| Everyone knows that 'ultraportable' laptops are | | | | some of the other machines in this class with instead |
| becoming more and more portable, offering higher | | | | decide to use a 91% size keyboard. The R500 SSD |
| performance while still getting lighter and lighter. | | | | does however only include a touchpad, whereas |
| However, here Toshiba take this to the next level | | | | other machines tend to include a pointing stick device |
| with the Portege R500 SSD. If you think you know | | | | as well. This isn't a major criticism of the machine |
| 'ultraportable' laptops, then this should be classified as | | | | though. |
| an ultraportable 'ultraportable'! | | | | 4. Ports and Connections |
| 1. Overview | | | | The main omission is clearly a CD/DVD burner, but |
| When this machine launched last year it weighted 2.4 | | | | most business travellers should be able to manage |
| pounds, however, Toshiba have been making a few | | | | without one fairly easily, and indeed you have the |
| tweaks, and by ditching the optical drive, have | | | | option of adding one. You will find three USB ports, |
| produced an ultra lightweight laptop. It does come | | | | and also an SD slot and a FireWire port to round out |
| with a 64GB SSD drive, although you have the option | | | | the connectivity options. Certain versions have 3G |
| of adding an optical drive if you wish. Adding to the | | | | support, however if this in unavailable in your territory |
| weight saving is a smaller three cell battery, instead | | | | Toshiba will include Intel's 802.11n Wi-Fi and an |
| of the previous six cell version. | | | | Ethernet port. |
| 2. Design | | | | 5. Battery Life |
| The R500 SSD is a very contemporary looking | | | | Battery life results really weren't that spectacular, but |
| machine; its hollow magnesium frame feels like a | | | | this is mainly down to the smaller three cell battery, |
| dummy model, rather than a fully working laptop. | | | | which lasts around 3 hours. You do also have the |
| However, the wafer thin screen still succumbs to the | | | | option of adding on an extended six cell battery |
| same serious flexing issues as that of its predecessor | | | | pack, and also a six cell expansion slice, which slides |
| - you will find that it bends alarmingly easily. | | | | underneath the base. These will boost battery life to |
| 3. Display | | | | a very healthy 9 hours, however they will also add to |
| The Portege R500 SSD managed to squeeze a | | | | the weight of the laptop. |
| 12-inch LED widescreen display into its slender case. | | | | 6. Shortcomings |
| The screen is not as bright as some of the | | | | There are a few downsides to the Portege R500 |
| competitors machines, and did appear to be quite | | | | SSD, for a start the 1.2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600 |
| washed out no matter what the lighting conditions | | | | really is a bargain basement processor, and the 1GB |
| where like. However because of it's dimensions, the | | | | of RAM is less than generous. You will still be able to |
| Toshiba is better suited to being carried in small bags. | | | | happily browse the web, use a word processor and |
| 4. Keyboard and Other Controls | | | | even do some light photo editing. However, anything |
| The fact that there is a full size keyboard included is | | | | more intensive than this and you will probably find the |
| excellent, and is a real pleasure to use compared to | | | | system starting to struggle. |