Toshiba NB100 Netbook

[Jeffrey]

In test, the Toshiba NB100 Netbook offering hard disk standard 2.5-inch, is a blend of materials and the highest level at a price highly competitive. The great success of the early models Netbook has convinced even the most skeptical PC vendor to look at the market for low cost laptops with its own range of products.Of the four models available at launch, Toshiba NB100-111 NB100-10Y, NB100-11B (respectively black, silver and champagne) and NB100-11R, only the latter is still present on the Italian list. The sample under test is a Toshiba NB100 10Y with silver staining, 120GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM and Windows XP operating system, Differs from the version NB100-11R primarily for the operating system for the lack of Bluetooth and the allocation of memory and storage.

The list of specifications of Toshiba NB100 Netbook 11R, in fact, includes the Intel Atom N270, 512MB DDR2 memory, magnetic hard disk 80GB and 8.9-inch screen from WSVGA (1024x600) with TruBrite technology. The platform is not Centrino Atom, but the less known, though more widespread, Navy Pier UltraMobile specific systems for entry-level, which runs the Linux operating system Ubuntu Netbook Remix. Apparently, Toshiba has decided to cut to a minimum or give up much of its profit margin to allow for its mini-notebook to get space between brand already well established and known to the general public.Although limited by the size of small houses and the economic nature of this laptop, but the budget of the interfaces of the Toshiba NB100 is richer and more complete than that offered by most of the Netbook.

In particular, we appreciated the presence of a VGA video output to 15 pin, for connecting an external display when the resolution of 1024x600 pixels start to go close, and the memory card reader multiformat SD & SDHC Cards, MemoryStick and MultiMediaCard, much more versatile ordinary reader SD sun. The three USB 2.0 ports are equipped with Sleep and Charge technology that allows you to recharge cell phones, MP3 players and other portable devices without the need to keep the notebook on.

Specifications

• Processor: Intel Atom N270, 1.6 GHz, 512KB L2 cache, 533 MHz FSB
• Chipset: Mobile Intel 945GSE + ICH7M
• Memory: 1GB DDR2 PC2-6400 (533MHz max 1GB)
• Screen: 8.9-inch WSVGA (1024 x 600) Toshiba TruBrite
• Video Card: Intel GMA 950, max 224 MB shared system memory
• Hard Disk: Toshiba MK1252GSX 120 GB SATA 5400 rpm
• Optical Drive: absent
• Audio: Intel HDA (Realtek ALC262 codec) with stereo speakers and microphone
• Ports: 1 x DC-in, 1 x VGA, 1 x RJ-45, 3 x USB 2.0 Sleep'n Charge, 1 x Headphone output, 1 x Microphone entry, Card Reader 3-in-1 Bridge Media slot (SD & SDHC Cards, MemoryStick, MultiMediaCard), hole coupling for cable lock
• Networking: Ethernet LAN Realtek RTL8102E 10/100 Mbps, Atheros AR5007EG WiFi 802.11b / g, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Operating System: Windows XP Home
• Battery: Li-Ion 4-cell, 5200 mAh (3:50 h duration stated by the manufacturer)
• Dimensions: 225 x 190.5 x 29.5/33 mm
• Weight: 1.05 Kg
• Warranty: 1 year International carry in, with the Pick Up & Return National
• Other: 0.3 Megapixels Webcam, Diversity Antenna

[Jeffrey]

Unboxing
Inside the box of the Toshiba NB100 is an essential envelope: along with the notebook, power supply and battery are the only printed documentation, including user manual, quick guide for computer use, instruction manual for safety and the comfort and assurance.

All software is preinstalled:

• Windows XP Home;
• Driver;
• Toshiba DVD Player;
• Toshiba ConfigFree;
• Toshiba Disc Creator.

Often you hear talk about the Toshiba NB100 as "Netbook from Office", not so much because it possesses characteristics that make it particularly suitable for the target business, but rather for its serious and classic design, which makes no concession to the fees aesthetic that currently have a foothold in the consumer.

The 4-cell battery protrudes visibly from the back to confirm the practical nature of this bay Netbook that both the substance and not appearance.

The speakers were placed under a grid positioned at the base of the screen. This system is equipped with magnetic opening and is connected to the base by two hinges, which have the particularity of being backward a few millimeters inside the base: a notebook closed, you can see that the lid is slightly more small base, with a change that while serving to move the design into a more original, the other could not please everyone.

