Second time's a charm
Written: Dec 11 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: liteweight, handsome, efficient
Cons: keys small, must buy various peripherals
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| daloosh's Full Review: Toshiba Portege 3480CT (PP348C-4PU82) PC Notebook |
This review is for my second Toshiba 3480CT. The first one, purchased online for $2450 in September, came with several burnt out pixels in the screen and some internal feedback noise that compromised the built-in modem. However, Buy.com took it back with no questions and immediately shipped another.
This one is close to perfect. I hate to carry stuff, especially on planes. The 3480 fits in my briefcase, or my knapsack, or my camera bag, or I carry it by itself in Port's Portege Portfolio ($27 online), which is just big enough for the computer and a few files.
Some of the highlights are: Easy memory upgrade, via a small door on the underside; great battery power for such a small lithium (~3hrs); my Microsoft cousin made me get Win2000 and it has been exceptionally stable, particularly for a laptop; Toshiba packaged with it the USB mini mouse (key accessory) and a Targus retractable phone cord (very handy in hotel rooms); great LAN port replicator (w/ USB, network port, serial, parallel, ps2).
Improvements over my last Portege: USB floppy (vs. special port and cord); larger screen (11.3 vs. 10.4); lock for on/off (so it doesn't go on while sliding around in overhead compartment) next to on/off (vs. previously on the bottom, where I would forget to use it); two card slots next to each other vs. on opposite sides); scroll buttons (up and down, located above regular two buttons); clearer indicator lights.
Cons: port replicator can get in the way; replicator has only 1 USB port, so I purchased Port's mini-hub ($38 from Onvia); no dock; not the biggest ultralite screen; does get warm, and then the fan gets a bit noisy; only comes with USB floppy, so I had to buy a pcmcia DVD/CD ($377) and a USB Zip ($70 from Radio Shack); and just this week (after three months) the keyboard driver is causing a conflict.
In the end, though, I am completely happy, it's light, it has SpeedStep, it is extremely good-lookin' and it was reasonably priced. My colleague in the newsroom bought a SONY Vaio (SRK) about the same time, but has had various problems with it (hard to expand, no bundled port replicator, no bundled floppy, poor microphone input would not support Dragon, icky color). I just sit and smile.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
daloosh
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Location: NY
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
What's important is what you make of your life's journey.
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