Upside: For around the same price as an entry-level MacBook, you get a newer Intel Core i3 processor (the basic MacBook has an older Core 2 Duo CPU), a large 500GB hard drive and, in some regions, the Intel's Wireless Display technology, which allows the laptop's display to be beamed to a remote TV or monitor (this requires a Netgear adapter sold separately that connects to your TV). Not to draw too many MacBook comparisons, but it also has an SD card slot (as does virtually every Windows-based portable no matter the price), something the S$1,488 (US$1,081.08) MacBook lacks.
The brushed metal magnesium chassis feels sturdy despite its thinness (and the front lip tapers, making it look even thinner). The Portege is a cousin of one of our favorite laptops of all time, the 12-inch Portege R500. That S$3,799 (US$2,760.10) system suffered from too much flex in its body and lid, which is not the case here. The back of the lid on this consumer model has a subtle dark blue tint to it, as opposed to the solid black on the business-targeted variant.
It's not as large as on a MacBook, but the R700's touchpad is among the bigger ones we've seen on a 13-inch laptop. Multitouch gestures include two-finger scrolling, but is as always the case, it's nowhere as smooth and responsive as on a MacBook. The left and right mouse buttons are well-sized and easy to use--something many PC makers seem to have trouble with.
Toshiba also includes a couple of custom software utilities with the system. ReelTime is a kind of history browser, displaying every recent document and Web page in thumbnail form along the bottom of the screen. It's surprisingly slick and usable, although it's not really a necessity. There's also a Toshiba Bulletin Board app, which lets you compile photos and notes in a single workspace. It's slick-looking, but we're always dubious of learning a whole new software tool that works on only one brand of laptop and the toshiba laotop battery.
The 13.3-inch LED display has a native resolution of 1,366 x 768--the current standard for most notebooks from 13-15 inches-- and more than the MacBook's 1,280 x 800 screen. While not exactly matte, the display was much less glossy than we're used to seeing from a consumer laptop. The stereo speakers were tinny and not great for music, but not out of bounds for a laptop this size.
The inclusion of a combo eSATA/USB port, HDMI and an SD card slot gives the Portege R700 a big advantage over the MacBook in terms of ports and connections. Even though in some countries the system has an Intel Wireless Display transmitter, it's a shame the R700 does not come bundled with the Netgear adapter required to wirelessly beam video to your television. The first round of Wireless Display laptops from earlier in 2010 all included the adapter.
With a 2.26GHz Intel Core i3 CPU, the Toshiba T700 is more than speedy enough for mainstream use, from Web surfing and productivity to Photoshop editing and HD video playback. The next step up, the Core i5 series of processors, offers even faster speeds. Performance-wise, it certainly matches up with other current 13-inch laptops, but keep in mind that you can also get much more horsepower in the same price range by trading up to a midsize 14- or 15-inch machine with an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor.
Downside: There are a few issues. Out-of-the-box, the hard drive accelerometer was far too sensitive, parking our HDD head every time we so much as breathed on the R700. A visual element on the R700 we really disliked was the overly chromed screen hinges, which would look more at home as rims on a tricked-out car than on a sophisticated laptop.
The keyboard uses flat, widely spaced island-style keys. While perfectly usable, the keys are noticeably more rectangular than most, as if they were shortened to save space. Typing is also a little on the clacky side, but not so much as to be a dealbreaker. We do appreciate the large dedicated Page-up, page-down, Home, and End keys along the right side--they're usually relegated to alternate function keys on most laptops. Our biggest complaint is that the keyboard is not backlit. We've seen that feature on other Toshiba laptops in this price range, and it's always an appreciated extra.
The biggest shortfall of the R700 is that it's saddled with basic Intel integrated graphics. The 13-inch MacBook, for example, has a lower-end but still very impressive GPU from Nvidia, which is good for mainstream gaming. The integrated graphics and Core i3 CPU are fine for streaming HD video, but not for anything beyond the most basic games.
Outlook: Limitations aside, the Portege R700 looks and feels like a much more expensive laptop and is our new go-to choice for those who want a 13-inch experience but can't (or won't) join the MacBook masses TOSHIBA PA3399U-2BRS.
