Toshiba NB505-N508TQ 10.1-Inch Netbook

Toshiba NB505-N508BL 10.1-Inch Netbook (Blue) (Personal Computers) 

The first one I ordered would not start Windows, just gave a DOS screen saying it could not find the operating system. Credit Amazon for an almost totally painless return process and for having a replacement in my hands 24 hours after the defect was found.

I really like the second one so far. Boots fairly quickly, feels very solidly made, has a super display and an excellent keyboard and touchpad. Seems like very good value for the price.

I would give it five stars right now except that the delivery of the first defective machine makes me wonder a little about quality control and durability.

buy Toshiba Mini NB255-N245 10.1-Inch Netbook

Toshiba Mini NB255-N245 10.1-Inch Netbook (Black Oynx) (Personal Computers) 

I chose this laptop for the price and the keyboard. The latter is one of the few keyboards where the keyboard is "almost" as good as a full keyboard, and allows me to type fast and efficiently with adequate response. I havent tested battery life very thoroughly but suppose it to be in the average of 6 hours or so when used vigorously. I had to remove all of the Toshiba and Bestbuy bloatware. My advise is to remove at once the Norton Antivirus (their post expiration offer with a rebate for this is sheer misleading....see other posts) Once you have got rid of that ensure that you do not have more than one antivirus operating...if you have several it can effect internet functionality big time.

in order to get my companies MS office 2007 on the machine and supported I had to upgrade from the windows 7 starter to Windows 7 professional. If I hadnt needed to do that, I probably would have stuck to windows starter, which does most other things OK. The upgrading which cost an extra 100 dollars and a bit, was extremely difficult to do, but I got MS assistance with no extra charge (surprise surprise) from their customer service and it was of a very high quality indeed.

This little computer is really fast, faster than my office computer, faster than any other laptop todate....the pine processor is really satisfactory, There are more than enough USB ports and most of the time at home I hook it up to a widescreen monitor which looks good.

I have an Ipad as well as well as this Toshiba and find my usage split 50/50, the Ipad for sheer reckless indulgent consumption of media and reference material, but I have to resort to the Toshiba for actually doing anything creative or office work. Due to the fact that the Toshiba is barely noticeable when stuffed into a briefcase, if I had to have one or the other I would take the Toshiba.

This isnt a technical review, I am not that way inclined, but in conclusion I have to say that even if this computer only lasts a couple of years it will at this price point be great value for money.