Amazon.com: Toshiba Mini 300 Series NB305-N310 10.1-Inch Netbook

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544 of 549 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've been waiting for just the right netbook. This is it!, January 17, 2010

Russ Boyer "Zog" (Columbia, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

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This review is from: Toshiba Mini NB305-N410WH 10.1-Inch Frost White Netbook - 11 Hours of Battery Life (Personal Computers)

I have been in the market for a netbook for over a year now. I have spent many a hour pouring over reviews online, watching youtube unboxings and reviews, and actually doing a lot of hands on in retail stores with all of the options out there. I am thrilled to say that after only 24 hours with the Toshiba NB305-N410WH, I know that I waited for just the right one.

The reviews for its' predecessor (the NB205) had put that netbook on the top of most professional reviewers list. And, indeed in my own hands on tests, it was right at the top as well. My main concern was the battery that stuck out of the back on that model. I had come close to overlooking this drawback, as I was so pleased with the rest of the model. What kept me from it was a concern I had read from some reviews indicating that sometimes streaming video would skip or get stuck (a universal concern on most netbooks)either due to processor or graphics.

Here is why I LOVE this little fella:

* The battery issue has been totally adressed, and in fact, upgraded. They have redesigned it and no more ugly bulge of battery sticking out of the back. Plus, they now say it has an 11 hour battery. My test of this gave me around 9.5 hours doing very basic surfing and setup. Not quite 11 hours, but am still elated with 9.5 hours. I can now really feel comfortable about leaving the power cable at home for the day. (however, the power cable is actaully fairly small) (Update 1/21/10--In further testing of the battery life, I seem to now be averaging more like 7 hours under heavy usage, meaning video watching and constant use. I am still more than happy with that. Light usage will give you more like the 9.5 hours I mentioned.)

* I'm extremely happy with the performance. Everyone needs to keep in mind that netbooks have never been designed for processor intensive tasks, but this little guy rocks! The new "Pinetrail" Atom N450 platform seems to be a great fit for this netbook. The graphics engine is updated, as well. I have had absolutely no delays in any streaming video on YouTube or Netflix. (I did notice just a bit of stuttering in Hulu only when watching something full screen but this isn't an issue for me.) Surfing is snappy and responsive, just the way that I like it. For anyone that may have been on the fence about getting a netbook because they were concerned it might not perform, hop right off that fence and get the NB305. Seriously, I have a Macbook Pro and Dell laptop and this one has instantly become my "go to" for surfing on the couch or from bed. And, I know this will be the one I now take anywhere out of the house.

* The overall look and feel of the NB305 is truly "best in class". My big gripe with a ton of netbooks out there is their glossy covers-especially the black, but even other color glossy covers are fingerprint magnets. They just always look smudged and feel cheap to me. I got the textured white model and just love it. Even though I am sure it is all plastic, too, it just looks more expensive. The cover totally repels fingerprints and just "feels good". The keyboard and trackpad have received universal love in the previous model and I absolutely agree. The keyboard is extremely easy to type on. No issues at all for me there. The trackpad is truly a selling feature as it is multi-touch. I have this on my Macbook Pro and LOVE it on this netbook. I love being able to do the 2 finger scroll up and side to side. It really makes surfing the web a joy. (I now curse my Dell for not having this.) This model actually reduced it's weight to 2.6 lbs making it super easy to take with you. The bottom does heat up a bit but I never felt uncomfortable having it directly on my lap. (Update 2/20/10: Ok, there have been times when it has been uncomfortable on my lap. Especially if you are blocking the vents, which is easy to do when on your lap. I now just set it on the protective sleeve I bought for it and we're good to go.) This new model has sleeker look than previous models, a little more streamlined in the front. Overall, form factor gets a big A+.

