Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Toshiba Satellite Z830 laptops Review
The Satellite Z830s name recalls the Satellite R830, which was as close to an Ultrabook as many laptops got before the standard was introduced. In fact, if it hadn’t been for its poor screen and keyboard, the R830 would have been one of our top laptops of last year, so this latest Satellite is starting off with some impressive DNA. Just don’t confuse it with Toshiba’s Portege Z830, which is the business version of the company’s Ultrabook range and costs more.
So let’s start off with design. As mentioned the Z830 is one of the thinnest and lightest Ultrabooks on the market, which is quite an achievement in a sector where thin & light are already the norm. It measures only 16mm at its thickest point, beating the S3’s 17.5mm and the 17mm of the UX31 and MacBook Air [while not technically an Ultrabook, Apple’s ultraportable fits the category.
Weight - or rather, lack thereof - is where this Satellite really shines though. Thanks to a chassis constructed entirely from magnesium alloy, Toshiba has kept it below 1.11kg, where most rivals weigh closer to 1.5kg (for example the S3, which uses magnesium-alloy for its interior, still comes in at 1.4kg). And while this might only be a few hundred grams difference, it’s really noticeable when you pick the Z830 up. It almost lives up to Toshiba’s “featherweight” marketing.
So far then, Toshiba’s Ultrabook is shaping up pretty well. Unfortunately, thanks to all that magnesium it feels deceptively flimsy in the hand, and even though this is a somewhat false impression, the amount of flex will undoubtedly put off many who might be looking for the kind of solid rigidity you get from the Air or Zenbook. Source: trustedreviews.com
So let’s start off with design. As mentioned the Z830 is one of the thinnest and lightest Ultrabooks on the market, which is quite an achievement in a sector where thin & light are already the norm. It measures only 16mm at its thickest point, beating the S3’s 17.5mm and the 17mm of the UX31 and MacBook Air [while not technically an Ultrabook, Apple’s ultraportable fits the category.
Weight - or rather, lack thereof - is where this Satellite really shines though. Thanks to a chassis constructed entirely from magnesium alloy, Toshiba has kept it below 1.11kg, where most rivals weigh closer to 1.5kg (for example the S3, which uses magnesium-alloy for its interior, still comes in at 1.4kg). And while this might only be a few hundred grams difference, it’s really noticeable when you pick the Z830 up. It almost lives up to Toshiba’s “featherweight” marketing.
So far then, Toshiba’s Ultrabook is shaping up pretty well. Unfortunately, thanks to all that magnesium it feels deceptively flimsy in the hand, and even though this is a somewhat false impression, the amount of flex will undoubtedly put off many who might be looking for the kind of solid rigidity you get from the Air or Zenbook. Source: trustedreviews.com
