Review of Toshiba Mini NB205
This is the first Netbook from Toshiba and what strikes you when open the box is that it’s a real looker, at least from the front. As common with Toshibas they have the battery sticking out on the backside something I personally don’t like. The upside to having the batter there is less heat towards the front of the computer though. The NB205 is priced at $399 and even though you don’t get a lot of extras you get a computer that does a good job at the basics.
Specifications:
Price (August 2009): $399
CPU: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280
Memory 1GB, 800MHz DDR2
Hard drive: 160GB 5,400rpm
Chipset Intel 945GSE
Graphics: Intel GMA 950 (integrated)
Operating system: Windows XP
Dimensions: (WD)10.4 x 7.6 (8.6 with battery) inches
Height 1.3 inches
Screen size (diagonal) 10.1 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter 2.9/3.5 pounds
So what do you get if you option for the NB205, well first off you get a “big” 10.1 inch screen thats bright and offers the netbook standard resolution of 1024×600 pixels. You also get a great battery life that you can expect to run for 6-7 hours of REAL usage. The 1GB of ram thats also pretty much standard is OK for normal use and if you are thinking of a netbook you aren’t going to do heavy multitasking. There is however an option to upgrade to 2GB. The touchpad is great and a whole lot bigger then we are used to see on small netbooks, it is 3 inches wide and easy to use. You also get the Atom N280 1.66GHz which is a very good CPU and it delivers “solid performance” for the buck at least. The design isn’t just pleasing for the eye it is robust and should handle wear and tear well.
Conclusion:
Toshiba enters the netbook market with a bang with the NB205. It is far from perfect. The battery sticking out isn’t my first choice and the audio is subpar. What you get however is a robustly design netbook with a great processor, screen and amazing battery life. You should note that Toshiba claims 9 hours of battery life but real numbers are, as said, 6-7 hours. The keyboard is very distinct and easy to type on and the touchpad is one of the best in this class. All this at a very competitive price I think Toshiba has nothing to be ashamed of.
I love the Toshiba Mini NB205. It is a mini cute laptop and I can simply put it in my pocket. It has a good visibility. I can see and read easily from the 10.1 inch screen. It is an excellent portable device.
This netbook is light, easy to use, and nice. It has a good looking design, a great battery life and a good webcam. But the sound card is not great. The sound produce wasn’t clear and loud. I tried to test the sound with additional speakers but the sound was still not good. Moreover, It is not featured with a CD/DVD player which I think will be very useful to have. Overall, this netbook is good but not excellent.