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Sunday, August 16, 2009

Shop For Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

This is one awesome netbook. Not many netbooks on the market allow for a 2 GIG RAM capacity. A big PLUS !!!

Fit, finish and build quality top notch. Battery life was excellent. Watched two movies(netflix) and still had 67% battery left.
Bought the original one as a gift, now i am tempted to get one for myself !Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

I'm on my 2nd unit, the first one had a bad power switch. I thought maybe I was missing something but when I went to Best Buy and played with their demo unit I realized my unit's power switch couldn't be depressed so I sent it back and now I'm playing with the replacement unit.

First, you MUST turn the wireless function ON if you want to use it. It arrives with it turned off. This wasn't obvious to me and the quick start guide does not mention it at all. And, of course, there is no printed user's manual, so you have to find the pdf and search it for wireless. You have to press Fn+F8 to change the wireless mode (on/off and I think something else). Not sure why they do this but hopefully this will save someone else some time. Also it doesn't support WPA2 only WPA so I had to change my settings on my router. Otherwise it was simple to set up.

The screen is very glossy. IMO this is a bad trend that Apple started and now they are getting some bad feedback about this also. So be forewarned. The touchpad is ok but I would get a small mouse to use. The keyboard is kind of similar to my Apple Macbook Pro, not exactly great but functional.

Overall, so far it seems fine for my use. Obviously something larger is better for lots of work but we are buying a netbook for its small size and weight (otherwise I'd be carrying my MacBook Pro) and be able to do basic things when on the go.

It comes with some extra programs, like Norton, which I have to go around and uninstall. I have to admit that while I've been using PCs for a long time and only bought/used my first Apple in 2007 I forgot how annoying PCs can be (at home I have the MacBook Pro and a desktop that is dual bootable with Ubuntu Linux and Windows XP that I seldom use). I'll have to browse the net and download the various free virus/firewall programs.

My main reason for getting a netbook was to be able to travel and still do classwork for graduate classes I'm taking and this unit should be able to do that (i.e., connect to the internet, email, and basic Word/Excel/Powerpoint functions).
Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Review

After researching for months I finally purchased my first netbook. I ended up going with the NB205-N210. Main models considered where the Asus100he / Samsung NC-10.

I must say I'm very impressed with this product. The market for 10" netbooks is crammed full of very similar offerings. I ended up going with the Toshiba for the following reasons.

1) Its one of the latest on the market. I did not want to purchase a netbook that has been out for months as the technology changes so rapidly. This is one of the few Netbooks that is using Intel's Atom N280 processor over the more commonplace N270. I'm sure the difference isn't too different, but I wanted the latest offering as far as processing power.

2) 9 Hour battery life for under $400!!! This is insane! I have just used it after its first charge out of the box and it lasted for right about 8:30 hours before I finally decided to charge it up again. This claim is for real. I'm on the road a lot and am going to love not having to run a power chord after one hour on this netbook vs my Dell laptop. Most other netbooks that I was comparing to did not have the 9 hour life. Most were in the 3-6 hour range.

3)Brand name/Style. I have really been a fan of Toshiba laptops over the past decade. I feel they offer a real solid product and the NB205 definitely has not let me down so far. As for the style..I think it really outclasses the other offerings out there. I was in a store and compared it to the Asus/ HP/ Gateway/ Dell etc and they all felt chintzy and cheap feeling compared to the Toshiba. Again being late to offer a Toshiba , they had time to really see what consumers want.

4) Full size keyboard. I can actually type just as well on NB205 as I can on my home computers. The keyboard size is perfect. I'm also very glad that the Trackpad and associated buttons are large in size! I actually have to type long emails for business and was very frustrated that other Netbooks had small keyboards and track pads. Rest assured that this keyboard is almost as large as my normal laptop and makes typing a breeze.

Cons:

1) The only thing that I do not like about the NB205 is how the battery sticks out the back. The computer is compact overall, but I was nervous about finding a 10" case to fit it. Rest assured the Case Logic LNE0-10 fits this computer perfect! I wrote a review as well about that case on here that you can look up. With the handles it makes carrying a breeze and it fits very snug. Overall, Ill deal with the batter sticking out because the battery life far outweighs the look.

2) Others have complained about loose batteries. Mine isn't loose, but you can feel it move every once in awhile when you place the computer in your lap or pull it in and out of its case. I guess time will tell how sturdy it is. I wish they would have made this more sturdy but honestly I'm nitpicking. It will stay in place and not fall out for those of you on the fence over this one particular subject. Again,Ill gladly deal with this due to the fact that I get a 9 hour battery life!

