Toshiba Notebook Laptop Tecra M10 – A10 Review And Specs
Toshiba’s new Tecra M10 and A10 models are maybe not quite as potent as the Portege R600, but let’s make no mistake, the Tecra models are more than capable, and they only cost around 50-75% as much as the new Portege.
Before we get into the specs, the hardware, the capability, included software, etcetera etcetera, there’s one feature I want to discuss right away, because it’s really cool: Face recognition!
Using the integrated webcam, face recognition software will either grant or deny acces,s based on a number of images of the user’s face. This is useful for two reasons…
1)   You don’t want people hopping on your laptop and reading your email, messing with your accounts and so on, and this is a great way to protect your privacy.
2)   It’s really, really cool!
Okay but yes, a cool feature like that doesn’t alone make for a great laptop, so let’s discuss…
The Hardware
Intel Centrino- 2 processor technology: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9400. The machine comes equipped with 2.53GHz, 6MB L2, 1066MHz FSB. In other words: Fast.
As you can expect from any halfway decent, modern laptop, the machine of course comes equipped with integrated Wi-Fi, compliant with wireless LAN. The specs on this one: Intel 82567 LM 10/100/1000 Ethernet, Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN (1×2)11, and integrated Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR (enhanced data rate).
Two memory slots for memory cards, sticks, etcetera. The machine comes with 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2 SDRAM, a 200GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA HD drive, and with top speed CD, DVD, CDR and DVDR drives.
The widescreen monitor is pretty nice, at about fifteen and a half inches (which is pretty optimal for gamers and visual artist), with a TFT LCD display with 1680×1050 resolution.
The keyboard is spill resistant – good old Toshiba know we all spill coffee or drinks on our keyboards now and then, so don’t pretend this isn’t a plus. This particular keyboard has been thoroughly tested at Toshiba for maximum spill-resistance, giving you more time to shut your laptop down and clean the keyboard.
The graphics are another great plus for visual artists and gamers: NVIDIA Quadro NVS 150M, Turbo Cache, and 256 megs of dedicated graphics memory. In other words, the unit can handle pretty much all of the newest games and graphics/video programs for now and the near future.
The laptop comes with stereo speakers and a built in microphone (though of course, with a laptop you’ll be out in public with your machine quite a bit, so you’ll always get optimal sound quality with a good pair of headphones).
The touchpad can be turned off if you want to plug in a mini-mouse, so you don’t have to worry about messing up your work with a clumsy slip of the hand.
The Software
The machine comes loaded with Windows Vista Business and downgrade media for Windows XP Professional. For some of us that’ll do, but for others, that might not be too impressive a package. Of course, it’s not exactly like you can’t add Photoshop and Final Cut whenever you like at your own expense. The Tecra can handle just about any software your home computer can manage.
Trade in and Recycle
Like the Portege, the Tecra is available through the Toshiba trade in/recycle program, which allows you to save some cash by trading in old laptops and other electronics. This includes products not made by Toshiba, and even a number of products that don’t actually have any trade-in value. Definitely a plus to any college student struggling with a six year old laptop.
The Bottom Line
Toshiba’s top-of-the-line, flagship unit is still the Portege R600, but for general use, most users probably won’t even notice a difference between the Portege R600 and the Tecra A10 and M10. If you’re trying to decide between one or the other, it might simply come down to this: Do you need it for work? If so, you can get the two thousand dollar Portege and either talk your employer into paying for it, or at least get a nice tax exemption. Or, if you need nothing but the absolute best laptop out there, go with the Portege (but then figure out a way to make some money with your new laptop, and then get yourself a tax exemption). If you just want a good, capable laptop, one that can handle video, games, graphics and the internet as well as just about any other laptop out there, the Tecra can cost anywhere from five hundred to one thousand bucks less than the Portege.
Again, 90% of users won’t even notice a difference between the Tecra M10 and A10, and the Portege R600. The Portege is really for professionals and the hardest of hardcore gamers, while the Tecra is perfectly suited for general everyday use.