So, there are a couple areas for improvement, however, I don't think they are "deal breakers" given the other areas where the NB-305 excels:

1) The speakers are not great. Actually, they're pretty bad compared to my Mac and Dell. This is definitely an area to improve on, but have found this to be true of all the netbooks I have been able to hear. I'm not saying that you can't hear what you are watching, but I will plan on using earbuds for watching video or listening to music.
2) I'm a little bugged that these just come with Windows7 Starter and not Windows7 Home Premium. I feel a little "punked" into having to pay an extra $80 for the upgrade (which was extremely simple and fast, by the way. I was able to do it right online--no need for external optical drive). Some people will be fine with Windows7 Starter as it does allow you to do basic functions, but I ultimatley had to cave in and upgrade. You aren't able to personalize things in Windows7 Starter, which was a minor but grating flaw. (On a side note, I am really liking Windows7 Home Premium. This netbook handles it fine.)
3) I'm kinda concerned that this did not come with any restore cd's. Yes, I realize that this doesn't have a cd/dvd drive, but I guess I just like the comfort of having them if needed. I know that I should back up the system on my own, but I guess I just am not sure what happens if the OS crashes or hard drive has to be replaced. I think there must be new ways to restore, nowadays. I guess I will hopefully never cross that bridge.
4) (Update 2/20/10: It does get quite warm around the vents. This may or may not be an issue for you. I can deal with it.)

Overall, I think you can see that I am obviously extremely happy with this purchase. If you have been waiting to buy a netbook, I would give this one some serious thought. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

(UPDATE 1/19/10: I did upgrade to 2GB of memory and would recommend it. I didn't really need to, but can't resist trying to upgrade my gadgets, and everything is just a little faster and I just watched Heros on Hulu full screen and didn't notice issues that I had before. I didn't even mind the speakers come to think of it--although the speakers are still the only weak link hardware wise. Installing the memory is a snap. You just need a tiny Philips screwdriver to remove one screw from back cover, pop out the old, pop in the new, replace the cover and boot it back up. It was recognized by the netbook with no problems. There is a video on YouTube on doing this to the NB205 model and the process is exactly the same for the NB305. Still very happy.)
(UPDATE 2/20/10: The type of memory that I got was the one that Amazon usually suggests: Crucial Technology CT25664AC800 2GB 200-pin SODIMM DDR2 PC2-6400 Memory Module.
I also purchased CaseCrown sleeve: CaseCrown Double Memory Foam Netbook Pouch (White Faux Suede) to Carry the Toshiba Mini NB305 10.1-inch Netbook Very happy with that, too. Fits like a glove and makes it super easy to transport the NB305 and feel it is very protected.
Overall, still extremely happy.)

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658 of 708 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars TOSHIBA NB305-N310: GREAT MACHINE, BUT CAN YOU TRUST IT?, January 30, 2010

George Alefantes "ALEF" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Toshiba Mini 300 Series NB305-N310 10.1-Inch Netbook - Black Onyx (Personal Computers)

INTRODUCTION

I regretfully gave the Toshiba NB305-N310 three stars after thorough research and intense hands-on evaluation. For the hardware alone, it clearly deserves five stars. But I was generous in only deducting two stars for the software and its nefarious intent.

If you are capable of, and have the time for, a complete reinstall of Windows or Linux and reinstallation of some number of the thirty-seven drivers and utility files from the Toshiba Website, then you will have a five-star netbook.

If you are not, then this netbook, like so many others, will not really be your friend. Or else it will be like a bad friend who spies on you, monitors you, deceives you, and leaves your home wide open while housesitting.

My reasons and criteria for finally selecting this netbook will undoubtedly be different than those of others. But I assure you, I have considered even those elements which did not concern me as well as issues and reviews concerning the other NB305 models that I did not purchase: The NB305-N410 in White, Blue, and Brown.

I will review the Toshiba NB305-N310 while at the same time describing the differences between it and the NB305-N410 models (which are simply different colors).

In advance, I will say that the essential differences between the NB305-N310 and the NB305-N410 are, respectively:

Keyboard Type: Flat Squares --- OR --- Embedded Buttons
Hard Disk Size: 160 GB --- OR --- 250 GB
Lid Texture: Shiny and smooth --- OR --- matte
Color Choices: Black --- OR --- Brown, Blue, or White
Operating System: Windows XP SP 3 --- OR --- Windows 7 Starter Edition
Initial Price at Amazon: $349 --- OR --- $399

KEYBOARD

A lot of netbooks brag about full keyboards, yet the PageUp, PageDown, Home, and End keys are still embedded under the four Arrow keys and require also holding down the "Fn" key to use them. This has been a main sticking point for me.

A few netbooks, like the Samsungs, only embed the Home and End keys and give the other two their own physical keys. The Samsung NC20, though, also provides independent keys for all four functions. It also has a nice 1280 pixel wide screen and a satisfactory battery life. But for me, its 12" size would have failed my personal requirement of getting a netbook that was smaller than my existing 12" laptops.