3) Speaker is not adequate at all. However, I knew this ahead of time. With netbooks there are compromises and this is one I didn't mind. I use my headset and find that adequate if I need to listen to something. Ill have to test if I can hear the headset on an airplane flight. Hopefully I can.

4) Little con but the battery life is displayed as percentage and I can't seem to find it expressed anywhere in time. So far I've just had to guess based off my watch on usage rate. Its a little bit annoying but I'm getting used to it.

Reasons why I got the lower model 210 over the 310:

Even though its only 50 dollars, I feel that having the fancy colors (which I didn't prefer), bluetooth and a slightly nicer keyboard didn't warrant the extra money. I was on a budget for under $400 dollars which I easily did and still feel that I got the best netbook out there. I'm sure some of you out there will use bluetooth a lot, but frankly I don't need this computer to have that luxury. I need a computer to access the web and be able to send emails with bottom line.

I will probably end up getting an external DVD drive in the future so I can watch movies. In the short term I plan to upgrade to 2GB ram as others have mentioned. With the price being so cheap, who can refuse?!

Overall if you get this Netbook you will be very pleased. I truly feel after heavy research that the reasons above set it apart from the others for the time being. I'm sure in under a year there will be a newer, greater model, but for now this reins King.

Side note, I ordered 1 day express delivery at 5pm eastern time and got my computer the next morning at 1230 Easter time all for under 22 dollars shipping. Total bill was $370.95. Gotta love Amazon..incredible service and the best bang for the buck. Had to wait one night..thats it! Unreal!Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Top Quality

I didn't see anyone else complaining about wireless network setup so hopefully my unit was the exception. When I tried to set up my network with a new d-link wireless router the NB205 could not detect my network or any of my friends networks. The symptom was as if there was a wireless network on/off switch like many laptops have but not the NB205. After beating my head against the wall trying to use either Windows network Wizard or the on board modem client and every other network configuration trick I could think of I gave up and called in my neighbor Vince a professional network consultant. After another hour of futility Vince finally found the problem. For some hair brained reason Toshiba has installed it's own network utility that supersedes any other network utilities called Connectivity Doctor. There was zero documentation with the NB205 on this (feature?). After playing with it for a while we found (surprise, surprise) a software wireless on/off switch. After more fiddling we got our secure network connection.
I am tempted to to give the laptop a 3 star rating but since it is so nice now that it is working I'll give it 4

I have already had one comment requesting help with this so I am pasting my reply below for anyone else who may need it.

Pressing the FN and F8 key together should toggle the switch. you may have to do it twice. If it works the orange wireless indicator on the front right edge of the keyboard should light up. This is vaguely documented on page 164 of the on board Toshiba Users Guide. ALL PROGRAMS -> TOSHIBA -> DOCUMENTATION. Good luck. I will monitor this to see how it goes.
JT
This actually brings up a little GUI box that you then use the FN and F8 keys to toggle it.Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life This instant

I've really grown to appreciate this little netbook since I bought it a few days ago. I think it's just the right size for a mini-laptop who's primary purpose is word processing, internet browsing, and an occasional movie watching (maybe even the occasional video game).

I went out and bought a 2gb stick of memory because I knew I was going to be upgrading to windows 7 and figured I needed it. I originally installed Win 7 with only the 1 gb of memory that it came with, but the thing that surprised me was that it ran flawlessly with only 1 gb of RAM. I then installed the 2nd of ram and I noticed no difference in performance. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about upgrading to 2 GB of ram unless you plan on installing Vista (because Vista definitely benefits from 2 GB's).

I am a writer and college student and I already have a 15.4" HP DV5. So why did I buy this netbook if I already had a notebook? Because I wanted to have something light and small that I could carry around with me everywhere I went (you never know when you're going to feel the spark to write!), plus I wanted to have something lighter that I could take to class and take notes on. This laptop fits the bill perfectly, especially with its long battery life.

I still use my Dv5 for virtually all of my non-writing needs such as playing video games, watching HD movies, and most of my internet surfing. I use this netbook for all my writing needs. It has all of my most up to date documents on it. It can be kind of tricky having two computers because sometimes you're not sure which file you put the most up to date file on... etc. I solved this problem by making the netbook the only computer I keep my writing up to date on. Otherwise it'll be a pain trying to figure out which file is most up to date and suffering the chance that you could lose some of your work.

