Toshiba Portege 4010-024FD (PIII-M 933MHz, 256MB RAM )

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List price as of Oct 29, 2002:
S$3634

Product Summary

Excellent

8

out of 10

The good: Built-in wireless networking; great warranty; inexpensive; small and light.

The bad: Crowded keyboard; middling performance.

The bottom line: The Portégé 4000 is a capable notebook geared for the workgroup lifestyle.

Read full review of the Toshiba Portege 4010-024FD (PIII-M 933MHz, 256MB, Wi-Fi) »

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CNET Asia Review

By John Morris
Oct 29, 2002

All work and no play makes for a dull PC. Thankfully, the Toshiba Portégé 4010, a thin-and-light notebook for execs, isn't boring in the least, and it offers advanced features for after-hours fun. Its relatively modest components--a 933MHz Pentium III-M processor, 256MB of RAM, a slow 30GB hard drive, and a Trident CyberBlade PAi1 graphics accelerator with shared system memory--won't set any new speed records. But the Portégé 4010 more than makes up for mediocre performance with an eye-catching magnesium-alloy case; integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless networking; a Secure Digital slot for transferring files with digital cameras, MP3 players, and other peripherals; and a FireWire port for digital video--all in a package that weighs as little as 1.7kg.

Design
The Port�g� 4010 bears out Toshiba's reputation for building thin, lightweight, and striking notebooks. Its sturdy, silver-colored, magnesium-alloy case contrasts nicely with its charcoal-colored keyboard, wrist rest, and display bezel. Sharp angles and curves on the front and back edges, along with oversized speakers on either side of the display's hinge lend the 4010 more flair than your typical business notebook.

The Port�g� 4010 weighs 1.9kg, but if you're willing to forgo the DVD drive, the system weight dips as low as 1.7kg--among the lightest systems in its class. (The power adapter adds 0.3kg to the total travel weight.) But although the Port�g� 4010's overall footprint is surprisingly compact (267 millimetres wide by 248 millimetres deep) given its long list of features, it is not the slimmest in the thin-and-light class, measuring 36 millimetres thick.

Unfortunately, Toshiba places many of the most frequently used ports, including the two USB ports, a single FireWire port, and 56K modem and Ethernet jacks, on the back panel. This makes them a little tougher to access when plugging in phone cords, digital cameras, and PDAs, but on the other hand, it also keeps cords neatly out of the way when typing. By contrast, the AC adapter connector and headphone jack are within easy reach on the left side, and the SelectBay, which accommodates a variety of optical drives or a second battery, is located on the right side, along with the Secure Digital (SD) slot.

A convenient panel on the front edge of the system lets you toggle wireless networking on and off, as well as monitor the status of the battery, hard drive, and other system components. Because the edge of the screen is angled, you can see the status lights with the display open or closed.

When it comes to the keyboard and cursor controls, the Port�g� 4010's tight design may have gotten the better of Toshiba's engineers. For example, the company buries the pointing stick within the adjacent keys, making it a little more difficult to control than the ones on the ThinkPad. The four mouse buttons, two of which are programmable, are arranged vertically, which takes some getting used to. The arrangement of the keys is also a little unorthodox; the Tab and Backspace keys are too small, and the Insert key is located precariously next to the spacebar. But these niggling keyboard flaws are relatively minor issues. Unlike Toshiba's more consumer-oriented Satellite, the Port�g� line is designed largely for execs already used to traveling with a notebook.

Features
Toshiba made some bold decisions with the Port�g� 4010's features. Perhaps its biggest compromise is a smaller, 12-inch display than most thin-and-lights, but the company also dropped some run-of-the-mill features, including the legacy PS/2, serial, and parallel ports, in order to make room for more advanced features without increasing the size and weight.

The Port�g� 4010 houses a 933MHz mobile Pentium III processor; 256MB of memory; a 30GB, 4,200rpm hard drive; and a Trident CyberBlade XP Ai1 video controller that borrows 16MB of the system memory. This basic graphics accelerator drives a 12-inch display with a default resolution of 1,024x768. These specs won't make it a top performer in its class--other similar systems offer more powerful mobile Pentium 4-M processors, larger displays, and better graphics.

A swappable 8X DVD drive comes standard with the Port�g� 4010, but the slim SelectBay can also accommodate a combo CD-RW/DVD drive S$440 (US$249), an extra battery S$270 (US$152.10), or a 30GB hard drive (S$700, US$399; requires a separate US$49 adapter). The two-spindle system--hard drive and DVD drive--doesn't include a floppy drive, but you can purchase an external unit for S$175 (US$99).

The notebook's lid sports built-in antennae for the two most common wireless-networking standards (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi), and some configurations include both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radio transmitters and receivers; a button on the notebook's front edge lets you turn the radio transmitters on and off. The Port�g� 4010 also comes with a standard Ethernet port and a V.90 modem, in addition to an infrared port.

Another unique feature of Toshiba notebooks is the integrated SD-media-encrypted flash-memory card, which makes it easy to transfer files from digital cameras, MP3 players, and other gadgets. You'll also find a FireWire and two USB ports, as well as two Type II (one Type III) PC Card slots.

Performance
The Port�g� 4010 performed about as we expected for a system with its specs. Its 933MHz Pentium III-M processor, 256MB of memory, 4,200rpm hard drive, and Trident CyberBlade XP Ai1 video controller with shared memory are all decent midrange components, but they don't set any speed records. In other words, the 4010's performance is average but not outstanding.
On everyday applications tests, the Port�g� 4010's integrated Trident CyberBlade XP Ai1 video card and shared memory architecture failed to make waves. In fact, even the Sony Vaio we tested, which has a slower 850MHz processor, outperformed the Port�g� 4010 by a significant margin. Of course, the 1.7GHz Compaq Evo blew both the Sony and the Toshiba out of the water.

On battery tests, the notebooks we compared fell in line according to processor speed. The Compaq Evo, with its faster, power-hungry processor came in a distant third at less than 2 hours, while the Sony's 11.1volt, 3,600mAh lithium-ion battery placed first, lasting an incredible 3 hours, 49 minutes. The Port�g� 4010, which uses a 10.8volt, 3,600mAh lithium-ion battery, was only 10 minutes off the lead. Its score of 3 hours, 51 minutes is exceptional, especially when you consider that it is smaller and lighter than many of its competitors.

Service and Support
Toshiba makes owning a Port�g� 4010 easy. It backs the system with a confidence-building three-year warranty. The system comes with a long, detailed manual and an online help system, and Toshiba's Web site provides extensive information such as downloads, support bulletins, user guides, a service centers, and e-mail access.

The Port�g� 4010 includes several excellent utilities, most notably the Toshiba Console, an applet that you can quickly launch by pressing a button at the top of the keyboard. This console not only lets you customize your computer but also helps you configure network settings for wired and wireless network connections, including Bluetooth.