But note that the NB305 comes with two distinct keyboards.

This N310 comes with one type. While the three colors of the N410, like the NB200 Series that is the predecessor of this NB300 Series, come with a different type.

There is some confusion in the nomenclature in the specs, in the early reviews, and even in my own understanding.

Some say the N410 has a chiclet keyboard. Others say, "No, the N310 has the chiclet keyboard. The N410 has a 'piano' keyboard." In the end, they may both be chiclet varieties, but they are quite different.

So let me describe them to you in layperson's terms.

The N310's keys are flat, black, plastic squares with white characters. They attach to the base as on a normal keyboard, by sitting on unseen stems. All you see are the flat, square keys and a narrow space around each side, exposing the tray beneath. They are like keys on a normal keyboard except that they are mostly flat and level with the palm rests and are not like little towers rising up from the base.

The keys on the N410, on the other hand, are smaller, leaving much more room around them. And they rise up through holes in the open netbook's surface much like buttons on a home or cell phone.

Some claim that the extra space around each key makes it more difficult to accidentally press adjacent keys while typing. Sure, but only because it is also harder to hit the key you are actually aiming for.

I found both keyboards acceptable, Even feeling that the N410 was a bit cooler looking, but concluded, like some of the reviewers of the N410, that it was a bit unresponsive, quirky, and slow for doing a lot of typing.

For me, this was the biggest reason for getting the N310 instead of the more expensive N410, despite its having a smaller hard drive.

Let it also go without saying that, for both keyboards, there are no ergonomic issues about size and comfortability. As netbooks go, they are among the very best keyboards out there. I highly recommend both types, at least in Toshiba's implementation of them.

BATTERY

The NB200 Series predecessor began life with a flush battery that unfortunately didn't provide much battery life. Toshiba tried to rectify things by including one that stuck embarrassingly out of the back and defeated the whole purpose of such a portable device.

Be thoroughly assured that the battery on the NB300 Series no longer sticks out of the back. Though it does have a slight downward curved protrusion under the laptop such that it raises the back of the laptop, but in a totally useful and acceptable manner.

BATTERY LIFE

I'm getting between 9 and 10 hours and I have the display at its brightest and most other power-saving features unused. So with some parsimony, you can probably get the advertised 11.08 hours. Very nice.

But this does include my having disabled services, deleted and uninstalled programs, and cleaned up a lot of clutter and startup programs.

DISPLAY

I am a bit surprised that Toshiba did not upgrade the resolution on the NB300 Series but stayed instead with the 1024X600.

For portable writing and Internet research, it is more than satisfactory. Besides, the brightness and quality is otherwise superb, and the lower resolution adds to the battery life.

It has not proved to be much of a problem, at all. I keep reminding myself that it wasn't long ago that the 1024 pixel width was considered spacious. Of course the height does not match the height from those days: 600 instead of 768.

If resolution is a major issue, though, consider the aforementioned Samsung NC20 with a nice standard 1280x800, or the Acer line which pioneered the 1366 resolution.

MOUSE TRACKPAD AND BUTTONS

Like everyone seems to agree, the trackpad is huge for a netbook. It is almost twice as wide as the one on my XPS M1330 laptop. It provides for multitouch for you people who like to pinch things. And the buttons are large, front-sloping, and very nice to press.

RAM

I haven't bought the 2 GB upgrade yet. I need to do some more research. Toshiba, Amazon, and retail store salespeople are all recommending the 667 GHz. But some reviewers mention that 800 GHz will also work and provides a better experience. So I'm waiting to confirm.

But, you know what, everything's been totally cool like this for now. Just an occasional slight drag on some videos which I'm sure will disappear with 2 GB.

HARD DRIVE

The hard drives were 160 GB and 250 GB respectively. No big deal. It will just make things a little more cramped when I repartition and place Linux Mint alongside Windows XP, as I do on all PCs.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS

The N310 only comes in black. The N410 comes in brown, blue, or white. Its lid is matted and does not attract fingerprints. The N310's lid is a shiny black with a faint diagonal pattern on it. It does attract fingerprints. But if you minimize how recklessly you touch it and wipe them off as they occur you won't face the kinds of apocalypses other netbook users complain of.