Toshiba M10-S3401 : Detailed Product Specs
Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista® Business 32/64-bit, SP1 with downgrade media for Windows® XP Professional
Processor
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8400
Processor Type
Core™2 Duo
Processor Number
P8400
Processor Speed
2.26GHz
Front Side Bus
1066MHz
Memory Size
2048MB
Memory Speed
PC2-6400 DDR2 800MHz SDRAM
Display Size
14.1″ widescreen
Display Type
TFT active-matrix LCD , WXGA+
Display Resolution
1440×900
Graphics Engine
NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 150M
Graphics Memory
256MB GDDR2
Hard Drive Size
160GB
Hard Drive Speed
7200rpm
Secondary Hard Drive Size
No Secondary Hard Drive Installed
Optical Drives
DVD-SuperMulti drive (+/-R double layer) supporting up to 11 fomats
Wireless LAN
Intel® Wi-Fi Link 5100AGN (1×2)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth® V2.1 + EDR
Webcam
Webcam and microphone built into LCD bezel
Input Devices
86 key US keyboard, Toshiba Accupoint® II and TouchPad™ dual pointing device, Toshiba Assist Button, Windows Mobility Center Button
Security
Finger Print Reader, Reinforced Security Cable Lock Slot, SmartCard Reader, Multiple-Level Password Utilities
Modem
Modem
LAN
Intel® 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection
Audio
Standard stereo speakers, Headphone jack (stereo), Built-in microphone
AC Adapter
75W (15V 5.0A) Auto-sensing, 100-240V / 50-60Hz input
Battery Type
Li-Ion (5100mAh)
Battery Life
Up to 2.96 hours
PC Card Slots
1-Type II PC Card Slot
PC Express Slot
No PC Express Slot
Media Port
Bridge Media Adapter
USB Ports
3-USB (2.0), 1-eSATA/USB (2.0) combo port with Sleep and Charge
iLINK
i.LINK™ IEEE-1394
Serial Port
Serial port
Docking Connector
Docking Connector
Software
Infineon® TPM Software Professional Package, Google Picasa™, Norton Internet Security™ 2008 (60 day trial), AuthenTec EntréPad® TrueSuite® technology, TOSHIBA DVD Player, TOSHIBA ConfigFree®, TOSHIBA Speech System, Microsoft® Office Ready with Trial Office Professional 2007 (60-day trial), Trusted Platform Module (TPM v1.2)
Weight
Starting at 5.38 lbs.
Color
Titanium Silver
Warranty
3-Years Parts, Labor and AC Adapter; 1-Year Battery
Toshiba A10-S3501 : Detailed Product Specs
Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista® Business 32/64-bit, SP1 with downgrade media for Windows® XP Professional
Processor
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T9400
Processor Type
Core™2 Duo
Processor Number
T9400
Processor Speed
2.53GHz
Front Side Bus
1066MHz
Memory Size
4096MB
Memory Speed
PC2-6400 DDR2 800MHz SDRAM
Display Size
15.4″ widescreen
Display Type
TFT active-matrix LCD , WSXGA+
Display Resolution
1680×1050
Graphics Engine
NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 150M
Graphics Memory
256MB
Hard Drive Size
200GB
Hard Drive Speed
7200rpm
Secondary Hard Drive Size
No Secondary Hard Drive Installed
Optical Drives
DVD-SuperMulti drive (+/-R double layer) supporting up to 11 fomats
Wireless LAN
Intel® Wi-Fi Link 5100AGN (1×2)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth® V2.1 + EDR
Webcam
Webcam and microphone built into LCD bezel
Input Devices
86 key US keyboard, Toshiba Accupoint® II and TouchPad™ dual pointing device, Toshiba Assist Button, Windows Mobility Center Button
Security
Finger Print Reader, SmartCard Reader, Multiple-Level Password Utilities, Password Security, Security Cable Lock Slot
Modem
Modem
LAN
Intel® 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection
Audio
Standard stereo speakers, Headphone jack (stereo), Built-in microphone
AC Adapter
75W (15V 5.0A) Auto-sensing, 100-240V / 50-60Hz input
Battery Type
Li-Ion (5100mAh)
Battery Life
Up to 3.15 hours
PC Card Slots
1-Type II PC Card Slot
PC Express Slot
No PC Express Slot
Media Port
Bridge Media Adapter
USB Ports
3-USB (2.0), 1-eSATA/USB (2.0) combo port with Sleep and Charge
iLINK
i.LINK™ IEEE-1394
Serial Port
Serial port
Docking Connector
Docking Connector
Software
Infineon® TPM Software Professional Package, Trusted Platform Module (TPM v1.2), Norton Internet Security™ 2008 (60 day trial), AuthenTec EntréPad® TrueSuite® technology, Google Picasa™, TOSHIBA DVD Player, Microsoft® Office Ready with Trial Office Professional 2007 (60-day trial), InterVideo® WinDVD®, TOSHIBA ConfigFree®, TOSHIBA Speech System
Weight
Starting at 6.2 lbs.
Color
Titanium Silver
Warranty
3-Years Parts, Labor and AC Adapter; 1-Year Battery
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wait! no HDMI output??? MASIVE FAIL!!!!!!!!!