatsAudio Edition is the way the keyboard is designed. It could be improved through a rubber-feel keyboard with brighter labelling or illuminated keys and the latter option could add “cool factor” to this computer.

For connectivity, this laptop could benefit from a USB 3.0 or eSATA socket for use with external storage devices and / or dual-band 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi networking so it can benefit from advanced Wi-Fi networks.

Conclusion

The HP Pavilion dm4 Series BeatsAudio Edition notebook exists as a bridge between the 13” ultraportable computers which don’t often have functionality like 500Gb hard disks, dual-mode “overdrive” graphics or extra connectivity and the larger more popular 15” laptops that have the full function set. Here, this could work well for students in senior-secondary or tertiary studies; or simply as a large-screen alternative to computers like the Toshiba Satellite L730 ultraportable.

It still is suitable for those Wi-Fi-equipped cafes and bars

This also includes users like hotspot surfers or long-distance travellers who are after a portable computer with the ability to be taken from place to place easily such as from cafe to cafe yet have a larger screen and hte functions of the full-size 15″ laptop.

Introduction

I am reviewing the Toshiba Satellite L750 Series laptop computer which Toshiba are positioning as a value-priced laptop computer for most households. This is compared to the previously-reviewed Satellite P750 multimedia model which is positioned as the premium multimedia laptop of the range.

The computer itself

Aesthetics and Build quality

Grey patterned finish on lid and palmrest

This Toshiba Satellite L750 is finished in a glossy grey patterned finish on the lid and palm-rest with a black escutcheon on the screen and keyboard. This pattern reminds me of a classic pattern that was used on some gray-coloured mens’ suits and pants. There is a variation which offers an all-white finish which may please the “minimalist” look or those who have moved from the earlier Apple MacBook computers.

The limitation with the glossy finish is that fingermarks can show up more easily, thus becoming a high-maintenance finish.

The L750 has the same size and thickness as the other laptops in its class thus being able to fit in drawers or old-fashioned writing desks, which would fit in well with the “New Computing Environment”.

For the price range, the computer shows very good build quality. It also hasn’t shown a tendency to run too hot which will benefit those who use high-performance applications. As well, I haven’t noticed any intense heat build-up when it was in use for extended periods.

User interface

The keyboard is a full-width keyboard with a regular numeric keypad. This works well for touch-typing yet has a “level” feel. An improvement that could be of use would be a textured feel so you know where you are rather than the slippery feel that it has.

There is a trackpad which is highlighted by a rough surface on the palmrest as well as two large glossy buttons that work as the equivalent of the mouse buttons. It still has the same likelihood of the cursor jumping around and you may have to lock it out using the button under the spacebar when you are typing.

Audio and Video

The Toshiba Satellite L750 has a pair of small speakers located above the keyboard but the sound reproduction is the typical quality for most mainstream laptops. If you want to get the best sound out of this one, you would have to connect it to good headphones or speakers or a nice sound system.

Due to the use of the NVIDIA discrete graphics subsystem and dedicated graphics memory, this computer would work well for proper graphics performance on most games and multimedia applications.

One feature that may annoy some users is the use of a glossy screen. This would cause distracting reflections in well-lit environments like outdoors or most household family rooms. I have seen other laptops that don’t use this glossy screen but they are typically the business computers like the Tecra R850 that I previously reviewed.

Expansion and Connectivity

Left-hand-side connectors - Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, USB 3.0, HDMI, audio input and output

I am reviewing the top-end model of this series which is equipped with the 750Gb hard disk, a USB 3.0 port, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI. Cheaper models in this series omit these connectivity options and offer 3 USB 2.0 ports, regular Ethernet as well as smaller hard disks.

In this day and age, the Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, Bluetooth and USB 3.0 or eSATA options are considered important connectivity options for laptops. This is to allow for connectivity with wireless peripherals, extra secondary storage and wired networks such as next-generation broadband.

