Toshiba Portege 3505 Tablet PC (1.33-GHz Pentium III, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive)

Other products by Toshiba

Product Details

Data Sheet [287kb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 14 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00007H4LM
• Item model number: PP350U-0078DE
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,835 in Computer & Accessories (See Bestsellers in Computer & Accessories)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 6, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Blending the functionality of today's top notebooks with the convenience of pen-based input, Toshiba's Portégé 3505 Tablet PC delivers a possible glimpse into the future of mobile computers. Versatile and extremely compact but not overly powerful when compared to standard portables, the Portégé 3505 is a great fit for those who are handier with a pen than a keyboard and value a truly petite profile.

The unit is most at home when used to enter, store and share notes and concepts that might otherwise be kept in handwritten format. In fact, measuring just 11.6 by 9.2 by 1.2 inches and tipping the scales at a scant 4.1 pounds, the Portégé 3505 is as comfortably portable as a conventional paper-based notepad. Users input data in one of two ways--either by sketching directly on the swiveling, double-duty 12.1-inch poly-silicon TFT color LCD (maximum resolution 1024x768) or via an 84-key keyboard.

Though the Portégé 3505 is not as powerful as a comparably priced notebook, it is faster than many competing tablets and is the most full-featured tablet in the current Toshiba lineup. Featuring a 1.33 GHz Intel Pentium III processor-M with enhanced SpeedStep technology for improved battery life, a generous allotment of 512 MB SDRAM memory (expandable to 1024 MB) and a Trident CyberALLADIN-T graphics controller with 16 MB external memory, the unit will easily handle most day-to-day mobile computing tasks and many 3-D apps too. Serious gamers or 3-D artisans should look elsewhere.

Connectivity amenities include an RJ-45 LAN port for network and online access, an RJ-11 modem port for low-speed e-communication, and integrated Wi-Fi compliant wireless LAN support. The system also sports a surprisingly large 40 GB hard disk and an externally mounted 8-speed DVD-ROM drive. Other desirable amenities include an integrated TouchPad, 12 function keys, a pair of ultra-fast USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals, a speaker and microphone, and full 16-bit stereo sound. Battery life is estimated at 3.5 hours under ideal conditions.

Product Description

With all the functionality of today's notebook computer, the Port?g? 3500 is distinctively designed for on-the-go customers who rely on a combination of notebook PCs, planners, handhelds, and post-it notes to conclude their work.Whether you're right- or left-handed, Toshiba's convertible tablet PC is comfortable fit, complete with easily accessible ports for optimum functionality. When converted to tablet mode, the Port?g? 3500 provides the same experience as an 8,5 by 11" notepad. You can also change screen orientation from portrait to landscape mode as often as needed to meet changing work environments and scenarios.With its large display and digital pen, Toshiba's Port?g? 3500 easily supports daily use as notebook, as well as the comfort of a convertible tablet PC for creating handwritten notes, drawings, or to annotate documents directly on the screen. Save them in your own handwriting or convert them to typed text!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great tablet PC, October 1, 2003

By	Gadgester "No Time, No Money" (Mother Earth) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Tablet PC has been out almost a year now and is slowly gaining momentum in the corporate world. For the average consumer, though, I think it's still way over-priced and under-equipped in terms of software. In short, the Tablet PC platform is still largely a vertical market product.

That said, having a Tablet PC does give the gadget freak a few cool things to enjoy. For example, scratch on a pad to your heart's full content. Not enough? How about watching a DVD movie at any angle you wish? Still want more? You can lie on your stomach and surf the web, you geek!

The Protege 3505 is arguably the sleekest and strongest TPC on the market right now. It's a hybrid model with a keyboard which turns it into a notebook. Compared to the lower-rung 3500 model, the 3505 has more memory (512 vs. 256) and also comes with an external DVD drive. It has wi-fi built-in (along with Ethernet and IR), and depending on the specific configuration, you can opt for built-in Bluetooth as well.

Performance is solid from the P3-M processor. You should know that the TPC version of Windows XP is optimized for the processors so you actually get a lot of performance at "low" clock speeds. ("Low" compared to desktop P4s; if you compare with Power PC G3 or G4's, these are still "fast".) I certainly have no problem playing MP3s in the background while running a few Excel Solver analyses; the OS remains totally responsive.

Battery life is average for TPCs, but weight is where Toshiba can improve. On the other hand, this is an affordable TPC, so you have to ask yourself which of the two (weight vs. price) is more important to you. Fujitsu's Tablet PCs are better built and only slightly less sleek, but their battery life is not as good as Toshiba while costing more. Sorry, still no perfect TPC yet.

Should you get your Amazon Visa card out and order one right now? I'd say no. There isn't much software included, and the novelty factor wears off quickly, plus 4.1 pounds (not counting the external DVD) is a lot to carry. On the other hand, if your company pays for it, it's another story.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A powerful compact laptop that *happens* to also be a tablet, June 13, 2003

By	Joe Nuxoll (San Jose, California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I got this machine a few months ago - when they first hit the market. I was *very* excited about the TabletPC in general, and I knew I had to get one. The only question was: Which one should I get? I tried them all at length, and made the easy decision to go with the Toshiba for a few simple reasons:

1) It really is a top-notch laptop. 1.3GHz, 512MB RAM, and a 40GB harddrive. It is *super* light-weight and sturdy, and fits in the smallest of bags. Even if it wasn't able to convert into a tablet, this would be a competitive laptop.

2) It had the best configuration of ports, wireless, etc. I take a *lot* of digital pictures, and there is a CF card slot right in the side of it. The internal 802.11b wireless card works flawlessly in my home and work network, making it an extremely mobile device. My mini-mouse also plugs into one of the 2 USB slots quite nicely.

3) The *giant* 12.1" screen! Yes, it sounds tiny - but it's huge for a pressure sensative tablet screen, and much larger than most of the competition. It can also plug into an external monitor and use it's screen as *extra* real-estate if you desire.

The funny thing is that I use it in "laptop" mode about 90% of the time. I only use the tablet functionality to play solitaire, or to read news links online while laying in bed at night. It does a great job of recognizing handwriting to take notes in a meeting (as advertised) - but I type *much* faster than I can write with a pen anyway! Go figure.

The only draw-back that I have found is that the on-board ATI graphics are a little sub-par for a high end machine like this. If Toshiba had done a deal with nVidia or something, this would be a truly smoking machine!

As it turns out, however, my employer just furnished me with a brand new laptop, so I am selling mine in the "Used Item" section of this site. If it isn't listed, then I must have sold it already! Thanks for the "reach" Amazon!

- Joe

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Choice, July 14, 2003

By	Jenifer Enright (Long Beach, MS United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've only had this tablet for about a week, now, so there is still much to learn about it. However, so far it has exceeded my expectations. I purchased the Toshiba 3505 Tablet after considerable research. I have used it to write meeting minutes...the option to turn my writing into type is a huge asset. And since I print more than I handwrite, the tablet has been surprisingly accurate with the translation from writing to type. I also carry it with me at work to keep track of "To Do" lists, phone calls/conversations, employee absences, and days that we use subcontractors. The tablet is geared toward organization, and it works beautifully. It has plenty of data storage options. The DVD Drive I got is external, however, which is a bit of a hassle unpacking it and plugging it in everytime, but I only consider that a minor inconvenience since it does have the internal memory cards for storing data. The only other minor negative I have with it is that it doesn't pack with much additional software, so I've had to load it up with my work programs. All in all, I am very glad to have chosen the Toshiba.