Toshiba Tecra M5 Laptop Now Available

The ToshibaTecra M5 is now available from ToshibaDirect.com. The Tecra M5 is a portable business style notebook powered by the new Intel Core Duo processor. The Tecra M5 is the flagship notebook for Toshiba's Tecra product family.

Following are the base specs for the Tecra M5-S433 Recommended Configuration ($1799)

• Processor:Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo Processor T2400 (1.83GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
• Operating System:Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Professional
• Display:14.1-inch diagonal XGA (1024x768 native resolution)
• System Chipset:Mobile Intel(R) 945PM Express Chipset
• Graphics Controller:NVIDIA(R) Quadro(R) NVS 110M with 128MB DDR discrete graphics memory plus up to 128MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory using NVIDIA(R) TurboCache technology
• Memory:512 MB DDR2 667MHz SDRAM (max 4GB)
• Hard Drive:100GB HDD (5400rpm, Serial-ATA)
• Optical Drive:Slim SelectBay DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive
• Communications:Intel(R) PRO/Wireless Network Connection 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g), Intel(R) 10 Base-T/100 Base-TX/1000 Base-T Ethernet, Toshiba V.92 modem. Optional Bluetooth(R) v.2.0+EDR technology
• Ports:ExpressCard(TM) slot, PC Card slot, SecureDigit slot (supports SDIO)
• Video: RGB monitor port, S-Video port
• Audio: microphone jack, headphone jack
• Data: i.LINK(TM) IEEE-1394, 3--USB (v.2.0), RJ-45 LAN, RJ-11 modem, Serial, 240-pin docking port
• Battery:6-cell lithium ion battery (4700mAh)
• Dimensions:12.4-inch x 10.3-inch x 1.23/1.35-inch (f/r)
• Weight:Starting at 5.2 lbs.
• Warranty:Standard three-year limited warranty

With a chassis designed to deliver both mobility and performance, the Tecra M5 weighs 5.2 pounds, houses a 14-inch diagonal display and a six-cell battery for up to four hours of computing time. The Tecra M5 includes one-touch docking functionality by using the Advanced Port Replicator III+ for better cable management and faster desktop environment access.

The Tecra M5 uses Toshiba's EasyGuardsoftware. Toshiba's EasyGuard is a series of hardware and software enhancements to business-class notebooks and Tablet PCs that help boost mobile security, system integrity, network connectivity and overall ease of use. EasyGuard technology consists of four elements: Protect & Fix, Secure, Connect and Optimize.

The Tecra M5 features proprietary technologies such as Toshiba's recently upgraded ConfigFree and the company's patented Diversity Antenna. ConfigFree is Toshiba's intuitive graphic connectivity management utility created to simplify the connectivity experience when using wired and wireless Ethernet or Bluetooth(R). Toshiba's Diversity Antenna design delivers superior wireless signal reception through the integration of strategically placed Bluetooth technology and dual-band Wi-Fi antennas in the notebook's display.

 

Spec's look sweet. The graphics controller could have been better though.

 

I'm always a fan of the eraser head pointers. It's also strange that this notebook has a fingerprint scanner. It's also competitively priced.

 

It's a business notebook, hence no dedicated GPU and a touchpoint and biometric scanner. It is pretty pricey though when compared to alternatives. I'd rather have a Lenovo z60t.

 

Last generation M3 could be configured with nvidia go6600 dedicated GPU.
The comparable lenovo t60 doesn't have firewire.
Buying from toshiba direct is always costier than getting it from a retailer.

Anyways, it didn't get any lighter eh. Dissapointing.

 

the location of the touchpad the way it really seems to jut off to the left is what throws me on the design of the M5

 

What's the deal with the Quadro NVS anyway? Anybody happen to know what consumer GPU is it equivalent to?

 

Quadro NVS equivalent to Go7300, but I can go wrong
Here's the link:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8695

 

Toshiba's website doesn't show bluetooth as an option the laptop is prebuild only.
where is this option available?

 

the native screen resolution is a bit on the low side. It would have been a lot better with a higher rez

 

If it is customizable, I'll customize one and buy it today. Resolution not up to my expectation. Everything else is what I wanted which T60 lacks. This is a pricey machine compared to z60t, but this one has core duo. I would not get z60t(Titanium) due to their bad quality casing and Lenovo themselves agreed with me as well.

 

The Quadro NVS is one of Intels newer graphics cards designed especially for laptops. There are different variants of it however the most common is the one with 128MB of dedicated graphics memory. The NVS also allows the laptop to share system memory for graphics as well thus effectively doubling you graphics memory.

Note: The Quadro NVS was designed for business use and is not recommended for gaming. I just wonder if it is capable of running applications
like AutoCAD etc which do require some grunt for 3D modelling purposes.

Depending on the specs you get there is one with a SXGA+ display of 1400 by 1050 which isnt to bad for a 14.1" portable business oriented laptop.

If you want a games laptop look at something else.