The speaker really is the worst I've ever seen on any laptop. Period. Okay. It's not THAT bad. You can hear it in a quiet room, but realistically, you have to expect to use headphones or external speakers when you're dealing with a netbook anyway. The keyboard on this netbook is the best one on the market in my opinion, which was the reason I decided to go with the Toshiba - otherwise I would have gone with a netbook with a higher resolution. The trackpad is okay. I find that when the computer is working hard the pointer gets laggy and skips. I noticed that the pointer works a lot smoother in Win7 than in XP. One thing I miss having in Win 7 is the side scroll feature. Apparently there isn't a driver for Win 7 yet, or at least I haven't found it yet.

I also tried gaming on this little guy. It can play the original Counter-Strike 1.6 well with around 25 FPS. It also played Max Payne really well 30+ FPS constant. I tried Guild Wars, but it was too choppy to be playable even at the lowest resolution and lowest settings. It got maybe 10 FPS in GW. It might even be able to play KOTOR or some other great classics from a few years ago. :)

As far as Windows 7, everything runs outstanding. Programs load just about the same speed. When I close the lid, it goes to sleep flawlessly and wakes up instantly when I go turn it back on. Aero is smooth, even Flip 3D. I'm pretty sure I can still get the 9 hours of battery life if I turned the brightness down to the lowest possible and turn off Wifi and bluetooth. I get closer to 6.5-7 hours with the brightness up and wifi on.

I've been able to play all of the youtube videos without a problem, even HQ vids. You can't play HD videos though. Netflix videos play smooth when ran in Mozilla but not in I.E. 8. Some hulu videos play smoooth some don't. I believe Mozilla is also the best browser for Hulu as well. I also managed to get Amazon videos to play perfectly smooth. If a video isn't playing smooth, I noticed it helped if you made the video window a little smaller so the video taxed the processor less since it is rendered over less pixels.

Anyway... here's how I rate the NB205:

Design - 9/10 - Nice looking, barely more than 1" thick, just the right size for the ultimate travel netbook
Features - 8/10 - Pretty average internal components
Performance - 7/10 - I appreciated the 1000HE's ability to overclock the cpu
Ease of use 10/10 - Best keyboard, great battery life, decent track pad

Overall 9/10 - Great value, highly recommended as secondary laptop or primary laptop if you don't have high end multimedia needs.Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Immediately

I was unable to connect to the internet because the internet cable jack on the 1st computer I received was defective. Amazon rushed me I no-hassle replacement, received today, and it works fine.

This Windows XP mini is way more user friendly than my $3,000 dual-core piece of frustrating VISTA trash.

I also bot the 2 gig memory upgrade. I shut down, removed the one screw and opened the small bottom panel. The 1 Gig card easily popped out and the 2 Gig in. Computer immediately registered 2 Gig memory.

I also ordered a USB DVD player and immediately downloaded VLC because the windows media player failed to play my movie (about as useful as VISTA). VLC played it perfectly.

I uninstalled Norton (it immediately makes it's annoying presence known). I installed my anti-virus software. Then downloaded Malwarebytes Antimalware. It immediately found and destroyed 7 viruses.

It takes a Norton-Removal-Tool (probably available on google search) to pry all the Norton pieces off (or they conflict with other virus programs, allowing the bad stuff on).

I downloaded Open Office for the first time rather than try to hassle getting my old Word for Windows installed and then have it not handle all the new DOCX and other new Microtrash file formats. I WAS UP AND RUNNING WITH OPEN OFFICE IN MINUTES. IT READS IN ALL MY OLD DOC, EXE, AND POWERPOINT FILES AND SEEMS TO HANDLE THE NEW FORMATS, TOO. I think I'm done with Microsoft Word. And as soon as Google gets the new Chrome operating system up and running I'm very much looking forward to leaving Microsoft Windows and the piece of Vista trash far behind. Surely the world is waiting for an answer to Vista (other than Apple)!

I have noticed the screen is small for reading my news sites, but the computer seems as fast as my big Vista and as fast as my top of the line Fujitsu laptop.

So, I can leave the important stuff at home and travel with this little beauty and a 1.5 Terabyte USB drive. If it just had a GForce graphics card, I think it might replace my high end machines.

I'm looking forward to the day we get a transparent operating system that will simply let me run my applications. Google Chrome may be it.

This Toshiba seems like a real value for my buck.

Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Best Quality

I've been fooling with microcomputers for 25 years, and I am astounded by the value and power packed into these little Netbooks for $400 or less. These are real computers for the price of a gadget. The Toshiba NB 205 I bought will do everything I want -- including word processing, spreadsheets, Web Browsing, e-mail, even decent photo editing. And I've been getting 6 hours of battery life without tweaking any "low power" settings. These are really breakthrough machines in terms of usability and luggability.