Right-hand-side connections and DVD burner - 2 x USB 2.0 ports, RJ11 telephone line port, power connector

All computers in this series are equipped with an integrated V92 dial-up data / fax modem but this would be useful for sending faxes directly from the computer or people who don’t have access to real broadband.

Battery life

The Toshiba Satellite L750 doesn’t implement the dual-graphics functionality that allows for battery economy during basic text-editing or Web-browsing tasks. This has caused it to run out of power too quickly on text-based or mixed-task work including Web browsing.

But I had let this laptop run through a DVD movie on batteries and it was able to work for 175 minutes continuously before it gave out.

Limitations And Points Of Improvenemt

One point of improvement that I would like to see for the series would be current connectivity options across the whole lineup rather than just the top-end models. Here, the machines could be differed by processor type, RAM and hard-disk capacity and any aesthetic variations like system colour.

Conclusion

The Toshiba Satellite L750 laptop computer, especially this configuration that I reviewed, is one of many laptop computers that I would recommend for use as a “family computer” for most households where it will get a lot of use. It is more so if the household is intending to head towards the laptop-based “new computing environment”.

As well, the computer would also work well for small-business laptop users who just want to get started with a “work-home” laptop computer and have to choose this kind of computer from larger retail stores. The integrated dial-up modem would be a bonuse for most rural dwellers who are stuck with this technology until governments and companies “get off their backsides” and provide real broadband to the country.

You may get away with specifying the cheaper models of the series if you are willing to forego the current connectivity expectations like USB 3.0, Bluetooth and HDMI as well as opting for a smaller hard disk.

Introduction

I am reviewing the Sony VAIO EJ Series laptop computer which is Sony’s latest effort in providing a consumer desktop-replacement laptop computer.  Typically most of the VAIO range of laptops have been “multimedia” laptops that are pitched for creation or enjoyment of audiovisual content; but the EJ Series are pitched more as “consumer” laptops with the appropriate software.

The computer itself

Aesthetics and Build quality

The Sony VAIO EJ Series laptop is finished in the same charcoal-black colour across the unit. It has a hexagon-ripple detail across the lid and palmrest with a perforated area at the top of the keyboard area.

Like the other VAIO laptops, it is very well built and has the typical size and weight for a desktop-replacement laptop.

User interface

The keyboard is the typical chiclet style and has the numeric keypad. This is very similar to other Sony VAIO computers like the earlier one that I have reviewed and works well for accurate touch typing. This is due to the keyboard having a rough surface on the keys rather than the slippery surface I have seen with other laptops.

The trackpad is smaller than most laptop trackpads but is easily discernable by feel. This include having access to the primary and secondary buttons.

Sony hasn’t fallen for that trend of requiring you to press Fn to use a standard function like F5. Here, this avoids the need to relearn function key routines that you would have become used to for Windows.

Connectivity and Expandability

Left hand side connections

The Sony VAIO EJ15FJ has the typical connectiv+ity and expandability options for a mid-range consumer laptop. These are 4 USB 2.0 ports,separate SDXC and Memory Stick card readers, LAN interface via 802.11g/n Wi-Fi  or Gigabit Ethernet as well as VGA or HDMI for video displays. There is at least a 3.5mm stereo phone jack for use as an audio input jack as well as the 3.5mm stereo audio output jack for connections to headphones or external sound systems.

What I find that is noticeably absent for this laptop is a USB 3.0 socket or eSATA socket which would facilitate high-speed connection to external storage devices.

Audio and Video

Right-hand-side USB connections

The audio experience is typical for most laptops where there is use of small speakers. Here, I would rather use headphones or external speakers if you want to get the most out of the laptop for music or movie applications.

The display subsystem is powered by a NVIDIA GeForce 410 discrete graphics chipset with 1Gb of display RAM available. It doesn’t support the dual-graphics setup which allows the computer to work on integrated graphics if you are using it on batteries. This may be OK for a computer that isn’t likely to be used in a portable manner such as a home computer.

