Toshiba Portege R700

amazon Toshiba Portege R700 reviews

The Toshiba Portege R700 series is a notable entry in the ultraportable laptop market, combining performance, durability, and portability into a sleek package. As a member of Toshiba’s esteemed Portege lineup, the R700 is designed for professionals and users who need a reliable and lightweight laptop for frequent travel and demanding work environments. In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the Toshiba Portege R700’s design, performance, display, build quality, battery life, connectivity, and overall user experience to provide an in-depth evaluation of this laptop.

Design and Build Quality

Aesthetics and Materials

The Toshiba Portege R700 stands out with its understated yet elegant design. Its chassis features a brushed aluminum finish that exudes a sense of professionalism and sophistication. The laptop’s design emphasizes functionality while maintaining a sleek and modern appearance. The use of aluminum not only contributes to a premium feel but also enhances the laptop’s durability.

The R700’s design is characterized by clean lines and a minimalistic aesthetic. The laptop’s lid is simple, with a subtle Toshiba logo in the center, avoiding excessive branding or flashy elements. The overall design philosophy aligns with the needs of business professionals who seek a laptop that looks polished yet is practical for everyday use.

Build Quality

The Portege R700 is engineered with a focus on durability and robustness. The laptop’s build quality reflects its intended use in demanding environments, making it suitable for frequent travel and rigorous handling. The aluminum construction contributes to the laptop’s strength and rigidity, minimizing flex and enhancing overall durability.

The hinge mechanism of the R700 is solid and reliable, ensuring that the screen remains stable during use. The laptop’s build quality is further reinforced by its lightweight nature, which makes it easy to carry without compromising structural integrity. The attention to detail in the laptop’s construction reflects Toshiba’s commitment to providing a high-quality product that can withstand the rigors of daily use.

Display

The display is a critical component of any laptop, and the Toshiba Portege R700 is designed to offer a functional and clear viewing experience.

Display Quality

The Portege R700 features a 13.3-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. While this resolution is considered standard for its time, it provides adequate clarity for most everyday tasks. The display delivers clear text and reasonably detailed images, making it suitable for tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and media consumption.

The laptop’s display has a matte finish, which helps reduce glare and reflections. This is particularly beneficial for users who work in bright environments or need to view the screen from various angles. The matte finish enhances visibility and reduces eye strain, contributing to a more comfortable viewing experience.

Viewing Angles

The Portege R700’s display offers decent viewing angles, with minimal color and contrast degradation when viewed from different perspectives. While the display performs well in standard viewing conditions, extreme angles may result in some reduction in image quality. For typical use, the viewing angles are sufficient, providing a clear and consistent view for most users.

Performance

The performance of the Toshiba Portege R700 is a key factor in its appeal, and the laptop is designed to handle a range of computing tasks efficiently. The specific model under review is equipped with an Intel Core i5-520M processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive.

Processor

The Intel Core i5-520M processor in the Portege R700 is a dual-core chip from Intel’s second generation of Core processors, known as “Arrandale.” With a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz and Turbo Boost capability of up to 2.93 GHz, this processor offers a good balance of power and efficiency for various computing tasks.

The Core i5-520M provides solid performance for everyday applications such as web browsing, office work, and multimedia consumption. It handles multitasking reasonably well, allowing users to run multiple applications simultaneously without significant slowdowns. While the processor may not match the performance of more recent or high-end models, it delivers adequate power for the R700’s intended use.

Memory and Storage

The Portege R700 is equipped with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, which is sufficient for typical computing tasks. This amount of memory allows for smooth multitasking and efficient operation of standard applications. Users can expect good performance when running office software, web browsers, and other common programs.

The 320GB hard drive provides ample storage space for documents, media files, and software. While a traditional hard drive offers good capacity, it may be slower compared to modern solid-state drives (SSDs). The hard drive’s speed is adequate for everyday use, but users seeking faster performance may consider upgrading to an SSD.

Graphics Performance

The Portege R700 features integrated Intel HD Graphics, which provides basic graphics capabilities suitable for everyday tasks. The integrated GPU handles video playback, casual photo editing, and light gaming with reasonable ease. However, users requiring higher graphics performance for demanding applications or modern games may find the integrated graphics limiting.

For users engaged in tasks that do not require extensive graphics processing, the integrated Intel HD Graphics offers sufficient performance. Those with higher graphics needs should consider laptops with dedicated GPUs for improved performance.

Battery Life

Battery life is an important consideration for any ultraportable laptop, and the Toshiba Portege R700 is designed to offer a reasonable amount of usage time between charges. The laptop is equipped with a 6-cell, 62Wh battery.

Battery Performance

Under typical usage conditions, such as web browsing, document editing, and moderate multimedia consumption, the Portege R700 offers a battery life of approximately 6 to 8 hours. This range can vary based on factors such as screen brightness, application usage, and power settings. The battery life is generally sufficient for a full workday or several hours of travel.

The laptop’s power management features, including customizable power plans, help users optimize battery life based on their needs. While the battery life is adequate for most users, those with more demanding needs may need to plan for charging opportunities.

Connectivity

Connectivity is a crucial aspect of any laptop, and the Toshiba Portege R700 provides a range of ports and interfaces to support various peripherals and devices.