I won't bother you with details you can find in other reviews. I bought the Toshiba for two reasons. The first was a keyboard I could actually use (I'm an editor and touch typist, so a keyboard that isn't big enough for my clumsy fingers is a non-starter). I'm not normally a fan of chiclet keyboards, but after trying this one, I realized that that it makes the most of the limited space with a design that encourages precision without cramping your fingers. It's hard to explain this precisely, but the bottom line is that after a few minutes with it, I found myself making fewer errors than I did with other machines in the class. Still, I realize that keyboards and screens are largely matters of personal preference.

Also, having spent some years supporting reporters on the road, I concluded that the laptops least likely to fail were IBMs (the original) and Toshibas.

That said, there are a couple of design and execution problems that keep me from awarding the NB 205 very top marks. One is that I use a mouse with a portable computer everywhere but on a plane (where I rarely use them anyway because there isn't much room for them in the back where I fly). The Toshiba's power supply cord plugs directly into a port on the right side of the computer at 2/3 of the way back. It sticks out a couple of inches, making it very difficult to use the mouse normally. From a design standpoint, there are two solutions to this. One is to have the power supply cord plug into the left side of the machine, elminating the problem for 90 percent of the world. Unfortunately, Toshiba couldn't plug the pwoer cord it into the back of the unit because it has an extra-large, heavy-duty hinge back there, a useful feature. The other possiblity is a power cord with an 90-degree adapter on the end, which I've seen on other PCs. That would free up a path for the mouse.

Another issue (and I was obviously unable to test all the competitiors) is the visibility of the screen outside. Even with the brightness turned up all the way, the image fades considerably outdoors, even in open shade.

Still, my wife and I love the little machine and keep it upstairs next to the TV, where until now we've been reading e-mail and settling arguments by Web browsing with an iPod Touch. The Netbook really ups the ante here.

Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Get it now!

I bought this Netbook a couple weeks ago. I've been using it almost daily.

Pros:
Full Size Island Style (keys are raised up) Keyboard and touchpad
L-O-N-G battery life, the longest of any netbook
It's upgradable to 2GB Ram
160 GB hard drive
Toshiba Exclusive "Sleep & Charge" USB port 4 your iPod, phone, etc.

Cons
The internal speaker produces low and tinty audio
the web camera is very low res

First, please don't think these new "netbooks" are simply "inexpensive laptops" - they should be bought with specific purposes. The true selling feature of netbooks is their small size and portability. However, remember that there are many compromises/sacrifices you'll have to make with a netbook as opposed to a laptop. These use a slower processor than laptops, are comprised of more inexpensive components than laptops, have smaller screens, don't come with a CD/DVD drive, etc. So make sure a netbook will be powerful enough to do what you want to do with it.

I researched and compaired every available netbook before settling on this one. I bought it to serve three functions: To transfer my Flip Videos off the Flip while on long vacations, To store my Itunes library so I can download/sync my iPod on the go, and to travel with (light & easy to carry on the plane!)so I can watch movies on the plane.

The biggest feature I liked was the powerful 6 cell battery which lasts about 9 hours (yes, in real life it lasts too, not just in "review-land"). This will last longer than any other gadget I can bring on a plane. PLEASE NOTE: The size of the laptop in the pictures in the description is deceptive: It does not show it with the battery installed! The battery "butt" sticks out the back about 3/4 of an inch, and adds to the overall weight of the machine.

I would suggest you go to Best Buy first and play around with the netbooks, paying close attention to the keyboard. Most other netbooks have really small and scrunched together kepboards with some of the keys (like the shift key) in "weird" spots on the keybord. This keyboard has all the keys where they are supposed to be. Most also have small trackpads - this one does not, it's the same size as the one on my laptop. There are special "hot zones" in the touchpad that cause things to happen, for example, if you run your finger along the top edge to the left, it's the same thing as pressing the "back" button of the internet.

Pick up the other netbooks - This one feels substantial - not cheap and flimsy like a lot of the other ones (of course, they are the less expensive ones). They keys are metal, not plastic.

I like the cover that doesn't show any fingerprints too!

All in all, this is the best netbook available -- As long as you're not going to be using the web camera for much, and plan on using headphones for any audio.

Although some other people said that they had trouble connecting this to their wireless network at home, I DID NOT. However, it's worth mentioning that the WIRELESS AND BLUETOOTH SETTINGS ARE SET TO OFF INITIALLY! YOU HAVE TO HIT FN-F8 to turn them on. Setup was a breeze and I was online in 10 min. I have a Linksys router.

Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Buy Now

Got my NB 205 yesterday. Spent hours trying to make it access my wireless router. I gave up. A friend fixed problem and told me "driver" was not installed. Whatever it means.
I find battery too heavy and bulky. Because most of the time I will be using this computer to project power point presentations (in other word, it will need to be connected to power) i would gladly accept a battery with less time but less weight and less bulk. Anyone know if they are available?
Other than these points, great product.I am pleased.Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Order Now

After weeks of research and loads of anticipation my Toshiba arrived today. I've been so excited to get my hands on this machine. It looks beautiful, however after following all the basic set up procedures and calling my local Toshiba dealer the power button refuses to function. That's it, no going further and I'm off for my 5 week journey abroad soon which is the main reason I purchased it now. I'll report back again, however it's been a real anti climax and such a disappointment. Perhaps someone has experienced the same thing or maybe I'm just missing something here, is there a function other than the simple start up button that I might have missed??? I still award this a 3 star even though it's not working because of it's fine looks.

Ok, it Sunday and a two days later I've managed to get the mini to work by pressing down on either side of the button, however it simply has been switching off and on with the slightest movement....perplexed and confused and assuming my hard drive could be the problem I popped into my local and very accommodating Toshiba dealer. Within 5 minutes they had removed the cover surrounding the on/off switch and found the problem, a piece of plastic stuck between the on/off cover and the switch. So finally creditability as been restored and I uploaded and set up my mini notebook and if I had to rate it now I'll give it 5 stars. I do believe this was a once off problem.Buy one you won't be disappointed......make sure to order a bag that accommodates the extra battery though. I'm lucky my family is in the business so my case logic is been modified to fit the battery at no extra cost.Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Decide Now

I don't understand who gave this product the name netbook, because the internet sucks so bad that it becomes a joke to buy this...I bought this NB205/311 from Best buy the other day and got it connected with the internet and it cannot even open gmail, facebook, orkut, and many other websites...sometimes it cannot even load the homepage and sometimes it is working fine and suddenly disconnects and shows me problem with loading page, whereas the icon on the right hand bottom shows the internet connected. Now first I assumed that the problem might be with my internet connection, but all my roomates' laptops are working just perfect and in fact they are pretty happy with the internet speed..just today one of my roomates downloaded a 2 hour movie from torrents in just 1 hour. Juts for info,we recently started using cable internet and have 6 Megs speed, which according to the geeks is not so bad. Also, the most amazing thing is that my earlier laptop which has a 512 Mb RAM and a celeron processor works faster than this stupid netbook. I am planning to return this netbook and see if I can get some other one. The only reason I got this one was because of its features and thinking that Toshiba is trusted brand, but I am highly disappointed. I hate going through this return process, so I might talk to Toshiba tomorrow to see what they have to say about this..Anyways hope u guys don't face this problem..So be careful!!!

Do read my last post on this one..to get the whole picture!!!Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Right now

I picked up the Toshiba NB205 over the weekend. I plan to use it primarily for Gmail, Facebook, blogging, and some light web design work.

This is the first netbook that I can actually type on and actually use the trackpad. Most netbook keyboards feel so cramped that I can't type, however that's not the case here.

As soon as I got the netbook home, I created a bootable USB flash drive to install the Windows 7 RC. Toshiba has drivers for Windows 7, so I was able to get the key components installed without any trouble. The only hiccup was they don't have a Windows 7 driver for the ALPS touchpad on the NB205. This was a MAJOR PROBLEM for me because without that driver, I couldn't disable the 'tap to click' feature of the touchpad. My palms frequently brush against the touchpad as I'm typing sending the cursor all over the place, so without a driver, I wasn't going to be able to run Windows 7 RC.

Realizing that most Windows Vista drivers work in Windows 7, I searched the Toshiba site for an ALPS driver from another laptop for Windows Vista. I checked a few of their other laptops, and quickly found a driver that I was able to successfully load on Windows 7. Once installed, all of the touchpad settings became available under the Advanced tab of the Mouse control panel, and I was able to disable tap to click.

The other Windows 7 related hiccup was that whenever I booted up the NB205, my Netgear N Wireless Router (WRN2000) would reset/reboot multiple times. Eventually the wireless router would stop rebooting and everything would work, but then eventually it would start rebooting again randomly. To fix this issue, I downloaded and installed Toshiba's Windows 7 Configfree driver. Using that utility to configure my wireless settings, instead of doing it manually though Windows 7's built in feature, everything works and the router no longer reboots. I have absolutely no idea what the difference is, but I'm just happy it's working.

Those issues were Windows 7 related, so don't let them scare you. I only share my experiences in case anyone else wants to try Windows 7 and needs to know how I resolved them. Also remember that Windows 7 hasn't "officially" been released yet. I'm hopeful that since Toshiba has beta Windows 7 drivers available already for the NB205, that they'll resolve these issues with better drivers once Windows 7 is officially released.

