Toshiba Tecra M5

[BlaYde]

I was just browsing Harris Technology website checking out the Vaio availability when I came accross this lappy. Not cheap at $4.1k. What do you guys think. Is it worth the money??


Toshiba Tecra M5

The Tecra M5 is a lightweight premium business notebook designed for ultimate performance with a higher return on investment. The fully RoHS compliant Tecra M5 features a wide range of advanced connectivity options, secure with TPM and Toshiba Anti-theft timer and protected with a 3D drop detection sensor. With durable magnesium alloy casework, the Tecra M5 is the ideal road-ready business notebook.

- Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
- Intel Core Duo T2500 2GHz
- L2 Cache: 2MB
- Memory: 2x512MB DDR2 RAM (2GB Max)
- Hard Drive: 100GB (5400 rpm)
- Display: 14.1" SXGA+ TFT (1400 x 1050)
- Graphics: nVIDIA Quadro (PCIe) w/ 128MB Video RAM
- Optical Drive: DVD SuperMulti ±DL (DVD±RW/DVD-RAM) Drive
- FDD: Optional
- Audio: HD-Audio
- Modem: 56k V.92
- Network: Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g WiFi, Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR
- PCMCIA: 1 x Type II CardBus, 1 x ExpressCard/54
- Pointing Device: Touchpad & AccuPoint

- Interfaces: 1 x VGA, 3 x USB 2.0, Mic, Headphone, 1 x RJ11, 1 x RJ45, 1 x FireWire, 1 x Secure Digital Slot, 1 x S-Video Out, 1 x Serial, 1 x Fingerprint Sensor
- Dimensions: 316 x 261 x 31-34mm
- Weight: 2.4kg
- Battery: 6 Cell Li-Ion / 4700mAh / up to 3 hours

- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
- Software: MS OneNote 2003, InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2 Platinum, Sonic Record Now!, Toshiba Config Free, Toshiba Assist, Toshiba Zooming Utility, Toshiba Recovery

- Warranty: 3 years parts and labour

[Kharn]

For the same price you can get a Macbook Pro with the same specs but with a 15" widescreen display. Widescreen makes a huge difference for laptops. You also get to run both OSX and XP on a beautiful piece of hardware.

[axxian]

I had a good look at the M5, i even went to find a place that had it on display. It feels a bit heavy, but very sturdy tho.

Seems to have pretty good specs and all ... i was gonna get it, until i saw the sz18gp

Now i have a sz18gp, its got decent specs, and is very light - around 1.7kg, which isn't bad at all. The screen is smaller tho, but its sooo thin. It just looks sooo much better.

If you travel a lot, or want a portable lappy, 14.1 is probably max you want to go, 15.4 imo is too big to comfortably carry everywhere.

Oh and widescreen only makes a diff when you're watching dvd's imo, the only other useful thing about it, is to compare 2 files, side by side. Sure its nice to have - but no way is it essential - you're better off finding a res thats comfortable for you. I find the smallest i can go is 14.1 @ 1400x1050, any smaller and it becomes unreadable.

[BlaYde]

Originally Posted by Kharn

For the same price you can get a Macbook Pro with the same specs but with a 15" widescreen display. Widescreen makes a huge difference for laptops. You also get to run both OSX and XP on a beautiful piece of hardware.

I'm not going to dispute the fact the Macs have some nicely spec'd notebooks but since I have never owned or used one I would be very hesitant to go out and spend 3-4K on one only to find out that it's not for me.

[BlaYde]

Originally Posted by axxian

I had a good look at the M5, i even went to find a place that had it on display. It feels a bit heavy, but very sturdy tho.

Seems to have pretty good specs and all ... i was gonna get it, until i saw the sz18gp

Now i have a sz18gp, its got decent specs, and is very light - around 1.7kg, which isn't bad at all. The screen is smaller tho, but its sooo thin. It just looks sooo much better.

If you travel a lot, or want a portable lappy, 14.1 is probably max you want to go, 15.4 imo is too big to comfortably carry everywhere.

Oh and widescreen only makes a diff when you're watching dvd's imo, the only other useful thing about it, is to compare 2 files, side by side. Sure its nice to have - but no way is it essential - you're better off finding a res thats comfortable for you. I find the smallest i can go is 14.1 @ 1400x1050, any smaller and it becomes unreadable.

well the SZ18GP is what I have decided on but I have been concerned abit after reading user reviews that Sony for some unknown reason does not include any restore cd's and apparently it is a total nightmare trying to install a fresh copy of XP. Apparently Sony doesn't provide decent website with all the necessary drivers etc....

[axxian]

Yeh i noticed that no cds came, i haven't tried to figure out why/where to get it etc.

