Specification

• Intel Core i5-2410M processor
• 4GB DDR3 type memory
• 640 GB HDD of storage memory
• Genuine Microsoft 7 Home Edition
• Mobile Intel HD graphics
• 720p HD 1366 x 768
• DVD SuperMulti Drive
• LCD 13.3"
• 3.2. lbs
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Software: Optional

Outside

Those familiar in any way with the Portege R700 series will certainly experience deja vu when looking at the unopened Portege R850. The super-thin brushed dark blue metal lid is nearly identical to that of its predecessor and so is the rest of the black chassis, which is made from the same magnesium alloy. In profile it measures about one and one quarters of an inch thick, which is where a chunk of that discount comes from compared to the costs of the Series 9 and the Air. With that said it carries its 3.2 lb weight well, seeming virtually as light as the technically little bit lighter high-end competitors.

One particular advantage of the R850′s thickness is that unlike the majority of laptops in its class it can include a DVD drive, which fits snugly on the right ride of the device. Also on the right side is where you’ll find the headphone and microphone jacks, one of two USB ports, and the Ethernet jack. The left side sports the memory card reader, USB port number two, charger plug-in, printer port, and HDMI hookup. The left side is also where you find the cooling vent which is difficult not to notice.

Despite appearing bulky on paper compared to 13.3 inch laptops that sit closed underneath an inch, the Protege remains remarkably thin in profile. In addition the brushed metal finish gives it the cosmetic grace of laptops that cost several hundred dollars more. It would be nice to see a few variances in the color options of the lid, but if they were only going to go with one color the dark metallic blue was a good choice. Overall the Portege’s exterior is a stylish and surprisingly strong for its weight and price.

Inside

A ‘la Apple, Toshiba has gone to the extent of incorporating the exterior metal into the keyboard underlay, which adds significant endurance to the life of the keyboard and touch pad. The keyboard itself is spill resistant and island-style, and while seemingly large when examining its width it’s in fact a little bit of a tight squeeze when looking it from top to bottom. This was likely due to the fact that Toshiba expanded the touch pad quite substantially from last year’s model. While this approach is appropriate for the predominance of web-surfing in today’s computing, it clashes with the historical nature of the Portege as the independent’s go-to companion for basic work, home, and recreational needs.

Needless to say the bigger touch pad is independently an achievement over the R700. It’s not nearly as nit-picky when it comes to interference from dust particles and the ease of those larger separate buttons almost makes up for the shortening of the keyboard that its existence called for.

The video quality is choice when viewing the 1366 x 768 LED backlit screen from the optimum forward angle. But peripheral viewing is virtually out of the question, as the thinness of the lid compromises the integrity of the display’s degrees of quality visual range. With that said, the unit is in my opinion not optimized for an audience and that’s to some level reflected in the price. It’s a single-user device from the inside out.

Performance

Let’s start out with what’s really the only upset about this model, if only to get it out of the way. Simply put, there’s just too much prepackaged software loaded onto this thing. You’ll either spend a minute or two every time you power on the laptop closing windows reminding you to register for numerous programs and services, or a one-time only 40 minute session of removing these programs from your Portege (or deciding to go forward with keeping them if you’d like to.) But there’s little likelihood most people will want everything the R850 comes with.

Now on to some of the good stuff. You won’t break a sweat when juggling multiple tasks on the R850. The DDR3 and that nearly state-of-the-art Intel i5 perform wonders that frankly no Toshiba 13-inch was capable of doing on those AMD standards and Core i3 processors. In fact if you stick to multi-tasking basic functions you probably couldn’t tell the difference between the speeds of an Air and a R850 Portege.

The DVD player that comes with the Portege is an outstanding feat for a 13.3 inch laptop that weighs in less than 3.5 lbs. It functions fairly fine without straining the speeds of simultaneously ongoing applications, but it awakens the cooling system to full alert which makes the left side of the Portege feel like you’re putting your hand over an idling bus’s exhaust pipe. However you’re going to need to invest in some headphones because the speakers on the R850 are just like the majority of Toshiba laptop audio: crappy.

Lightweight gaming is certainly possible, but don’t bother trying to get any fun out of any 3D titles on the Portege’s modest graphics install. Anyone serious about gaming or even just recreationally interested in some MMO would never consider the Portege a suitable means to that end to begin with.

But the crowning achievement over last year’s Portege is the fact that the R850 manages to max out just a little over seven hours when given a hefty diet of video play and basic office applications use. That’s about as long-lasting as the Air and the Series 9.

Recommendation

For those who’s wallets or will power just can’t manage to break the $1000.00 marker for a quality 13.3 inch laptop, the Portege R850 is a terrific choice. If you’re just looking for a way to achieve optimum personal computing without the extra strength needed for advanced gaming or content creation there isn’t a better option on the market. You may or may not notice the particulars that separate the R850 from higher-end lightweight laptops – the crumby audio, standard start up and wake up time, inch+ thickness, etc – but you’re sure to notice what makes the R850 a cut above lesser designs in its class. The combination of durability, style, and performance is not something you’re going to get when buying a 13.3 inch laptop for under $700.00.

This is the loner’s laptop. That’s been the nature of the Portege ever since its conception, and it’s nice to see Toshiba hasn’t gotten too fancy with the concept. It would’ve been nice to see them price the R850 a little more appropriately for the self-driven go-getter, but with that said the starting price tag is justified by the components and performance. It’s this reviewer’s belief that those who the R850 is perfect for will have no problem realizing that from the moment they lay eyes on it.