As for the netbook itself, here's my pros and cons:

PROS
* Usable keyboard!
* Usable trackpad!
* Bright/readable display (I run it at 30% brightness without any issues)
* Descent performance for a netbook. It runs Windows 7 just fine.
* The battery lasts forever. Even with installing several apps and rebooting a few times tonight, I'm still on pace for 8 hours before needing to charge!
* Extremely lightweight.
* Bluetooth works great connected to my Blackberry for mobile broadband internet access.

CONS
* It gets warm after awhile. Not the scalding 2nd degree burn you'll get from some laptop, but still it's warm.
* It's a netbook... performance isn't as good as similarly priced laptops. That's the trade-off getting a netbook vs. a regular laptop.
* Can't play HD video from Youtube. (Although regular video is completely fine.)
* The vertical resolution of 600 pixels cuts off some larger dialog boxes that can't be resized, so you can't easily see or click on the SAVE/OK/CANCEL buttons.
* No free upgrade to Windows 7, which really isn't Toshiba's fault because Microsoft's free upgrade program requires a $499 minimum purchase. Still, if you want Windows 7 when it's officially released later this fall, you'll have to pay for it if you buy the NB205.

Overall, I'm very happy I purchased the Toshiba NB205. Hopefully I stay happy with it over time, and so far so good.

**********
UPDATE:
Turns out the issue with my wireless router rebooting wasn't caused by Windows 7 after all. Apparently it was a compatibility issue between the wireless card in the Toshiba and the Netgear router. Last week I picked up a Linksys WRT110 N Wireless router and no longer have any issues whatsoever.

I also installed the RTM version of Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit that came out last week. I don't see any major improvements in performance on the unit compared to the RC version of Windows 7, but I'm not seeing any new problems either, so that's good news.

Finally I noticed that some people are complaining about the ALPS trackpad in the NB205 not working well. I have experienced some slight hiccups or jitters in the cursor movement if the unit is under high CPU load. Although it's nothing that hinders my work. (I didn't buy a netbook for top-notch precision mousing.) Also my trackpad works fine all the way to all of its edges. No part of the trackpad is unresponsive, and scrolling works fine too. Perhaps loading the ALPS Vista driver has helped? Regardless, when I'm sitting at a desk or table, I pull out my Logitech VX Nano mouse. Even when I'm using my $2000 HP Elitebook laptop from work, I still pull out my Logitech mouse because it's better. So yes, an external mouse will work better. You might have an occassional stutter on the trackpad under heavy use, but unless you need to have 100% precision cursor control at all times, I don't see any major issues here. (My 2 cents anyways...)

I still like the unit. On a recent weekend trip out-of-state, it was awesome to pack a laptop so lightly, and have an ultra-portable unit to get Internet access in the van from the Blackberry!Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Lowest Price Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

At the time of this writing. I'd say this is the best netbook I've used so far.

Just understanding what you are getting. It's a stripped down laptop that offers decent performance for simple tasks like surfing on the internet, working with Microsoft office documents and a few other computer non-intensive tasks. If you are looking for something more than that, then you need to skip Netbooks and look at more full featured laptops.

What I love about the NB205 over the rest of the competition (which I have personally used or helped others set-up). Most of this is really subjective. As the overall performance of the netbooks are pretty much similar.
(+) Keyboard is full size and very, very comfortable to type on
(+) Cover although plastic also, is slighly less proned to smugs and finger prints as the glossy black on the HP/Lenovo netbooks
(+) Junk software free. The only program that was there was a 30-day trial of Norton's. Which actually offered an option to not be installed! I really like that.
(+) Really like Toshiba's utility to manage the computer's power state. Very easy to use in a very nice interface.
(+) I like the 6 cell battery flat and behind placement vs the Lenovo S10-2 which props up the laptop. This makes fitting it in a laptop bag much more flush (less thick feeling).

(-) The USB port seems a bit tight. Often difficult to plug into. Not sure if it would loosen up after more use. The first time, I even had to look while I'm plugging in. I thought I was plugging into the wrong port! I can get it in now without looking, the trick is to wiggle it to get it in there. But other's like Lenovo, I can just plug in without looking on first try.Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

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This is a very nice and very neat machine. At this time (July 2009)
it is clearly the most powerful Netbook I could locate. The battery life is
wonderful. They advertise 9 hour, and I think it is possible. I used mine nearly
all day from 7:30AM until 6:30PM, and still had 37% battery life left. The full
keyboard is a major plus.