The VAIO’s display subsystem works with a large 17” screen that works at a 1600×900 resolution but could be equipped with a similar-sized screen that offers a 1920×1080 Full HD resolution. This screen is a very glossy screen which wouldn’t work well where there is plenty of lighting.

Battery life

One major let-down I had observed with this laptop is the battery runtime with the system’s standard battery. I had observed that it went through the battery very quickly with 38% left after about 2 hours of word-processing use and it ran a DVD for 1 hour, 58 minutes.

Sony could implement the dual-graphics functionality in this VAIO EJ series laptop if they want to see longer battery runtimes out of these laptops but this computer is being pitched as an “average consumer” laptop.

Other experience notes

There is the ability for one to purchase an optional long-run battery for this laptop but it would be needed if you intended to use it away from power a lot.content

The Sony VAIO EJ laptop runs very cool on most tasks. But after a bit of use with video playback, it may start to run hot but this may be due to the graphics chipset.  The system’s ventilation works properly to avoid intense heat build-up that has been known to occur with some laptops that I have used.

Sony also supplies software that allows this and other VAIO laptops to work hand-in-glove with their PlayStation 3 games console or their Bravia TVs and Blu-Ray players. Here, the computers can work as a display screen for the PS3 or as an input device for the PS3 or Sony’s TVs and Blu-Ray players.

Limitations and Points of Improvement

VAIO back shot

One main limitation that I would find for positioning the 17” VAIO EJ series laptops as “desktop replacements” would be the hard disk capacity. Here, I would prefer these units to have a capacity of at least 640Gb like what I have seen with the Dell XPS L702X or the HP Pavillion DV7-6013TX desktop replacements with their 1Tb hard disks if I wanted to sell or specify them as a sole “desktop replacement” computer. I would also look towards implementing either a USB 3.0 port or eSATA / USB 2.0 combo port on the VAIO EJ series laptops so that you can use an external hard disk using high-throughput connections.

As well, I would look towards implementing the full switchable-graphics functionality that is part of the Intel Sandy-Bridge chipsets in order to improve on the battery runtime. I have observed that the integrated graphics on the Sandy Bridge platform can do an adequate desktop-applications, Web-browsing or DVD playback job on batteries. The NVIDIA chipset can work as an “overdrive” for content creation which Sony knows best; or intense gaming sessions and this could be facilitated using the NVIDIA Optimus “automatic overdrive” functionality.

The supplied Media Gallery software could properly play and decode audio files in formats other than MP3, especially if the content is sourced from DLNA-compliant servers. It could really achieve this through the use of Microsoft-supplied logic for media decoding.

Conclusion

I would recommend this as a “graphics-performance” laptop for home users who want to move towards the new computing environment but place importance on the large 17” screen. Here, the only limitation would be the hard-disk capacity, where I would recommend a Dell XPS L702X or HP Pavillion DV7-6013TX; or use an external hard disk or network-attached storage. It would also have to be used primarily at home or as a transportable rather than “on the road” due to the batttery life issues I have reased in this review.

It wouldn’t suit work-home users who value high-performance links with external hard drives, nor would it suit travellers who need it as an “on the road” computer.

Introduction

I am reviewing the Dell Vostro 3550 series of 15” business laptop computers, which is infact the first business laptop that I have reviewed from this company. It can be purchased from Dell’s online store as one of a few preconfigured options or you or your IT contractor could order a customised system through the Dell website.

The computer itself

Aesthetics and Build quality

The Dell Vostro 3550 laptop is finished in a silver metal housing that shows that it is well built and durable. This can be available to order as a burgundy or bronze finish if you buy it through Dell’s website. Unlike most laptops, the lid is recessed down with the hinges set towards the centre.

Keyboard detail emphaising chrome trim

The screen escutcheon and palmrest are finished in a charcoal grey finish with the keyboard and trackpad set off with chrome piping. This styling reminds me o the way the dashboards on various classic cars have been styled.

