By Michelle Thatcher
11/10/2006
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/notebooks/0,39050488,39271480p,00.htm

Though its model name has changed very little, the latest Toshiba Qosmio G30 has seen a number of significant changes over the G30 released earlier this year. Notably, this new edition includes the latest Core 2 Duo processor and adds a built-in HD-DVD drive to the Qosmio's already exhaustive list of features. The new Qosmio G30 includes a few cosmetic changes as well, toning down the luxe piano finish and glowing media controls of its predecessor. Some things haven't changed, though: The G30 delivers one of the best 17-inch widescreen displays around and an integrated TV tuner, as well as a full complement of ports and connections, a rocking set of stereo speakers, and an unparalleled set of multimedia controls. Priced at US$3,499 (S$5,559.39), this addition moves the Qosmio line even further into the stratosphere; it costs at least S$2,000 more than the HP Pavilion dv9100, whichout the HD-DVD drive. While the Qosmio G30 has a crisper display and a few more features than the HP, we're not convinced it's worth the extra money.

	The Qosmio G30 tones down the gloss factor. (Click for larger image)

Design
Measuring 53.3mm thick, the Qosmio G30 is one chunky laptop, even for a desktop replacement. And though its 294.6mm depth is average for a machine with this size display, it's much wider at 406.4mm than the Pavilion dv9100, which also features a 17-inch widescreen display. That said, the Qosmio G30 is quite attractive; its matte finish isn't as eye-catching as the previous model's glossy "piano finish". but the new case should be less likely to collect finger smudges. Not that you'll be carrying it around much, but the Qosmio G30 weighs 4.49, or 5.4kg with its big AC adapter.

Features
Given the extrawide case, it's all the more surprising that the Qosmio's keyboard is a bit cramped, and it lacks a 10-key number pad, as found on the Pavilion dv9100. Those who use keyboard shortcuts should also be warned that Toshiba has moved some keys--most notably the Windows key--from their standard locations. Above the keyboard resides a complete set of system and A/V controls; highlights include dedicated controls for display brightness (a rarity on laptops), video signal in and out, and Dolby Home Theater sound. The Qosmio G30's touch pad, while small, accommodates embedded, configurable quick-launch buttons, as well as a volume control. We still wish there was an external touch pad on/off button--one of our favorite features for a desktop replacement. A fingerprint reader rounds out the features on the keyboard deck.

Like its predecessors, the Qosmio G30 offers a complete array of multimedia features and connections for audio (an external volume control wheel, headphone and microphone jacks, S/PDIF jack, and HDMI output), video (S-video input and output, VGA out, coaxial input for connecting to a TV signal cable), and data (four USB 2.0 ports, one four-pin FireWire port). Networking connections include Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and modem. You also get a PC Card and an ExpressCard slot, plus a 5-in-1 flash card reader. Most notably, though, the Qosmio G30's tray-loading optical drive, awkwardly located along the front edge of the laptop, lets you view HD-DVDs, as well as burn CDs and DVDs.

With so many ports, inevitably some will spill over to the rear. (Click here for larger image)

To display HD content, Toshiba has bumped up the resolution on the Qosmio G30's 17-inch wide-aspect display, resulting in one of the best-looking screens we've seen on a laptop. Its 1,920 x 1,200 native resolution is as sharp as it gets, displaying HD content beautifully and affording more screen real estate than the HP Pavilion dv9100.

When it comes to audio performance, the Qosmio G30 combines a 1-bit digital amplifier, Dolby Home Theater, and Harman Kardon stereo speakers to deliver extremely loud, crisp, and full sound. Still, the speakers' positioning, below the display, makes for muffled sound when the lid is shut--other laptops with front-edge speakers, such as the Dell Inspiron 9400, sound good even with the lid closed.

Performance And Battery Life
As with previous models, Toshiba stuffed the Qosmio G30 full of high-end components to support its multimedia aspirations. For the astronomical US$3,499 (S$5,559.39) price, you get a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor; 2GB of swift, 667MHz RAM; two massive 120GB hard drives spinning at 5,400rpm; and Nvidia's GeForce Go 7600 GPU with 256MB of dedicated video memory. The Qosmio G30 scored one of the best MobileMark scores in out tests, beating the HP dv9100 and Asus A7J hands down, thogh to be fair the latter is based on the older Core Duo platform.

BAPCo MobileMark2005 performance rating (longer bars indicate faster performance)

Toshiba Qosmio G30 (Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz; 2GB RAM; 667MHz FSB) 251 HP Pavilion dv9100 (Core 2 Duo processor 2.16GHz; 2GB RAM; 667MHz FSB) 204 Asus A7J (Core Duo processor 1.83GHz; 1GB RAM; 667MHz FSB) 174

BAPCo MobileMark2005 battery life in minutes (longer bars indicate longer battery life)

Toshiba Qosmio G30 (Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz; 17-inch screen) 162 HP Pavilion dv9100 (Core 2 Duo processor 2.16GHz; 17-inch screen) 168 ASUs A7J (Core Duo processor 1.83GHz; 17-inch screen) 110

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Service And Support
Toshiba offers a one-year international carry-in warranty for this machine. For greater convenience, you can register the warranty online instead of mailing it in. Prompt assistance is available through a toll-free number for over-the-phone support and troubleshooting. An online support database called IRIS (Instant Response Information Service) features a search engine for solutions to commonly encountered problems. If the issue still cannot be resolved, the unit will have to be brought down to a Toshiba service center for repair. A list of service centers can be obtained from Toshiba's Web site, which also hosts updated drivers and utilities.