Good Looking and Built to Last
Written: Aug 15 '03 (Updated Aug 22 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Rock solid reliability, durable case, slimness, "coolness factor"
Cons: Only one USB port, flimsy USB port door
The Bottom Line: A cool and rugged laptop that provides great value as a used or refurbished purchase.
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| design7's Full Review: Toshiba Portege 7020 |
I use laptops extensively in out-of-office settings. I take a certain pleasure in being able to whip out my trusty notebook and begin working in Starbucks, outdoor cafe's, and other locations that provide free wi-fi in the New York area. I use my notebook extensively every day for my chosen profession as a web designer.
It is in this context that I have used a Toshiba Portege 7020ct extensively. Other notebooks I have used include older Toshiba models, the IBM Thinkpad 600E (another great notebook), the Sony Vaio 505 and the Apple (Dual USB) Ibook. The Portege 7020 is my favorite for a number of reasons.
First, the rock solid durability. Toshiba has a well earned reputation for reliability. The magnesium case is lightweight, stiff and durable. The keyboard feels solid and everything about this machine says quality. There is only one exception: The tiny flimsy plastic door over the USB port does not look very strong. However that is only a minor quirk in an otherwise solid machine.
Second, the 13.2" screen is bright, sharp and has good color. It also makes this thin and light machine one you can comfortably work on all day.
Third, the performance. I am still using Win98 on this machine, and consider the performance to be very good. I use a wide range of productivity software including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Word with good results. Of course I installed the maximum amount of memory (192mb), something I recommend for any laptop for best performance. The 366mhz Pentium chip is probably not the best choice for running cpu intensive games, but is perfect for business applications. My real test of any laptop is this: Do I feel compelled by its limitations to upgrade to a newer, faster model? Although I make heavy use of the Portege 7020ct in designing commercial websites, I feel no need to upgrade, the performance suits my need perfectly.
I recommend purchasing the heavier "double capacity" battery for its 3-plus hours of battery time if you want maximum portability. The normal battery provide about 1-1/2 hours of power.
Finally, there is the "coolness" factor. I get at least one compliment a day on this machine. Its thinness, and clean, elegant styling stll looks fresh and stylish. My Apple ibook gets more looks and compliments, but does not have the industrial strength of my Portege 7020ct.
Overall, this is an excellent machine to buy used. You can probably find it for less that $400 on ebay.com. The docking station includes a DVD/CD player, floppy disk drive, additional USB ports, ethernet, printer, vga, and serial ports, extending its usefulness as a desktop machine.
Although the Portege 7020ct is an older model, I think its design runs circles around any of the "thin and light" machines currently on the market. It is a great design that has yet to be clearly beaten for a combination of usefulness and reliability. This is an outstanding value as a used laptop for students and anyone on a tight budget.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 400.00
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Epinions.com ID:
design7
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 1
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