thinnest, my ass

[totient]

Well, that was disappointing. Macbook Air specs basically the same as the 19mm-thick machine I paid $800 for over six months ago. Well, updated a little: 1.6GHz instead of 1.2, 2G memory instead of 1.25, 802.11n instead of g, 80G disk instead of 60, LED backlight instead of flourescent. But it's been six months and Toshiba has all those specs now *plus an integrated DVD burner*. Oh, and their machine is over a pound lighter than the Mac. Though since they added the optical spindle they're now a little thicker than the thinner-than-thinnest machine I'm carrying.

Geez.

Comments

[mangosteen]

What's the Toshiba model number?

[palmwiz.livejournal.com]

Mine is an R200-S234. I got it as it was being discontinued in favor of the -S2031 which has the 1.3GHz processor and the 80GB disk in a 19mm package. Best deal I see right now on the -S2031 (which has itself just been discontinued, allowing Apple to claim the "thinnest" crown) is $1400, so I guess my timing was right. Toshiba's latest baby is the R500, at under 2 pounds including optical drive, but a hair over an inch thick to accomodate the spindle.

[mangosteen]

Judging from reviews, it seems like Apple is going to win on fit, finish, and general construction. This will all out once people get their hands on the MacBook Air and start abusing it.

[palmwiz.livejournal.com]

I also have a Toshiba Portege 2010 (only 18mm thick!) which is about five years old and while bits of plastic trim have broken off and it needed some more spare sectors on its HD after four-plus years, it has held up remarkably well structurally. I'd put any metal Toshiba up against an Apple for durability.

[mangosteen]

Although, having just had a closer look at the specs, the MacBook Air has an integrated (i.e. non user serviceable) battery.

That's a showstopper.

[palmwiz.livejournal.com]

I've never really found "integrated" to be a real obstacle to "user serviceable", at least for sufficiently determined users.

That said, a real strength of the Toshibas I have is that not only are the batteries removable, but the strap-on extra battery (which about doubles the useful life of my S234 to five hours) is completely 100% compatible between the two machines.

[mangosteen]

I've never really found "integrated" to be a real obstacle to "user serviceable", at least for sufficiently determined users.

Point, but it expresses intent of design, and that's a problem.

[dhs.livejournal.com]

Hmm. And if the weight of the battery is less than the difference in weight between the two machines, you have a much longer run-time and still less weight.

[johnromkey.livejournal.com]

According to reports, the battery is removable; you just need to take out some screws to get at it. It's "integrated" but not soldered to the motherboard or anything like that... if you're comfortable cracking the case then you can replace the battery. Not good for swapping in a charged battery on a long flight, though.

No idea if this voids the warranty.

Apple says they'll do the battery swap for you if you buy a new battery.

[johnromkey.livejournal.com]

Yours has a smaller display and fewer pixels, though. I think that the display size combined with the thinness/weight may be what makes this compelling to people, if it is compelling. Looks like the R500 has the same number of pixels as the Air.

The Air looks a lot nicer... ;-)

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

::chuckle::

J and I were *just* looking over Apple's announcement and ooh'ing and aah'ing. I guess things aren't as posh and up-to-date over here; no one I know has a Toshiba. ;-P

[inahandbasket]

Oh so very agreed.
Coraline just pointed me at your post.

I love the little Toshibas, and the Fujitsu Lifebooks are another very underrated ultra-portable.

(friending *waves*)

[dhs.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it is time for Toshiba to pull those molds out of their archives and produce a thinner laptop, even if that means dumping the optical drive. A pound lighter is a definite win. I wonder how easily I could load linux onto one of those...

[palmwiz.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Toshiba has gone back and forth on this in the past, as has Sony. There were times in between the 2010 and the R200 that Toshiba did not have a 19mm entry. So perhaps the next product cycle will see another thin design rather than the current lineup which is mostly full of flip-style tablets.

[johnromkey.livejournal.com]

I think Toshiba could dump a few ports to help their size... I'm surprised they're including a VGA connector... a mini-DVI would be smaller and could still do the same with the right adapter... and they could probably lose the cardbus slot without offending many people... the R500 does look pretty impressive.

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

Ann's had her Toshiba Satellite for almost two years and we haven't had any problems with it.

[obra.livejournal.com]

My R500 arrives thursday ;) I'm somewhat torn though.

torn

[frotz.livejournal.com]

I must say, I like my Macbook a lot, but I've got a pair of not-really-that-old 800MHz tibooks put out to pasture that I consider past their useful life, while my much older Toshiba Libretto 50CT (no optical drive!) is still a very servicable little linux box that you could likely drive nails with. I really like their hardware.