It did not come with full instructions, and being an Apple Computer guy (Apple doesn't make a netbook or I would have purchased one), I found the entire setup
confusing. There was a simple set of instructions to get it going, and major books on warranty and safety, but no full instruction manual or even notice that one
existed. After, 2 days of frustration and one call to customer service, I found the instructions located deep in a folder on the hard drive. They could have at least
either printed them out, or told you where to find them on their little setup sheet. The machine came with the wireless turned off manually on the keyboard. I had to
call customer service to find out how to turn it on, and it was not easy to figure out all the triple function keys without instructions.

I had one major crash the first week I had it, and I'm not sure it was the computer's fault. I tried to erase various startup programs (it came with a lot of B.S. adds)
and during that effort, I erased the touch pad's control center. Bummer, I had to do a
complete system reinstall. But, the Toshiba customer service was great. They really worked with me to solve the problem. That is one of the best features of this machine is
Toshiba Customer Service. They are located in the Philippines,and speak English very well. They are almost as good as Apple Computer customer service.

I didn't buy the HP, because I saw several of their machines at Costco and they were poorly made. Also, to say HP has bad customer service is like telling
Custer there are just one or two indians over the hill. They are AWFUL!!!!!!! HP has the worse customer service on the planet! Never buy anthing from them
if you ever expect to have to call them. If you hate someone give them an HP computer, or anything else these bums make. Then stand back and watch the laughs.

Now that I have the Toshiba properly setup, it works great. I purchased Microsoft Office and updated Adobe Acrobat. I also installed Norton 360 and AOL: all
run with no problems. The Toshiba does not run Vista, but will run the new Windows 7 coming out later this year. The screen is very bright and the black
one looks like it's made of carbon fiber: it's also $50 cheaper than the other colors. I got the Samsung DVD portable drive Model SE-S084, and it works great.
It does use two USB ports to drive the thing, as it requires no other power source. A little hassel, but no real problem in order to eliminate power cords.

The touch pad works well (but no two finger scrolling like on a Mac), and it has many available options. The machine is a hit around my office and draws a crowd
when I pull it out.

I highly recommend this machine, at least until Apple releases a Netbook of their own: probably at the September Apple Convention where I expect to see
Steve Jobs show up and announce some new killer machines. Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Save Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

This is a very good laptop. It feels solid and that it is well built, which is important. I have held and touched the Asus netbooks in stores and they are cute but don't feel as solidly built as this Toshiba.

I opted for a color model which has a better keyboard and I think, is worth it because the keyboard is lighter (easier to see the letters you're typing) and easier to press (more Mac style). I recommend additional RAM as well as turning off all system animations (e.g. screen redraw, windows open/close, hid taskbar, etc.) I haven't tested the battery life to its fullest but it does seem to drain quite slowly, which is good. And thank god Toshiba is using XP and not Vista!

I gave this item 4 stars for the following shortcomings:

Max 2 GB RAM. I used to get 3 GB RAM as a minimum on all new systems. Since 2 GB is the max, I did buy the extra module but if you are a power user, you still might find 2 GB RAM too slow for you.

160 GB hard drive is decent, but why not 250 GB? Data storage is so cheap

System does get very hot on the bottom. This could be partly due to the extra RAM, but it is too hot to rest right on my lap. This is a continuous problem - not just a one-time thing.

I agree with another owner that the left/right mouse buttons need to be moved up just a tad so they don't rest on the edge. When you are laying down using the netbook, things can get pressed accidentally (but this doesn't happen very much so it's not a big detractor)

Other than those particular items, I am very pleased with it and I would recommend it to friends. I will be using this as a replacement for a Vista laptop that has crashed beyond boot up two months in a row (I decided not to chance a third time and simply retired that laptop until the Vista replacement comes out).
Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Discount Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

Pros:
long battery life
attractive slim metallic design of chasis and keyboard
attractive lid (I tried the brown version) not prone to fingerprints
island keyboard very comfortable for typing
compact size

Cons:
horrible Alps trackpad or driver
speaker so weak it's useless
screen bazel is too wide, looks like glued carton and IS glued carton !!!
battery protrudes horizontally on the back (that's not too bad though)
bottom gets unusually warm for an Intel Atom processor even at idle
10" screen makes text appear too tiny - increasing the DPI to 110% helps
webcamera is low quality - grainy and colors significantly off towards bluish
some will find that the white and blue lids look too plastic and cheap, I really like the brown version the best

When I unpacked it, I almost took the bazel off with the stickers. Why make such a cool overall design and then slap a wide carton bazel on it???? What happened to the 'more energy efficient' Atom ? My guess is that either the fan doesn't cool well since they wanted to keep the noise down or there is some heating going on with the RAM since exactly that side of the netbok gets warm.

