My Toshiba Netbook NB 305 10f Evaluation

I spent lots of time reading reviews, watching YouTube videos and actually carrying

out hands-on in retail stores before committing myself to purchasing this net book. I read somewhere that streaming video could occasionally get stuck because of processor speed or the graphics card, but I imagine this is an issue for a number of netbooks. It hasn't been a problem for me, however if you are intending on playing video games online, then I suggest this Toshiba may not be your best choice.

NB305 Competition

Many netbooks are able to compete with the Toshiba's performance, but it does shine in a number of areas. The Toshiba NB305 has a smart case, a new battery with 6 cells, a wide keyboard and a 250GB hard drive as opposed to the standard 160GB. Battery life is claimed to be 11 hours, but I haven't managed it - my record is 8 hours before a charge. This is still pretty remarkable considering a full size laptop can't usually manage more than 4 hours. The case is finished in a textured plastic that fortunately won't show fingerprints, but I do feel that having nine functional LEDs on the keyboard is a bit over the top.

Specification

The Toshiba NB305 10F comes with Windows 7 Starter, has a N450 processor and a 250GB hard-drive. The RAM on my model is still 1GB but this can be extended depending on the merchant you buy it from. Few netbooks can compete with the NB305 in the keyboard and display areas - they are just too good. The broad keyboard features very nearly full size keys, making it genuinely useable - incredible given the size of the netbook. The touchpad is big and ships with standard sized left and right buttons, and the netbook also has stereo speakers, a 10/100 Ethernet connection and an SD/SDHC card reader). Also fitted are 3 USB ports, a modem point, a wireless card and a webcam.

Display

The screen bezel tapers a little towards the sides, but not as much as others making it appear a little chunky although it's the same thickness as the NB205. The screen is definitely bright enough to view outdoors even on a sunny day, but the brightness can not be altered, and if it is turned off while suspended, it will not switch back on. By using a new CPU and battery design, the Toshiba NB305 is an advance over the already excellent NB205, meaning you'll be able to go through an entire day of school or work without worrying about a recharge.

Conclusion

Lots of netbooks on today's marketplace can equal the Toshiba NB305 features, but it's the Toshiba's light weight, brilliant screen and pleasing usability which puts it ahead of the pack. Toshiba score well in their energy tests for this netbook, with a 5* Energy rating and WEEE and RoHS compliance. It even manages to decrease its use of lead and mercury during manufacture. A trivial moan - and I am certainly splitting hairs here - is that you can't see the volume control, although you can obviously regulate it. Final verdict: 4.5/5

My Toshiba Netbook NB 305 10f Evaluation

By: David Millard

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