Is the Toshiba NB305-N600 10.1-Inch Netbook an ideal buy for your needs? Does it function well and last long enough? Can you use it everywhere you go? Here is a brief rundown of what the netbook offers and how well it delivers on its promises.
“The Lighter, Brighter Side of Mobility”
Weighing in at just about 3lbs, the Toshiba NB305-N600 10.1-Inch Netbook, or Toshiba Mini, was designed to afford consumers with full Internet connectivity on the go in a small, portable, yet powerful package. Its design and ergonomics were meant to make it as durable as it was easy to lug around in a bag or pouch, but still offer sufficient display space. The Toshiba Mini sports a dual core Intel Atom microchip, claims more than 8 hours of operation on a single charge, and of course, high-speed Internet access. To wrap it all up, the Mini comes pre-installed with the Windows 7 Starter OS – to keep things simple.
Out of the Box Experience and Product Specs
When you open up your Toshiba Mini package you will find the Netbook, a rechargeable battery (lithium ion), an AC adapter cord, and a manual of operating instructions. You will also be greeted with pre-packaged software: 30 day trial of Norton Internet Security 2011, Google Toolbar (IE) and Google Chrome, Microsoft Silverlight, Live Essentials, and Media Player 12, 30 day trial for Toshiba Online Backup, and Microsoft Office Starter 2010.
If you are like most people, you would probably skip the manual and get straight on with trying the Netbook out. Before you do, rest assured that your Netbook features the following specs:
- 1.5 Ghz Intel Atom N550 microchip – dual core, 1mb L2 cache, with 667Mhz FSB
- 250Gb SATA drive
- 1Gb DDR3 RAM – 2Gb expandable
- Intel Media Graphics Accelerator 3150 – integrated video processors
- Wireless-N WiFi
- Included Toshiba Software and Utilities
So far, so good – but what are the stuff to like and watch out for?
What to Like
Most favorable reviews of actual buyers from Amazon repeatedly commended the processing speed of the Toshiba Mini as well as its Wireless-N WiFi connectivity prowess. While there are some reviews that state the opposite, it appears that from the basis that the Netbook is a petite machine meant for running basic Internet and office applications, a simple upgrade to 2Gb of memory does the trick. Though the battery life was touted at more than 8 hours of continued operation, anyone who has had a mobile device before knows that anywhere near that range would be a good thing – which makes this Toshiba netbook’s actual battery span a pro rather than a con at about 7 hours continued use.
What to Watch Out For
As mentioned earlier, the pre-installed 1Gb of DDR3 RAM might not be up to par with some Internet functions such as video streaming. The built in speakers, though sufficient for generic sounds, are also not your best bet for listening to your favorite MP3s. Aside from an old issue where certain lines of the Netbook model were reported to have weaker display designs (monitors crack easily), most concerns aired over Amazon reviews have to do with tasks other than basic office applications and on-the-go connectivity – which is exactly what the Toshiba NB305-N600 10.1-Inch Netbook was built for.
The Final Verdict
The Toshiba NB305-N600 10.1-Inch Netbook is not for the kids to play games with and definitely cannot replace more powerful devices like laptops for casual Internet use like multiple social media and video streaming. For professionals and people who are always on the move, however, it might just be the perfect in-your-pocket office application and Internet connectivity device.
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