Toshiba Satellite R945-P440 review: Sturdy and so-so - clementwrapprand

The Toshiba Orbiter R945-P440 is a solidly stacked 14-inch all-purpose laptop, but it looks positively monstrous next to the Ultrabooks and ultraportables on the market today. This 14-inch laptop computer measures a humongous 1.2 inches thick and weighs almost 5.2 pounds with accessories, which makes it sort of a sweep up to tote around. Soh the question is, wherefore would you select the Planet R945-P440 over an Ultrabook, peculiarly when you can plectrum astir a sleek bitty number for about $100 more?

Our review model, which costs $730, sports a third-propagation Intel Core i5-3210M processor, 6GB of DDR3 Jampack, and a 750GB velar drive spinning at 5400 rpm. This general automobile also features integral Wi-Fi 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and Intel's WiDi engineering science, which allows you to connect the machine wirelessly to WiDi-sympathetic external displays. The Satellite R945-P440 runs the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium.

Performance

In PCWorld's WorldBench 7 bench mark tests, the Satellite R945-P440 posted a mark of 86, which is below intermediate for the all-purpose category. The general-purpose class encompasses a passabl wide range of laptops, indeed information technology's best to compare the R945-P440 against other similarly sized all-purpose machines, much as the Alienware M14x and the Lenovo IdeaPad U410, both of which have 14-inch screens. The M14x achieved a WorldBench 7 score of 143, while the IdeaPad U410 earned a mark of 117.

The Satellite R945-P440's performance looked wagerer in individual tests. For example, in our WebVizBench Web performance test, the R945-P440 managed an average frame plac of 14.2 frames per second, a somewhat slower result than that of the M14x (15.1 fps), and a fitter frame rate than that of the IdeaPad U410 (10.9 FPS).

The Satellite R945-P440 also performed good in our content creation test, in which it vanquis some the M14x and the IdeaPad U410 in video encoding speed.

Since the Orbiter R945-P440 has no discrete artwork card, its graphics-test performance was poor compared with what we saw from the M14x and the U410. In our Crysis 2 graphics tests, the Satellite managed frame rates from 14.0 frames per second (high-timbre settings, 1366-by-768-pixel resolution) to 32.8 fps (low-quality settings, 800-away-600-pixel resolution). Those results are similar to the anatomy rates of the HP Envy Sleekbook 6z-1000, which is an entry-grade general-purpose laptop with an AMD processor and no discrete graphics card.

The Satellite R945-P440 has excellent battery life. In our tests it lasted for nigh 8 hours, which is decorous for a portable motorcar (though not quite the 11 hours the laptop computer is rated for).

Pattern and usability

The completely-purpose Satellite R945-P440 is housed in a sturdy clad plastic chassis. Weighing round 4.5 pounds (sans accessories), this organisation is portable but certainly not ultraportable. It's also quite slurred, at 1.2 inches deep, and it looks bulky due to its ridged plastic screening. When it comes to styling, Toshiba doesn't exactly pull out all the boodle with this machine, which looks box-shaped and a little dateable. That said, the laptop at to the lowest degree feels serviceable, with a solid hinge, a steady projection screen, and virtually no flex anywhere.

Though the Outer R945-P440 resembles an elder system, I kind of like-minded the aesthetic. Sure, it isn't sleek and sexy like a modern Ultrabook, but the boxy chassis has a sort of ex post facto-chic feel to it. The interior of the laptop computer is tasteful to consider, with (plastic) chromium-plate accents and a slight bevel around the keyboard. The power button sits in the top-odd corner, and two buttons—for accessing Toshiba's Eco Public utility company and toggling Intel's WiDi feature—occupy the tipto-right corner.

The Satellite R945-P440 has a full-size spill-proof keyboard, which is expedient for business users operating theatre people who like to have a drink nearby while they employment. The keyboard has black island-style keys that are a little close put together but otherwise comfortable to type on. The keys are flat, with sharp corners and a smooth texture. The keyboard has nary backlight, but the machine does crack a small button at the bottom of the keyboard for disabling the touchpad.

Unfortunately, the touchpad, which is positioned slightly eccentric on the wrist relaxation, is second-rate. Information technology's a little small, and although general drive is smooth, its response to multitouch gestures is a bit stilted and choppy. The touchpad has two discrete mouse buttons that are made of the same mirrored plastic as the hinges (and are therefore quite a smudge-prostrate), sitting flush with the surrounding wrist rest. The buttons ut not deject far, and they are starchy and generally difficult to utilise.

The Satellite R945-P440 has a great port survival of the fittest—better than what you'll find on an Ultrabook or a budget machine. The left side of the system houses VGA and HDMI-out ports, microphone and headphone jackstones, one USB 3.0 port, and cardinal combination eSATA/USB 2.0 port. The letter-perfect side provides a tray-loading DVD SuperMulti drive, an SD Menu reader, a gigabit ethernet port, and a USB 3.0 embrasure. A Kensington lock slot is built into the right flexible joint.

Toshiba R945-P440 left — Ripe slope view, Toshiba Satellite R945-P440

Screen and speakers

The Satellite R945-P440's glossy 14-in concealment has a native resolution of 1366 away 768 pixels. That result is average for a 14-inch system, but I would have liked to see something a bit more impressive considering that this laptop computer doesn't stand out in former respects. The screen's prize is merely intermediate: Colors look a touch washed out at luxuriously brightness level settings, and the off-axis wake angles (especially the vertical showing lean against) need some exercise.

Video playback connected the Planet R945-P440 is stilted and jerky. Both streaming picture and native HD television suffer from lots of artifacting and resound, especially in scenes with plenty of motion. DVD playback looks okay, but artifacting (noticeable twisting, particularly in the form of fuzzy blocks) remains a big factor.

The R945-P440 has standard stereo speakers, which are located above the keyboard. Audio sounds filamentlike and cheap at wholly volume levels. The speakers have little depth, which substance that listening to tracks that do have depth (for deterrent example, any track in which an audience is applauding behind the hosts) can be painful and cacophonic. Although the R945-P440 is equipped with SRS 3D sound, it doesn't help much. Luckily, the earpiece jack delivers antiseptic sound.

Bottom line

The Toshiba Satellite R945-P440 gets a 3-star rating for a few reasons. Although it's thoroughly mediocre—ordinary in its carrying out, block out, and touchpad—it also offers a couple of highlights that will appeal to a certain market.

Original of all, IT's a tough machine. Seriously, this thing is assembled look-alike a tank. And since it has a spill-imperviable keyboard, it might make for an excellent family laptop (let's facial expressio it, family laptops don't exactly lead easy, cared-for lives). Second, it boasts a roommate disc drive, clean battery life, and a great selection of ports. Finally, the R945-P440 is well connected, with built-in Wisconsin-Fi 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, WiDi, cardinal USB 3.0 ports, and a gigabit ethernet port. Even though the R945-P440 International Relations and Security Network't impressive in any specific way, it's solidly constructed and it isn't too expensive.