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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest
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alaTest.com
Editors' rating: 91
Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 213 reviews of TOSHIBA Portégé R500-12P 12.1I from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 78/100 and users 68/100. Comparing these reviews to 166610 other Laptops reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 91/100 = Excellent.
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maximumpc.com
Editors' rating: 90
Summary: Toshiba filled the R500 with loads of features. We love its full-size keyboard, 120GB hard disk (a 64GB solid-state drive is optional), and 12.1-inch 1280x800 widescreen display. But the best feature is the sunlight-friendly transflective nature of ...
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computershopper.com
Editors' rating: 82
Summary: Toshiba's Portégé R500 is an amazing ultraportable laptop with only a couple of minor shortcomings keeping it from perfection.
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stuff.tv
Editors' rating: 80
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techradar.com
Editors' rating: 80
Summary: The combination of great mobility and a comfortable interface, as well as its comprehensive software and warranty, make the Portégé R500 easy to recommend. While cheaper rivals can be bought, this is still one of the best ultraportables around
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notebookcheck.net
Editors' rating: 86
CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Laptops. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of laptop.
Ultraportable laptop computer
The smallest, most lightweight laptops are called ultraportables. Their compact form factor is crucial for people who need to have their PC with them all the time, especially frequent business travelers. What you gain in portability, however, you usually give up in terms of weaker performance, smaller keyboards and displays, and fewer features. And what's more, ultraportable laptops almost always carry a premium price tag. Still, a compact, lightweight profile can make all the difference if you spend a lot of time on the road.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
See more Ultraportable laptop computer products
Microsoft Windows Vista for laptop computers
In addition to the core functionality of the Vista operating system, Microsoft portioned out extra features into different editions of Vista, aimed at different market segments and at differing price points.
| Feature | Home Basic | Home Premium | Business | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU support | One physical CPU, but with multiple cores | One physical CPU, but with multiple cores | Up to two physical CPUs | Up to two physical CPUs |
| Maximum supported RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows defender & firewall | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduled backup | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Aero desktop experience | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobility center (centralized access to controls often used on portables) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Tablet PC support | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Windows SideShow (display support for a variety of secondary devices) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Extended media and entertainment capabilities (Media center, games,HD, movie- and DVD maker) | Yes | Yes | ||
| Remote desktop connection | Yes | Yes | ||
| Windows Fax and Scan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Sound Schemes, DreamScene (video desktop "wallpaper") | Yes | |||
| BitLocker drive encryption | Yes |
See more Microsoft Windows Vista products
Laptop computer memory size
To maximize battery life, notebook computer processors are often designed to save more energy and run cooler than desktop processors. The drawback is slower performance, but more memory can help, which it won't consume energy or radiate heat. Even better, up to 4GB of RAM can now be found in budget configurations. If you want more memory later, expansion is often a simple procedure.
See more Notebook computer RAM products
Notebook computer processors
The central processor (CPU) is the heart of any computer system and an excellent litmus test as to whether a desktop computer or notebook fits your needs. The trouble is, processor names like Athlon and Celeron are as cryptic as system names like Latitude and Pavilion. Here's a quick guide to see which chip is a fit:
| Manufacturer | Processor name | Processing power | Designed use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel | Core 2 Extreme Quad | Very high | Gaming and graphics |
| Intel | Core 2 Quad | Very high | Gaming and graphics |
| AMD | Turion | High | Mainstream |
| AMD | Athlon | High | Mainstream |
| Intel | Core 2 Duo | High | Mainstream |
| AMD | Sempron | Medium | Entry level |
| Intel | Celeron | Medium | Entry level |
| Intel | Pentium Dual Core | Medium | Entry level |
| AMD | Athlon Neo | Low | Netbook |
| Intel | Atom | Low | Netbook |
| Via | C7-M | Low | Netbook |
| Via | Nano | Low | Netbook |
| Intel | Pentium | Low | Budget |
See more Notebook processor products
CNET product brief
Description: The Toshiba Portege R500-S5004 is a 2.4-pound, thin-and-light notebook computer.Compared to other thin-and-light notebooks on the market, it is midpriced at around $1,575.The 12.1 inch widescreen has a native resolution of 1280 x 800, which is fairly standard among notebooks.Runs on the Intel Core 2 Duo chip.This configuration comes with a 64GB hard disk and 2 GB of memory.
Pros: Comes with Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows Vista business OS, which is considerably more favorable than some similarly priced notebooks.The built in Bluetooth connectivity will let you pair headphones or sync your mobile contacts.The built-in fingerprint reader will speed up the log in process while adding a strong layer of data protection.
Cons: Has a modest 1.2 GHz CPU speed, which is considerably slower than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the Sony VAIO VGN-Z750D/B, a 3.3-pound notebook at around $1, 695, has a 2.66 GHz CPU speed.Also, this notebook has only a 64GB hard drive, which is considerably smaller than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the Sony VAIO VGN-Z790DHB, a 3.3-pound notebook at around $1, 740, has a 500GB hard drive.Integrated graphics controllers that rely on shared RAM are sometimes an acceptable trade-off for budget-minded users.
Suitability: A thin-and-light notebook, suited for business computing.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Web from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled laptop.The good battery performance will keep your laptop running longer without plugging in.Comes with a DVD burner, allowing you to convert home movies from your digital videocamera onto DVDs.
Value: Overall, this notebook's features seem a bit weak for its price, compared to most other notebooks.However, if you were to judge strictly by how large the screen is, the average price of thin-and-light products with a comparable screen size is considerably more -- right around $1,812.
Suggestions: (1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Internet more conveniently from any room.(2) To get the most out of this computer's Bluetooth capability, you could have a Bluetooth-enabled headset, handheld or other device, and be able to link it wirelessly to your computer within a range of 20-or-so feet inside the same room.
CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.
Toshiba Portege R500-S5004 (Core 2 Duo 1.2GHz, 2GB RAM, 64GB HDD, Vista Business):
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