Review: Toshiba Portege R500

Our Toshiba Portege R500 has the following specs:

• Genuine Windows Vista Business (32-bit version)
• Intel Core 2 Duo U7600 1.20GHz, 2MB L2, 533MHz FSB with 64-bit
• 1024MB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM
• One memory slot available
• 120GB (5400 RPM); Serial-ATA hard disk drive
• 7mm, 8xDVD-SuperMulti (+/-R Single Layer) drive supporting 9 formats
• 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen highbrightness display
• 1280 x 800 (WXGA) - Transreflective backlit LED
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 64MB
• Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

Pros

• Amazingly thin
• Amazingly light
• Super thin 7mm optical drive
• Reasonable battery life even at maximum screen brightness
• Very quiet

Cons

• Poor viewing angles and light leakage on screen
• Produces too much heat
• Build quality is too delicate for everyday use and abuse
• Not the best location for the PC card slot (may block optical drive)
• Performance is too slow for anything but short-term travel