Ports and Interfaces

• USB Ports: The Portege R700 includes three USB ports: two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port. The USB 3.0 port offers faster data transfer speeds compared to USB 2.0, allowing for quicker file transfers and improved connectivity with modern peripherals.
• HDMI Port: The laptop features an HDMI port, enabling users to connect to external displays, projectors, or TVs. This is useful for presentations, multimedia playback, or extending the screen for multitasking.
• VGA Port: The Portege R700 also includes a VGA port, providing compatibility with older monitors and projectors. This legacy port is useful for users who need to connect to devices that do not support HDMI.
• SD Card Reader: An SD card reader is included, allowing users to transfer photos and other media from memory cards. This feature is convenient for users who work with digital media.
• Ethernet Port: The laptop features an Ethernet port for wired network connections, providing reliable and high-speed internet access in environments where wireless connectivity may be less stable.
• Audio Jacks: The Portege R700 includes a headphone/microphone combo jack for audio input and output. This is suitable for calls, multimedia, and general audio needs.

Wireless Connectivity

The Portege R700 supports Wi-Fi 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1, providing reliable wireless connectivity for internet access and peripheral connections. The Wi-Fi performance is generally strong, offering good range and speed for most environments. Bluetooth 2.1 enables wireless connections to peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and headphones.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard and touchpad are essential components of the Toshiba Portege R700, contributing to the overall user experience.

Keyboard

The Portege R700 features a full-sized keyboard with well-spaced keys and a comfortable typing experience. The keys have a reasonable amount of travel and tactile feedback, making typing enjoyable for extended periods. The keyboard layout is ergonomic, with dedicated function keys and a numeric keypad for added convenience.

The keyboard does not include backlighting, which may be a drawback for users who often work in low-light conditions. However, the overall typing experience is positive, and the keyboard is suitable for both casual and professional use.

Touchpad

The touchpad on the Portege R700 is large and responsive, supporting multi-touch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scrolling. The touchpad’s surface is smooth and accurate, making it easy to navigate through applications and documents. The touchpad includes physical buttons for left and right clicks, which some users may prefer over integrated touchpad buttons.

Software

The Toshiba Portege R700 comes pre-installed with Windows 7 Professional, a robust operating system suited for business and professional use. Windows 7 Professional offers a familiar interface, improved performance, and support for various applications and features.

Pre-installed Software

The Portege R700 includes several pre-installed software applications and utilities designed to enhance the user experience:

• Toshiba Assist: This utility provides access to support resources, diagnostics, and system maintenance tools. It helps users manage and troubleshoot their Toshiba laptop, ensuring that it remains in optimal condition.
• Toshiba HDD Protection: This software helps protect the laptop’s hard drive from physical damage by detecting sudden movements or shocks. It contributes to the laptop’s overall durability and data security.
• Toshiba Tempro: Tempro is a utility that provides system updates and alerts, helping users keep their laptop up to date with the latest software and drivers. It also offers performance optimization tips and system health information.
• Microsoft Office Trial: The Portege R700 often comes with a trial version of Microsoft Office, allowing users to evaluate applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This trial is valuable for those who need productivity software and offers an opportunity to explore Office’s features before making a purchase decision.

User Experience

The user experience of the Toshiba Portege R700 is influenced by its design, performance, and features. Here’s how these elements contribute to its usability:

Everyday Use

For daily tasks such as browsing the web, working on documents, and managing emails, the Portege R700 performs efficiently. The Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM offer a responsive experience for most office applications and multitasking scenarios. The laptop’s 13.3-inch display, while not the highest resolution available, provides adequate clarity for everyday use. The matte finish reduces glare, making the screen easier to view in various lighting conditions.

The keyboard’s comfortable layout and the responsive touchpad contribute to a positive typing and navigation experience. Users can expect a smooth and enjoyable interaction with the laptop, whether for business tasks or general productivity.

Portability

The Portege R700 is designed with portability in mind. Weighing approximately 3.2 pounds and measuring around 0.8 inches in thickness, it is lightweight and slim enough to be easily carried in a laptop bag or briefcase. This makes it an excellent choice for professionals who need a portable laptop for travel or frequent commuting.

The durable aluminum construction adds to the laptop’s portability by ensuring that it can withstand the rigors of travel while maintaining a sleek and lightweight profile. The solid build quality and compact design make the Portege R700 a practical choice for users who require a dependable machine on the go.

Battery Life

The battery life of the Toshiba Portege R700 is adequate for typical usage scenarios. With a 6-cell, 62Wh battery, users can expect around 6 to 8 hours of battery life under moderate use. This provides sufficient power for a full workday or several hours of travel without needing to recharge.

The laptop’s power management features allow users to adjust settings to optimize battery life based on their needs. For users who require extended battery life, the Portege R700 offers options to manage power consumption effectively.

Final Thoughts

The Toshiba Portege R700 is a well-rounded ultraportable laptop that offers a solid mix of performance, build quality, and portability. Its sleek design, durable construction, and efficient performance make it a suitable choice for business professionals and users who need a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.

While the Portege R700 may not feature the highest-resolution display or the most advanced graphics capabilities, it provides a dependable and functional solution for users who prioritize portability and build quality. Its battery life, connectivity options, and user-friendly features contribute to a positive overall experience.

In summary, the Toshiba Portege R700 is a practical and capable laptop that meets the needs of users seeking a portable and durable machine for professional and everyday use. Its design, performance, and features make it a strong contender in the ultraportable laptop market, offering value and reliability for its intended audience.

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