User interface

The Vostro’s keyboard is an illuminated keyboard but doesn’t have a numeric keypad. This may not affect most users but those of use who need to enter in lots of figures like accountants will miss the feature. Here, they could use a USB numeric keypad for the data entry. On the other hand, you get the proper feedback which is important if you do a lot of touch-typing.

This is supported by a trackpad which, like all of the trackpads on recent Dell notebooks, is distinctively highlighted. It works properly as a trackpad and allows for proper navigation.

The Vostro 3550 does support fingerprint-recognition and Dell supplies a “software keyring” that links Web passwords with your fingerprint. Infact I was offered the option to tie my Facebook password to my fingerprint with this software.

As well, there are hot keys with one for the Mobility Center, one for Dell Support access and one you can define to launch a particular program.

Connectivity and Expansion

The Dell Vostro 3550 business laptop range is well endowed when it comes to connectivity and expandability.

The review unit cam with an integrated 3G wireless-broadband modem as well as Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi wireless. The 3G modem is available as an option on other configurations in this model range. The SIM card for the 3G service is installed in a slot located in the battery compartment and it takes the standard small-form-factor SIM card rather than the “micro” SIM card.

Left hand side with SD card reader. USB / eSATA socket, USB socket and HDMI socket

On the other hand, I don’t see why the 3G modem couldn’t, with Bluetooth, support the SIM Card Access profile for authenticating to mobile-data services. Here this setup allows authentication to mobile services via a mobile phone SIM card using a Bluetooth link. The function has been available with integrated car phones that allow authentication and phone service using the driver’s SIM card held in their mobile phone, and could support “one account, one bandwidth quota” operation for both the mobile phone and laptop.

On the other hand, the 3G modem technology used in the Vostro’s integrated modem may be considered too slow in the face of upcoming 4G LTE deployments that are occurring in most countries. Of course this is taken care of with the USB ports and ExpressCard slot being ready to accept LTE modems.

Right hand side with optical drive, ExpressCard slot, audio jacks and USB 3.0 socket

The Dell Vostro has a promising array of two USB 3.0 ports alongside two USB 2.0 ports with one doubling as an eSATA slot. There is an ExpressCard slot available for use with LTE or WiMAX wireless-broadband cards or whatever comes one’s way.

Of course, the computer offers for removable storage a card reader for use with SDHC and similar memory cards as well as a DVD burner.

Audio and Video

A feature that is worthy of note for the Dell Vostro is the integration of a microphone array. Here this allows for improved audio results with video conferencing or speech-recognition-based dictation by using microphone combinations to focus on the voice and cut out the background noise.

This is like when you use a stereo recorder that is equipped with two microphones to record your voice, then play the same recording through stereo speakers or headphones. Here, it is easier to catch your voice because it is dominant across both channels.

The Dell Vostro 3550 uses a dual-mode graphics setup with AMD Radeon graphics for discrete high-performance graphics and Intel HD graphics for power-saving economy-mode graphics. I have seen the benefit of this setup before when I reviewed the HP Pavillion dv7-6013TX which is similarly equipped. Here, I ran it through a DVD rundown test while the laptop was using the Intel HD graphics and it was able to play longer than previous discrete-only setups.

There is support under the new AMD control software for application-driven switchability. Here one can set a video-editing application or graphics-rich game to go with the high-performance graphics while other applications like Web browsers or word-processing can work with the power-saving graphics mode.

On the other hand, there isn’t a distinct manual switch in the AMD software to switch between discrete or integrated graphics.

The Vostro 3550’s screen doesn’t have any of the glare that is common with a lot of consumer laptops and this nicety may be peculiar to business laptops. At least this means that you can use it in most environments without seeing yourself in the mirror when you use the laptop.

Battery life

The Vostro 3550 has achieved long battery runtimes thanks to the Intel Sandy Bridge technology. I had run it on a DVD rundown test by having it play a feature movie continuously off the DVD. This ran for 6 hours 38 minutes on the integrated graphics while showing good-quality movie images.