[Jeffrey]

Although the CES 2009 we have shown a wide variety of processor-based Netbook VIA or ARM, but the Intel platform UltraMobile continues to be absolutely the most popular low-cost laptops.

Pending an update with the new Intel Atom N280 processor and chipset GN40, the Netbook Toshiba continues to use the components of the platform Embedded Low Power Intel Entry, known by the codename Navy Pier. Our readers have been familiar with this platform and will have learned to distinguish it from the Centrino Atom platform (also with Atom processors, but core Silverthorne) for MID and UMPC, so we simply summarize the features in a very synthetic.

Netbook platform of Intel, in its current declination, consists of an Atom N270 Diamondville processor, single core 1.6 GHz, and a Mobile Intel Calistoga chipset 945GSE Express controller with I / O ICH7M. The TDP is the total of 11.8 W, for instance equal to that of single processor Centrino 2 platform for notebooks standard, low voltage version!

Advantages and limitations of this solution has already been highlighted in previous reviews: all'altissima energy efficiency is counterbalanced by a level of performance very modest, which derives mainly from the choice of giving the CPU execution of technique "in-order" and presence of a single core that not even the HyperThreading technology can make enough off.

Hence the usual advice: if you choose a Netbook make sure that it fits your needs! For those who were located at the crossroads in front Netbook or Notebook, we suggest reading this article that gives advice to Mooly Eden, director of mobile platforms division at Intel.

The Intel Atom N270 can make the SpeedStep, ie the change in clock frequency operated by applying a multiplier to the bus. The minimum multiplier is equal to 6x for a frequency of about 800MHz, while the maximum is 12x for a frequency of 1.6 GHz

[Jeffrey]

The same controller, however, supports up to DDR2-533 memory, not allowing to fully exploit the DDR2-800 module installed. In short, even with a PC2-6400 module is as if disponeste a memory PC2-4200.

• Samsung M4 70T2864QZ3-CF7
• Serial Number: 8279CCF3h (4090263938)
• Date of manufacture: Week 39 / 2008
• Capacity Module: 1 GB (2 ranks, 8 banks)
• Module Type: SO-DIMM
• Memory Type: DDR2 SDRAM
• Speed: DDR2-800 (400 MHz)
• Bus width: 64 bits
• Voltage: SSTL 1.8
• Error Detection Method: None
• Update Rate: Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

The LCD panel from 8.9 inches of the Toshiba NB100 Netbook is manufactured by AU OPTRONICS, and marked by serial AUO B089AW01. It 'a very widespread on all laptops in this class, and is characterized by WSVGA resolution of 1024x600 pixels and glossy finish. Despite the glossy coating, the effect is quite content reflected permitting a correct vision even in heavily lit environments.

The display is backlit by a group of white LEDs, which can release a maximum brightness of 180 nits (150 nits typical). Good contrast of 300:1 and viewing angles are adequate (the vertical high-low), equivalent to 45 x 45 x 15 x 35 degrees.

Very high response time, around 30ms, but no one ever take this Netbook game action because the video card integrated Intel GMA 950 has very modest 3D performance. This is in contrast to a well-run graphics chip, from standard notebook where he met with widespread Calistoga chipset Centrino platform and therefore has the best compatibility and support. Configure the video card with Linux does not present any difficulty!

[Jeffrey]

Storage devices
Given the shortage of storage space which usually characterizes the Netbook, and in particular those equipped with SSD drive, we appreciated in particular the decision to give the Toshiba NB100 your hard disk standard 2.5 inches.

Specifically, the model being tested NB100 10Y has a Toshiba MK1252GSX HDD 120GB at speeds of rotation of the plates and 5400RPM SATAII interface to 300Mbps. Even from this summary list of features we can guess that this is a hard drive with good performance, able to compete with many of the economic mounted on the SSD Netbook.

Unlike the latter, however, the mass storage from Toshiba boasts a storage capacity of all respect that will allow you to archive their documents and media files without having to worry about the space available. Moreover, the large internal compartment derived from the manufacturer to accommodate the disc could prove useful for future experiments modding.

Lacks the integrated optical drive, made redundant by the availability of pendrive and other devices based on Flash memories at affordable prices, and too cumbersome to find place in this as in other Netbook. If necessary, this can be provided with an external DVD burner.