X-bit labs

Toshiba Portege M100 Notebook: More Than Just a “Type-Writer” (page 6)

Category: Mobile

by Galina Sudareva

[ 06/16/2004 | 12:20 PM ]

We used 3DMark 2001SE Pro for measuring the system performance in games. There are two test modes. Mode 1: 1024x768 resolution, 16-bit color depth, 16-bit Z-buffer, 16-bit textures. Mode 2: 1024x768 resolution, 32-bit color depth, 24-bit Z-buffer and 32-bit textures.

The results are not very reassuring. The numbers become thrice lower when the notebook starts feeding on its own battery (the minimal performance mode), so you can hardly play 3D games with any comfort when traveling. Well, you wouldn’t have any comfort in modern 3D games even after attaching the Portege M100 to a wall outlet. Alas, the integrated graphics core combined with the reduction of the CPU frequency doesn’t allow this notebook to reach the level of performance necessary for running 3D games.

It did better in tests of the battery life, though. The notebook lasted nearly four hours in the reader’s mode (emulation of the user’s reading onscreen text), and over three hours in the classic mode. The results are also good when you set up the Portege M100 for the maximum performance. This adds more appeal to the device, as its main purpose is clearly to serve in “field conditions”, helping its owners on various business and entertainment trips and so on. The results of the test follow:

Conclusion

The Toshiba Portege M100 leaves a nice impression after the tests. It features a good, thought-out and recognizable design, originally-shaped stereo speakers, excellent ergonomics and functionality, long time of autonomous work. It’s evidently no typewriter, it’s truly a portable computer.

On the other hand, the Portege M100 is not completely blameless. For example, we expected a higher performance from this machine. Also, but this is my personal opinion, a touchpad would be better than the TrackPoint – and there’s enough space where they might have put a touchpad.

Summing it all up, I’d say that the Toshiba Portege M100 is an optimal solution for people who spend much time traveling and working on the run. Maybe that’s you?