Laptops Arena

All manufacturers provide a business line for laptops. It's essential to offer as many models in this segment for better sales. Nowadays, businesses are various and business consumers need different models, and not only different configurations of the same laptop. Toshiba is one of the best laptop manufacturers and sellers. Their management is quite impressive, acknowledging the market's demands. Therefore, all their laptop lines are well completed and represent. The Tecra business line, features beside the M10 business model laptop (already presented in a previous article), another two laptop models: R10 and A10.

Today's article is about R10. So, what does R10 brings different than M10? In design matter, R10 doesn't differ very much than M10. However, this is a good thing, because M10 already packed an excellent design and quality build. As a drawback you might find the uncompleted keyboard a minus. But then again this is the same keyboard found on M10. The design is a little changed. Tecra M10 offers great productivity, bright display, and security features all in an ultraportable design for a price starting at $1.199. The Tecra R10 is the most expensive model in the Toshiba business line. The asking price starts from $1.399.

However, you are not going to be scared by some expensive price tags, since R10 is offered in only two configurations. To summarize what R10 has to offer: a full performance package (with better energy efficiency), advanced business graphics, great quality and durability, all in a sleek and light case. Toshiba successfully created a better design for R10, than it did for M10. The LCD cover color is aluminum silver and it looks extraordinary. It not only looks luxurious but it also feels luxurious. The shinny Toshiba logo adds even more good taste to the lid. Not to worry about fingerprints and scratches because R10 rejects them pretty well. Once opened, you will see the same aluminum silver all over the case and keyboard. Even on the back side, you are going to find the same material, and not a black matte plastic.

The only black surface is the one that surrounds the 14.1 inches display. Everything in this model is extraordinary. You get no flex of the lid and no squeaks when you press the lid too much. The back side of the R10 doesn't sport any ports or slots, mainly because this Tecra model has its lid opened like a hinge. Therefore, when opened the display cover denies any access to the back side. This is common for a light weight and thin laptop.

On the left side of the Tescra R10 you can find the RGB monitor output port, the cooling vent, an eSATA / USB combo port with sleep and charge, another USB 2.0 port, a microphone input port, and a headphone output port, and last but not least the volume scroll control. On the other side you get the input charger slot, Wi-Fi switch on and off, Ethernet RJ 45 port, another 2.0 USB port, the DVD Super Multi (+ / - R double layer) drive with up to 11 formats (DVD - RAM, DVD - ROM, CD - ROM, CD - RW, CD - R, DVD - R single layer, DVD - R double layer, DVD - RW, DVD + RW, DVD + R single layer and DVD + R double layer) and an Express Card slot. On the front side you only get the SD card slot, compatible with SDHC, Secure Digital (SD) with SDIO support. Overall, the design is excellent, and features a great quality build just like any other Toshiba laptop.

Once opened the R10, you get to see the very nice looking keyboard. Unfortunately is not a full keyboard. Even so, the keys are nice, good sized and no flex providing. Feedback is in average limit. However, Toshiba had enough space to include a 108 key US keyboard. By not using the provided space, Toshiba included on the left side of the keyboard the Power on and off button, and another two buttons. The same quality you get in the touch pad. Good feedback, nice matte finish for a good grip, and two average sized buttons under the touch pad (Toshiba Assist button to launch Toshiba Assist control panel and Windows Mobility center button). Centered between the two buttons is the fingerprint reader, providing an extra safety measure beside the password lock. Just like other high range business laptops you can find on the R10 the LED indicators for a better view of the whole activated functions.

This Toshiba business laptop has a height of 1.13 inches (front height) to 1.2 inches (rear height), wide of 13.3 inches, deep of 9.9 inches; Tecra R10 weights about 4.45 lbs depending on the configuration chosen. Toshiba included in Tecra R10 a 14.1 inches diagonal widescreen TFT LED backlit display with a WXGA + resolution (1440 x 900 pixels). The screen is a work of art. Or, so Toshiba want us to think. The main idea is that the screen provides an awful viewing angle. Therefore, Toshiba said that it designed the display for more security. Well, if you don't mind the bad viewing display, and accept Toshiba's ludicrous excuse then you will get a nice colorful display with sufficient brightness even under direct sunlight.

The connectivity is ensured by 54 mm Express Card, RGB monitor output port, 10 / 100 / 1000 Ethernet port (Intel 82567 LM Gigabit Network Connection), two 2.0 USB port, one eSATA / USB combo port with sleep and charge, Bluetooth version 2.1 plus enhanced data rate, Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 AGN. Toshiba offers two configurations for Tecra R10. Both of these models offer some similar tech features, such as the same Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SP9300 with 2.26 GHz, 6 MB L2, 1066 MHz FSB, the same Mobile Intel GS 45 Express Chipset, Integrated Wi-Fi Link compliant wireless LAN (with 802.11 a/g/n profile).


Also, both R10 S4411 and R10 S4401 are shipped with Window Vista Business Service Pack 1 (and you can choose from the 32 bit version and 64 bit version). However, the Tecra R10 S4411 comes with 2 GB PC2 6400 DDR2 800 MHz SDRAM, an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500 MHD, and a 160 GB HDD with 5400 rotations per minute, all for $1.399. The second configuration is offered for $1.549, and comes with 3 GB PC2 6400 DDR2 800 MHz SDRAM, a NVIDIA Quadro NVS 150M graphic chipset, and 160 GB HDD with 7200 rotations per minute. As you can imagine, the first configuration is more likeable, since the R10 is a business laptop and doesn't exactly need the extra power from the NVIDIA graphic chip.

Toshiba included in the Tecra R10 a six cell Lithium Ion battery with a value of 5100 mAh. This battery should provide about 5 hours and 29 minutes battery time. Other software included in the R10, Toshiba DVD player, Toshiba Config Free, Toshiba Speech System, Sun Java Runtime Environment 3^rd party application, Google Desktop, Google Picasa, Google Toolbar, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and some trial versions for the Office Professional 2007 and Norton Internet Security 2008.

As an overall verdict, I must say that Tecra R10 is impressive. It not only brings an excellent design, but also some quality features in a small package. After two Tecra laptops reviewed (M10 and R10) I must say that if the last business laptop on the Tecra line (A10) is as good as the first two, then Toshiba had successfully created one of the powerful business laptops on the market.