It's never easy deciding on a laptop. Given how much time will be spent on the machine, it is not surprising that anyone would want to make sure that they choose the right one.
Interested in a Toshiba? Consider the following options:
KIRABook
The second-generation KIRABook from Toshiba feels just as premium as the original, proud to be one of the first Windows laptops to offer better-than-HD displays. However, because it appears just like the first KIRABook, the second-generation model fell prey to the same design pitfalls the original model had, looking its price but no more awe-inspiring than that. If you don't mind designs that don't push the bar though, you shouldn't have a problem. What's more important about the KIRABook is what's inside, anyway.
There are two configurations available, both featuring eye-popping 2560 by 1440 touchscreen displays. The first model retails for $1,499 and runs on an Intel Core i5 chip, while the second sells for $1,699 with an Intel Core i7 CPU. Both are fitted with a 256 GB SSD and 8 GB of RAM. Perhaps the area the KIRABook best improved on is battery life. Where the original KIRABook ran five hours and 5 minutes in a video playback battery drain test, the second generation bests it on the same test with seven hours and 51 minutes. That's long enough for to get most things done in a day before needing to plug in.
Chromebook 2
Also a second-generation model like the KIRABook, Chromebook 2 retains the affordability that made the original Chromebook highly appealing. However, while low prices usually equate to average build and design quality, Toshiba stepped up its game this time around to give the Chromebook 2 a boost. Particularly, it addressed the original Chromebook's problem of bulk, cutting away as much as possible while keeping the unit's 13.3-inch display. The result? A 13-inch screen fitted into a 12-inch body.
At this size, the Chromebook 2 is still larger than others of its kind from other brands, but the added benefit of a bigger build is that it has a comfortably-sized keyboard. The touchpad is large as well, responsive and capable of multitouch gestures.
The Chromebook 2 runs on a 2.58 GHz Intel Celeron N2840 processor, 4 GB RAM for the 1920 by 1080-resolution model and 2 GB RAM for the 1366 by 768-resolution variant, with 16 GB of flash storage, plus 100 GB of cloud storage in Google Drive.
As for battery life, Toshiba claims the higher-resolution model has enough juice for nine hours, while the other variant is rated for 11.5 hours.
Portege Z30-BST3NX4
Like the KIRABook and the Chromebook 2, the Portege Z30-BST3NX4 features a 13.3-inch display. It runs on a fifth-generation Intel Core i7-550U processor, 8 GB DDR3L RAM and a 256 GB SSD, with a spill-resistant, LED-backlit, raised-tile keyboard. As is characteristic of Ultrabooks, this model can be expected to be lightweight but strong.
The Portege Z30-BST3NX4, however, is not estimated to ship from Toshiba until June 2.
Photo: Marco Monetti | Flickr