I have also run the laptop on regular tasks and it appeared as if it was sipping the battery rather than wolfing through it. It has what appears to be a larger battery pack but this pack is the standard one for the Vostro 3550 series.

Conclusion

Rear view with VGA, USB 3.0, Ethernet and power sockets

The Dell Vostro 3550 Series is another of the value-for-money durable laptops that I would recommend as a standard-size “work-home” laptop if you just transport it between locations. If you intend to do a lot of numeric data entry such as accounting or statistics work with it, I would recommend that you use the Vostro with a USB numeric keypad.

Here, I would make sure you get as much RAM and hard disk space as you can afford. You could get away with the i5 processor for most tasks and choose the i5 processor for tasks that demand more like graphics for example. If you had to cut your cloth accordingly, you may have to forego the integrated 3G modem and use an external wireless-broadband modem or tether your mobile phone for your wireless-broadband use as a way of focusing money on the performance or capacity aspects.

Introduction

I am reviewing the Toshiba Tecra R850 laptop which is a business-focused standard laptop computer driven by the Intel Sandy Bridge processor series. It has a few features that would make it appeal to small businesses who want that “work-home” laptop such as increased durability and a highly-resilient hard disk with a shock sensor.

The computer itself

Aesthetics and Build quality

The Toshiba Tecra R850 series of laptops is finished in a black matte plastic finish with chrome-highlighted hinges. The lid and palm rest are finished with a fine herringbone-like ribbed texture that makes it less slippery to handle ad gives a quality finish to the unit.

The unit feels very well-built like what would be expected of a good business-grade laptop, and I would expect it to withstand a lot of heavy use.

User interface

The Tecra’s keyboard is a chiclet-style keyboard which, like the Portege R830 can be slippery to work. It could benefit from the keys having a rubber-feel capping or other rough texture on them to cut down on the slippery feel. At least you can still touch-type accurately on these computers.

Keyboard with thumbstick and trackpad

The Toshiba Tecra R850 Series uses a dual-control interface for mouse-cursor control. Here, you have the familiar trackpad but also have a “thumbstick” (joystick) that was common on IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad laptops. The latter option may be of use if you want accurate cursor control.

You can disable the trackpad if you find that the cursor jumps around as you type, which I have found with this computer. This can be done by pressing a button under the spacebar rather than going through menus.

As well, there is a fingerprint reader that is used for secure logon and works with a Toshiba-supplied “password keyring” program as well as with Windows.

Expandability and Connectivity

Left-hand-side connectors with USB 3.0, VGA, HDMI, ExpressCard slot and SD card reader

The Toshiba does well on expandability in that it has an ExpressCard slot for any future expansion options that may come along. As well, there is a USB 3.0 socket, a combined USB 2.0 / eSATA socket and two regular USB 2.0 sockets, which will satisfy the most peripheral-endowed workplaces.

It is also worth noting that all of the recent Toshiba laptops such as this one and the Portege R830 that I previously reviewed have the Kensington locking slot located on the right-hand hinge pin.

Audio and Video

The sound from the Toshiba’s inbuilt speakers is typical for a laptop computer. Here, there isn’t the full bass response and it comes out as very low-powered. If you want to gain better sound quality from this Tecra computer as well as most other laptops, I would prefer to use extension speakers, an outboard sound system or headphones for applications where you appreciate good sound quality.

Right hand side with DVD burner, 2 x USB 2.0 sockets, USB 2.0 / eSATA socket, audio output, Gigabit Ethernet and Kensington lock slot

It is so easy to limit the display quality assessment of a business-market laptop to just text-based work but it is worth remembering that these laptops are used beyond the business norm of spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. Here they end up primarily as “business-home” laptops where the computer is taken home and used for multimedia activity there. In addition, a lot of businesses are dabbling in video and rich graphics as part of their presentation technique; and there is an increasing amount of business-focused multimedia content out there on the Web.