The inside of the N310 is a pleasant matte black aluminum around the screen and around the keyboard and on the palm rests and trackpad buttons. The inside of the N410 is silver aluminum, while the frame around the display matches the exterior color.

The netbook sits about 10.5" x 7.5", the height varies from 1.5" at the back to 0.5" at the front. And, of course, 3.5" in the middle (just kidding).

The weight is advertised at 2.6 pounds. And I'll take their word on it, but it seems heavier than my 4.5-pound XPS M1330 laptop. But what do I know? I gained twenty pounds and didn't know it until I stood on a scale.

Unlike a couple of reviewers of the N410, I have not found the unit to get hot at all. And the air vent on the N310 is on the side. Though one reviewer said the N410's vents were underneath, I am not certain about that.

OTHER

Across the palm rest, between the trackpad and the first row of keys is a half-circle dip that runs like a trench across the width of the keyboard. It is handy to rest your fingertips in when your are using the mouse.

It also has nicely-gripping rubber feet.

Three USB ports (one can charge cell phones, etc),SDHC Card Reader, 10/100 Ethernet, Wireless B, G, and N, Video Out, Mic and Headphone ports, speakers under the front corners, and a WebCam with its own Mic.

AC ADAPTER

The AC adapter is small and manageable, if you need to bring it along. and its two-piece cord is of sufficient length.

SOFTWARE - OPERATING SYSTEM

As I said earlier, the N310 comes with Windows XP Service Pack 3 while the N410 comes with Windows 7 Starter Edition.

Operating system was, along with battery life, small size, and keyboard, a high priority. I did not wish to get any netbook with Windows Vista or Windows 7, unless I knew I could reinstall it with Windows XP.

I'm sure I could have put XP on the N410 after the fact since it comes on the N310 and all these NB300 Series models have identical processors,... Read more ›

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79 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Netbook OUTSTANDING!, January 28, 2010

R. DeJonghe "rdejonghe" (Davison, MI) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Toshiba Mini NB305-N410BL 10.1-Inch Royal Blue Netbook - 11 Hours of Battery Life (Personal Computers)

I will admit this is my first netbook but I do have two laptops and two other desktops in the house. The keyboard is absolutely great on this machine, it is what attracted me to the Toshiba initially. I have had this machine for about a week now and so far there is nothing that I can really complain about. The battery life is incredible, although I have yet to try to drain it. Today the machine was on, but not in constant use, for over six hours and it still showed 40% battery life. The screen is very good and even though only 10.1" I am forgetting that I'm on a small machine. Very spacious hard drive at 250GB. This prompted me to permanently move my iTunes collection to this machine so that I can update my podcasts and sync regularly while travelling.

I purchased the machine primarily as a personal and entertainment machine while travelling for business. I am able to keep it next to my full size work laptop while responding to email or other tasks and easily "jump" over to it to access Gmail or Facebook (prohibited on the company issued laptop). I have also used it to stream Netflix while in a hotel with little issue, any issues were mainly to poor wifi coverage in the room.

Toshiba has done a very nice job of setting up a variety of very useful Function+F key shortcuts. Mute,Lock,Sleep,Power Mode,Hibernate,Brightness,Wifi can all be accessed with a quick keystroke.

The sleep mode actually works very well and "wakes" to a ready to use state in mere seconds.

Win7 Starter is really not bad, little functionality has been removed so as to keep the user from bogging down the system with too many option but still I find very usable and you really don't miss the removed functions. You can look a very good comparison matrix by Paul Thurrott at his Winsupersite Website
Since this machine is upgradeable to 2GB of RAM I most likely will just to pepp it up a but right now I LOVE THIS MACHINE and recommend it highly to anyone, even if a little on the pricey side!

***UPDATE 2/7/10***

I've been using this machine for several weeks now and am completely satisfied so far. I have had no problems what so ever. I intend to upgrade to 2GB of RAM but have not yet and can only believe the performance will get better. On the heaviest days of usage I can usually get 7-8 hours on the battery. I have been using this machine to stream Netflix usually without issue with a strong WIFI signal. I have installed Office 2007 and have not had any problems. I have Skype installed but have not used it for voice calls yet. I will be taking this to Mexico. I will update again on the performance then!
Toshiba Mini NB305-N410BL 10.1-Inch Royal Blue Netbook

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