The deal braker for me was the Alps trackpad. Turns out bigger is NOT always better LOL and I can't understand how neither Laptop magazine nor any of the reviews here noticed that. If you Google "NB205 trackpad problems" you will find a whole thread on a laptop forum about the trackpad. Even at maximum sensitivity, 0.25" of the edges do not respond at all, it's like the actual pad is smaller than the size etched on the chasis. The scrolling works only if you increase the thickness of the scroll strip. The momentum function, which is my favorite with Synaptics rackpads, doesn't work the same way with Alps and is practically useless so I turned it off. The mouse cursor stutters unexplicably all the time or all of sudden doesn't respond to the trackpad. If you plan on using the netbook a lot, you will need an usb mouse...

I am returning the 10" Toshiba and keeping my 11.6" Gateway netbook which is superior in every aspect except the battery life (5 hours for Gateway, 9 hours for Toshiba). The 11.6" display makes a huge difference how much you can view on the screen at a comfortable font size. Surprisingly the bottom of Toshiba, which is an Intel Atom system, gets equally warm to the Gateway, which is an AMD Athlon system, so there is no winner in that aspect. It's not going to toast your lap but I'd rather have both netbooks run cooler. I recommend the Gateway since it runs at the same price, has bigger screen and handles graphics better than the usual Atom systems like Toshiba. And the smaller Synaptics trackpad of Gateway is light years ahead of Toshiba's Mac-like pad in terms of how comfortable and effective it is. Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Cheapest Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

I've had the blue Toshiba netbook for three days now and mostly love it. The keyboard is surprisingly easy to use, the screen is gorgeous, the wizard made getting on my home wireless network a breeze (and I was nervous about that given some of the earlier reviews), and the touchpad is no problem at all (maybe the other most recent reviewer got a bad one). The unit definitely feels more substantial than most on the market, and so far, it appears the battery will, indeed,go for 8 or 9 hours.

Of course, given the size, there are some things to get used to. Yes, the bezel is wide, but that's no big deal. But the wide but not very tall screen means you have to scroll a lot to see enough of text and web pages to do any meaningful work. Yeah, that's probably a universal netbook problem, but it's a bit annoying. And my unit does indeed get pretty warm. I added a 2GB RAM card, and this baby gets downright hot right where that RAM's located. Doesn't seem to affect battery life, but I'm wondering if I need to get a chill pad. And of course, I had to get the external CD/DVD player-recorder, too, which brought total price to within shouting distance of a modest full-sized laptop.

On balance, this will be great for travel and general basic computing.

PROS:
--Stylish, substantial case
--Beautiful screen
--Easy internet connectivity setup
--Great battery life
--Great keyboard
--Good trackpad

CONS:
--Needs more screen resolution choices
--Gets hot
--Price, including 2GB RAM and external CD/DVD player isn't exactly "mini" Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Cheap Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

Ok, so, it is the cutest thing ever (I know guys, not what you want to hear, right!!). Well, it is pink! My only complaint about this little netbook is that the top does not snap closed, like, it just shuts, no securing the top. That makes me a little nervous, but, other than that, GREAT. It was SUPER slow loading pictures and certain websites, but, after loading Mozilla Firefox instead of STUPID windows, all is right.Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Buying Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

The Toshiba NB205 has lots going for it... Unfortunately, its many pluses are undermined by two huge shortcomings--durability and Toshiba customer service. The spacebar on my NB205 started sticking after a little over 30 days of light use. That's when I discovered that the NB205 comes with a "limited" warranty that doesn't cover shipping to their repair center. It's also when I discovered that Toshiba apparently doesn't train their customer service people--it took over two hours on the phone for them to give me the right instructions for sending the computer in for repairs and they never told me on the phone that I would be responsible for some of the cost. I only learned this when I received their email that required me to re-enter all the information already given on the phone. When I escalated the issue to the Customer Service manager all she did was repeat their policy over and over--she refused to offer me anything for the inconvenience I'd suffered over the past few hours while her team fumbled through my case. What's the deal Toshiba? Is your netbook so unreliable that you won't stand behind it fully for at least a reasonable break-in period of 90 days?Get more detail about Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life.

Buy Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life

We purchased two of these laptops - both have the same issues: serious trackpad lag, jumping, stalling, etc. We're using them with external mice, but if that won't be the case with you, I highly suggest you reconsider purchasing this laptop. Otherwise, it's a great laptop. I gave it a one star because this issue is unforgivable. Toshiba is aware of the issue but hasn't issued any kind of fix. Here's the link to Toshiba's forum where it's discussed:

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