CNET Asia Review
The world of cheap, ubiquitous and nearly identical Netbooks has been a stable and predictable landscape for a while now, and hasn't gotten any less predictable with the launch of Intel's next generation of Atom processors. Whereas Netbooks used to run Windows XP, have N270 processors and 1GB RAM/160GB hard drive as standard, now, Netbooks run Windows 7 Starter, have N450 processors and 1GB RAM/250GB hard drive configurations, with occasional variations.
Those variations--extra RAM, better resolution or larger screens, bigger batteries, and keyboard designs--define how much any Netbook is worth. The Toshiba NB300 is, by most standards, an average Netbook in terms of base features. At S$899 (US$656.92), it's affordable, but still S$200 (US$146.15) more than some budget models out there. On the other hand, the advantages when compared against the previous Toshiba NB200 model we reviewed last year are considerable. For the same price, the Mini NB300 has much-improved battery life, thanks to its new N450 Atom processor. Plus the battery bulge we always hated about the NB series has been nearly eliminated. Throw in stereo speakers, and the NB300 is a good step up from Toshiba Netbooks of the past, offered at the same exact price point.
| Editors' note : This review is based on tests done by our sister site CNET.com. As such, please note that there may be slight differences in the testing procedure and ratings system. For more information on the actual tests conducted on the product, please inquire directly at the site where the article was originally published. References made to some of other products in this review may not be available or applicable in Asia. Do check directly with your local distributor for details. |
Design
Toshiba's NB series of Netbooks has always been one of the strongest in terms of overall construction and design. With an attractive, silver, plastic finish and a bronzed, semi-shiny lid on our Sable Brown version, the NB300 cuts a professional profile and avoids looking like a toy, even in colors such as royal blue and frost white.| Price as reviewed | S$899 (US$656.92) |
| Processor | 1.6GHz Intel Atom N450 |
| Memory | 1GB, 800MHz DDR2 |
| Hard drive | 250GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | NM10 |
| Graphics | Intel GMA 3150 |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Starter |
| Dimensions (WD) | 266.7 x 193mm |
| Height | 36mm |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 10.1 inches |
| System weight (Weight with AC adapter) | 1.31kg (1.6kg) |
| Category | Netbook |
Even better, the battery that used to bulge out the back has now been tucked under the chassis, leaving a slight riser underneath that's barely noticeable. The result is a far more compact body all around and cleaner lines. The NB300 series does include another configuration, the NB300, with a different tapered keyboard, Windows XP, and only a 160GB hard drive. The price on the NB300, however, is only slightly less than the one we reviewed, and available in just some regions. We prefer the Windows 7, but some may like Windows XP instead.
Inside, a large rounded hinge houses the power button, centered above the keyboard. Shiny plastic frames the glossy inset 10.1-inch screen and an integrated Web camera provides decent Web video chat with the included Skype software. The NB300 keyboard is a raised chiclet-style affair, running edge-to-edge across the Netbook base and making the most of the limited space. The keyboard has a similar feeling to that of the Sony Vaio W, but the keys are larger. Unfortunately, they're a bit wider than they are tall, and are oddly oriented, which is sure to provide some difficulty to touch-typers--the space bar is smaller than normal and tab keys feel very compressed. The multitouch touchpad is huge by Netbook standards, and the two buttons below are easy to click--more so than on the Toshiba Portege T100 series.
Below the keyboard, a somewhat absurd array of LED indicator lights display everything from Wi-Fi status to whether the battery's low. Honestly, Toshiba could have whittled down the light array to five key functions, instead of nine.
Features
The 10.1-inch glossy LED-backlit screen on the NB300 has a 1,024 x 600-pixel native resolution. Though this lower-than-HD-resolution screen is common, there are plenty of Netbooks with 1,366 x 768-pixel displays, including the Sony Vaio W series. Colors and icons are crisp and bright, offering a better-than-average experience once resolution is forgiven. The NB300's audio has received a welcome bump up from the NB200 series, adding a second speaker for stereo sound. The speakers still lean toward tinny and soft, but they are significantly louder than they were before.| Toshiba NB300 | Average for category (Netbook) | |
| Video | VGA-out | VGA |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks | Headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | Two USB 2.0, 1 USB 2.0/sleep and charge, SD card reader | Two USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | None | None |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi | Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical drive | None | None |
Our favorite feature on Toshiba laptops, the sleep-and-charge USB port, is once again included on the NB300. Gladly, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi is onboard, but unfortunately, Bluetooth is not. The NB300 can expand its memory from the included 1GB of RAM up to 2GB, but upgrade features beyond that are somewhat limited.
Performance And Battery Life
Intel's new Atom N450 processor offers nearly the same level of performance as previous N270/280 Atom processors, and the NB300 therefore doesn't do much more than its predecessor, the NB200. Basic single-process tasks such as Web browsing, light office work and email are perfect fits for a Netbook such as this, but heavier multitasking and online video viewing will be disappointing. Our Hulu-watching experience ranged from choppy and passable to full-screen stutter that's unbearable, although downloaded video files play relatively well.Jalbum photo conversion test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
Asus Eee PC 1201N
135
Toshiba NB300
178
Multimedia multitasking test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
Asus Eee PC 1201N
2280
Toshiba NB300
3088
Apple iTunes encoding test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
Toshiba NB300
815
Asus Eee PC 1201N
827
The six-cell battery in the Toshiba NB300 ran for 7 hours 4 minutes using our video playback battery drain test, which is a fantastic number for a Netbook. Great battery life is fast becoming a standard of newer Atom N450 Netbooks, but it's important to note that 7 hours represents what we consider a grueling scenario of continuous video playback: Under less strenuous conditions, battery life should be even longer.
Video playback battery drain test (in minutes)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Toshiba NB300
424
Asus Eee PC 1201N
205
Toshiba NB300
Windows 7 Starter; 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 50MB (shared) Mobile Intel GMA 3150; 250GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Sony Vaio Eco VPC-W212AX
Windows 7 Starter; 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 250MB (shared) Mobile Intel GMA 3150; 250GB Seagate 5,400rpm
Asus Eee PC 1201N
Windows 7 Starter; 1.6GHz Intel Atom N330 Dual-Core; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 2050MHz; 256MB Nvidia ION; 250GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Acer Ferrari One
Windows 7 Home Premium; 1.2GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core L310; 4096MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 384MB (dedicated) ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3200; 250GB Seagate 5,400rpm
Acer Aspire One 532h
Windows 7 Starter; 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 250MB (shared) Mobile Intel GMA 3150; 250GB Seagate 5,400rpm
Asus Eee PC 1005PE
Windows 7 Starter; 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 251MB (shared) Mobile Intel GMA 3150; 250GB Seagate 5,400rpm
HP Mini 5102
Windows 7 Starter; 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 248MB (shared) Mobile Intel GMA 3150; 160GB Seagate 7200rpm
Service And Support
Toshiba includes an industry-standard, one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the NB300. This warranty can also be upgraded to three-year coverage in some regions. Support is accessible 24/7 via a phone line, an online knowledge base, and a Web site with driver downloads.Source: Cnet Asia
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