The AMD Radeon-powered display has a quality that suits most video tasks, but the display can be a bit too pale when run on the battery-saving mode. There isn’t ready access to the dual-mode graphics that the Sandy Bridge chipset is known for, so you can’t easily switch to Intel HD graphics if you want to run the Tecra R850 on integrated graphics to “spin out” the battery runtime further.

What I also like about this unit’s screen is that it isn’t of the reflective type which is the norm with a lot of laptops. This also makes the screen less of a fingerprint magnet. The unit has a VGA connector which will come in handy for older projectors that have this connector as well as an HDMI audio-video connector for newer displays. This also means that it can be connected to an amplifier or digital-audio converter that has HDMI inputs for better sound. It also has the regular headphone jack for connection to headphones or other equipment that yields better sound.

Battery life

I had ran the Toshiba Tecra R850 through the DVD run-down test and it was able to play for nearly 5 hours from fully-charged before the battery ran out to a critically-low point. I have also subjected this laptop to long sessions of regular use while on battery and have noticed that there was very little impact on the battery runtime available.

As I have noticed before, the new-generation Intel chipsets have improved the battery runtime for these laptops. This is even though the Toshiba didn’t have accessible dual-mode graphics.

Other experience notes

A feature that I appreciate with the Toshiba Tecra R850 Series business laptops, and one that may be common amongst a lot of its business-focused peers is a shock-protection mechanism for the hard disk. Here, if the hard disk experiences a sudden jolt or extended vibration, the read-write heads are parked in a safe zone away from the data and all read-write activity is delayed until the computer is stable. In some cases, this may lead to the computer taking longer to hibernate when you pack it away in your bag.

This is a function that is important for laptops that are likely to be carried around frequently while in operation. Of course, when these laptops are off, the disk heads would be parked at a safe location; and I would see these functions as being mandatory for all portable computers.

The Tecra doesn’t run excessively hot during use. This is due to internal design to permit proper airflow and a temperature-controlled fan that operates at the required speed for the situation.

Limitations And Points Of Improvement

One point of improvement that I would like to see for the Toshiba business laptops is for the keyboard to have distinct texturing on the keys so they don’t feel as slippery to use, especially if you touch type. This could be achieved through the use of rubberised keycaps or just simply rough-textured keycaps.

As well, Toshiba could work on a variant of this computer series which has the ruggedness and performance capabilities of the series like the hard-disk safeguarding features but doesn’t have the “managed computing” features that would be required for corporate deployment. This variant could then be targeted at students and small business users who want something that is long-lasting but less costly.

It could be part of a “bridge” laptop product lineup that stands between the computers normally sold to the “big end of town” and the consumer laptops that are sold through big-box retailers.

Conclusion

I would specify the Toshiba Tecra R830 Series computers as an all-round “work-home” laptop for most small-business owners who want to move their offices to the “new computing environment”. The test configuration is able to support most business and home tasks very adequately.

I would recommend the higher-end configurations if you do a lot of graphics-intensive work like creating “rough-cut” videos or finely editing pictures. On the other hand, the 3G-enabled variants would be useful if you are able to manage a separate 3G wireless-broadband service with its separate allowance. On the other hand, you could wirelessly-tether your smartphone to your non-3G variant of this laptop for use with your wireless-broadband service.

Introduction

I am reviewing the Toshiba Portege R830 series of ultraportable notebook computers which is targeted at business users, primarily the “big end of town” but there are models in this series that can appeal to most users who are after a notebook that can be stuffed in to that bike bag or shoulder bag.

This is the first ultraportable notebook based on Intel Sandy Bridge technology that I have reviewed for HomeNetworking01.info.This class of notebook is infact a proving ground for the technology because it has requirements for long battery life, ability to play video content at a moment’s notice as well as be light and suitable for use on the road. The Toshiba Portege R830 Series is so well positioned with this respect due to it being equipped with an optical drive which would come in handy with playing DVDs that you buy or rent before that long bus or train trip.

The computer itself

I have noticed negligible extra weight when I have packed in my day bag to take it on an “on-road” test drive. It is large enough for the lid to lean back while in crowded buses or economy-class airline seats, even if the seat ahead is suddenly reclined.

