Specs:
Core i7-3610Qm, 16GB (1600MHZ) RAM, 64-bit Windows 7,
1920x1080 Display, Intel 4000 HD + a 2GB Nvidea GT 630M video card,
Blu-ray burner, 4 x USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 3.0, Wireless b/g/n, HDMI
and VGA out, 1Gb/s Ethernet, DVB-T TV card, HD webcam
Look and feel:
The pictures on the Toshiba site does not do justice
to this laptop. It looks and feels much more sexier than what the
picture tells. Entire non-functional surfaces of the laptop feels like
its an aluminium or a metal alloy. It is NOT plastics painted to look
like metal.
Size :
It is thin, but wide and long. It feels like Toshiba could
have done some more compacting given the wasted real-estate. It might
be a bit too big to lug around if you are a frequent traveller.
Screen:
First class. Vibrant and bright. Good refresh rates. More
than reasonable viewing from extreme oblique angles. Good for watching
movies. But I haven't tried playing games yet.
Playing blu-rays:
Smooth when on power pack (did not test on battery). Apparently can play 3D Blu-ray via HDMI to a TV.
TV tuner:
Antenna connection mostly needed. Excellent tuner. Great
reception quality. Even tuned on to hard to get analog TV channels. Got
34 channels in Melbourne including digital radio channels.
Touchpad:
Has scroll bars and gestures. Very impressed with the
smoothness and detection of gestures. It just works (Pinch/zoom, rotate,
scroll vertical and horizontal). The touchpad buttons could have been better.
Sound:
Harman/Kordon sound. Excellent quality. Good base and loudness. Good internal mic.
Camera:
Average quality capture. Clumsy application.
HDDs:
1.5GB (1 + 0.5) good size 5400RPM. Its good for battery life,
but It would have been much better if it was 7200RPM. Has good HDD
vibration protection.
Comms:
Ethernet and wireless-n works like a charm. Did not try
bluetooth yet. All the connection settings for all network cards are
centralised using a Toshiba Comms applet which is intuitive and easy to
use.
It has a RTL8723AE. Pretty good when used with the Windows 7 drivers.
However awful Linux support. Still waiting for a stable Linux driver (even in 2014).
Keyboard:
Toshiba could have done much better in this
department. Most keys are large; except for function keys, small space
bar and tiny (half-size) arrow keys. Good size number pad. Keys feel
plasticky and push buttony, but can get used to it. There is a keyboard
back-light (IMO bling) that can be turned off. Keyboard as a whole is
not too bad to use if you get used to using the number pad as arrow
keys. IMO tiny arrow keys are worst part, specially for SW development.
SD card slot:
Works well but does not have a dust cover
Battery life:
Bit disappointing. Just over 3hr when using default profiles.
Heat dispersal:
Excellent
Default software:
OS is Windows 7
Home Premium (should really have been Windows 7 Pro). Nice features
like plug-in USB stick backups (Like the Mac) called Clickfreebackup.
There is a reasonable Blu-ray/DVD burning software and some other
Toshiba specific apps that can be useful.
Linux Compatibility:
Works great with Kubuntu 12.04 live CD. I
think it will work much better when natively installed with BumbleBee
(Linux version of NVIDIA Optimus). Can't wait to install it.
Overall very happy and well worth the price I payed at JB HiFi ($1545 + 20% for full 3 year warranty on 2012-Jun-22).
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