The US site has all the software, but for some reason, its not compatitble - i tried to update the infinion software and it wouldn't let me - which is a bit of a pain as it doesn't support firefox.

Edit:
Even after all that - i don't regret buying it

[Kharn]

Originally Posted by BlaYde

I'm not going to dispute the fact the Macs have some nicely spec'd notebooks but since I have never owned or used one I would be very hesitant to go out and spend 3-4K on one only to find out that it's not for me.

Don't worry it runs Windows too. Besides life wouldn't be much fun if you didn't take a risk every so often and try something new.

edit: if your going to drop 4k on a laptop its worth going out and having a try of them first. Specs are quite often secondary in laptops to things like design, quality and form. I would want to put my hands on it first before i buy.

[Kharn]

Originally Posted by axxian

I

Oh and widescreen only makes a diff when you're watching dvd's imo, the only other useful thing about it, is to compare 2 files, side by side. Sure its nice to have - but no way is it essential - you're better off finding a res thats comfortable for you. I find the smallest i can go is 14.1 @ 1400x1050, any smaller and it becomes unreadable.

I think we tend to use more sideways space than up and down space when it comes to screens. I always find it awkward now using a non widescreen laptop wheras first using a widescreen seemed pretty natural.

[axxian]

Originally Posted by Kharn

I think we tend to use more sideways space than up and down space when it comes to screens. I always find it awkward now using a non widescreen laptop wheras first using a widescreen seemed pretty natural.

It really depends what you use it for.

While comparing 2 sets of code/documents its easier.

While just scanning 1 set of code, a lot of the widescreen is wasted space. Also with widescreen, the vertical space is more limited, so doing stuff like having a double taskbar wastes a lot more screen space.

Like i said, i don't think its as big a deal as you make it out to be. I've used both for work, and sometimes i find widescreen annoying, because there is just an massive expanse of unused space

All i'm saying to say that you must go for widescreen is a bit short sighted - i mean most monitors on desktop are still not widescreen, and you don't see many complaints.

It could be that you're just use to widescreen, so you find it easier. Anyways i think at the end of the day, its just a personal preference, with geeks saying widescreen is better ... because its a newer tech

[BlaYde]

Kharn,

Tell me mate, if the Mac can now run Windows XP does that mean that it can also run all windows based software as well??? What about games? Could I run my PC version of WoW??

If it can do that then I will seriously consider the powerbook..

[Kharn]

Originally Posted by BlaYde

Kharn,

Tell me mate, if the Mac can now run Windows XP does that mean that it can also run all windows based software as well??? What about games? Could I run my PC version of WoW??

If it can do that then I will seriously consider the powerbook..

Yes. It dual boots WinXP and OSX and the dual booting is officially supported by apple. It has video drivers etc. This only happened in the last few days but there are videos of BF2, oblivion etc. playing on a Macbookpro. Without a doubt WoW would also work but it is one of the few games that is well supported for OSX. Blizzard is a big apple fan and they make their games run as well on a mac as a PC. I plan to sell my PC and powerbook to get one of these so that i can game in windows and do everything else in OSX.

SMH Article about WinXP on a Mac

[BlaYde]

Originally Posted by Kharn

Yes. It dual boots WinXP and OSX and the dual booting is officially supported by apple. It has video drivers etc. This only happened in the last few days but there are videos of BF2, oblivion etc. playing on a Macbookpro. Without a doubt WoW would also work but it is one of the few games that is well supported for OSX. Blizzard is a big apple fan and they make their games run as well on a mac as a PC. I plan to sell my PC and powerbook to get one of these so that i can game in windows and do everything else in OSX.

Hmm.......that sounds very tempting. I will have to find out if there is a place in Perth that sells these powerbooks so that I could go and check it out 1st hand.

Thanks for that, Kharn. Is there a powerbook forum / website to get more feedback from Mac users etc?

[Kharn]

Well we have our very own apple forum here under the intel, amd, Via forums. Otherwise appletalk.com.au or the apple forum in whirlpool.net.au for a big US site try macrumors.com

also if your a student there are discounts and the ram is cheaper from 3rd party stores and works just as well.

[DavoRulz]

Originally Posted by Kharn

For the same price you can get a Macbook Pro with the same specs but with a 15" widescreen display. Widescreen makes a huge difference for laptops. You also get to run both OSX and XP on a beautiful piece of hardware.

Man, I've seen a few of your posts lately, and you are sure pimping the macbook.

Don't think I could live with 1 mouse button

[Kharn]

Originally Posted by DavoRulz

Man, I've seen a few of your posts lately, and you are sure pimping the macbook.

Don't think I could live with 1 mouse button

ok sorry for suggesting a great alternative. Besides all 6 buttons of my logitech mouse work in OSX.