One of the few ultraportables that is equipped with an optical drive

All the models in this series come with a DVD burner but this review model and the model above are equipped with a solid-state drive rather than a hard disk for the main secondary storage. The two less-expensive models come with a 500Gb hard disk and the most expensive model has a 512Gb solid-state drive while this model has the 128Gb SSD.

Aesthetics and Build quality

The Portege R830 Series is finished in an all-black finish with chrome highlights on the lid hinges. This avoids the tendency to use a fingermark-attracting gloss finish, which allows for a more durable finish.

As well, for an ultralight computer, it is very well-built and has a good-quality finish about it. It was also able to handle the rough usage that may occur as it is taken out and about when you travel or go “hotspot surfing”.

User interface

The Toshiba ultraportable notebook is equipped with a chiclet keyboard which supports accurate touch-typing for long perionds, even while travelling on public transport. It could benefit from rubber-capped keys so you know where you are actually typing.

There is an easily-discoverable trackpad that has a generous area for working with; as well as easily-discoverable buttons. As well, this ultraportable does use a fingerprint scanner between the buttons as part of a secure-login option.

Audio and Video

The Intel HD video is responsive for most multimedia tasks especially video playback. It may be able to cope with basic editing but there may be problems when you use the video-editing tools to make anything beyond “rushes-quality” video. I even noticed that the Toshiba had performed very well even when it was playing “Munich: from the integrated DVD burner whil;e running on batteries.

Unlike most laptops, the Toshiba Portege R830’s screen on this unit isn’t a reflective glossy screen, which makes it suitable for bright operating environments.

The sound-reproduction for these laptops is typical for many of the laptops in that it has the tinny speakers that don’t provide depth to the sound. I would recommend that you use this laptop with a pair of good headphones or a good speaker setup when you want the best out of the sound.

Battery life

I have run this computer on a variety of activities and it has run longer than expected for the typical laptop. For example, I was able to have a DVD playing for four hours after a full charge and fhen find that there is 25% of power left, with an estimated 4 hours worth of use left.

Other experience notes

USB socket for Sleep N Charge feature

The Toshiba Portege R830 has a Sleep And Charge feature for one of the USB ports. Here, it means that the notebook can be set to supply power to 1 USB port while it is off so that smartphones and other gadgets can be charged off that port. This may benefit travellers who want to cut the number of chargers and AC adaptors they carry for their devices while on the road. For overseas travellers, this may avoid the need to carry extra plug converters for mobile phone chargers while they travel. The function has worked as stated on the tin when it came to charging my Samsung Galaxy S Android smartphone as illustrated below.

Sleep N Charge in action - charging my mobile phone while closed up and off

I had shown this computer to some friends whom I live with when I was talking about laptops and they thought it was similar to a netbook that they considered as a “traveller” computer. This is although they were used to seeing the larger laptop computers and didn’t really pick up on this class of ultraportable notebooks that filled the gulf between the netbook and the regular laptop.

Conclusion

The Toshiba Portege computers do work well as a current-spec traveller’s computer where you value creating content or need the ability to work with DVDs. It does the Sandy Bridge CPU/GPU platform justice as far as “traveller-friendly” portable computing goes.

I would recommend this configuration for use as a secondary traveller computer where only current data is kept on the system and quick performance is a priority. If you do need to have a larger data collection like digital photos or videos that are being “proofed”, you may have to use an external hard disk or invest in the more-expensive model of the series.

This ultraportable looks the part on the coffee bar that is part of the smart "second office" cafes

There is a variant of this model that is equipped with the same processor, RAM and other specifications but has a regular 500Gb hard disk for AUD$1980 which may suit most people who want the same power but more storage.

But whatever, I would place the Toshiba Portege R830 series of ultraportables as contenders for a notebook computer that you intend to use “on the go” especially if you cycle or use public transport. It also would be an appropriate notebook to use if you do a lot of work at Wi-Fi-equipped cafes.