Toshiba Tecra M4-S435
The Toshiba Tecra M4-S435 is a full-bore multimedia laptop that happens to have Tablet functionality. The Tablet side of the equation is not served as well as the notebook side and the price is a bit steep, but users looking for an all-purpose machine with pen-input will find enough of both worlds in this model.
With a silver lid and a black base, the Toshiba Tecra M4 convertible tablet looks right at home in the boardroom. It is solidly designed and loaded with features, but its 6.2-pound weight is a killer if you want to hold your tablet like a clipboard for any length of time. If you want a decent laptop with tablet functionality, the Tecra M4 provides top-notch performance, a comfortable keyboard, and a large 14-inch screen. If you're looking for something to use primarily as a tablet, you're better off with smaller devices such as the ThinkPad X41 or the Motion LE1600
At 6.4 pounds, the Tecra M4 is heavier than most convertibles because it includes a larger 14.1-inch display and a DVD burner with double-layer writing capabilities. Being able to burn eight hours of DVD material is not something you see everyday in a Tablet.
The 1.73-GHz Pentium CPU and 60GB 5,400-rpm hard drive load and run programs with all the speed and snappy response of a performance laptop. The MobileMark performance score of 214 is excellent, but you do pay a price in endurance for this power (a modest 2.5 hours of battery life).
Specs for Toshiba Tecra M4-S435 as purchased
| | |
| Screen Size | 14.1" TFT active matrix |
| Processor Type | Intel Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz Centrino Mobile |
| Processor Speed | 1.73 GHz |
| Bus Speed | 533 MHz |
| Cache Memory | 2 MB L2 cache |
| Hard Drive Capacity | 60 GB, 5400 rpm |
| Installed Memory | 512 MB |
| Maximum RAM | 2 GB |
| RAM Type | DDR2 SDRAM |
| Optical Drive | 2.4X DVD+R DL 4X DVD-RW 4X DVD+RW 8X DVD-ROM 4X DVD-RW 10X CD-W 3X DVD-RAM 24X CD-R 4X DVD+R/-R 24X CD-ROM |
| Memory Card Slots | Secure Digital |
| Resolution | 1400 x 1050 |
| Video Card Type | NVIDIA GeForce Go 6200 TE 64 MB |
| Bundled Os | Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs |
| Dimensionst | 12.9 x 11.4 x 1.5 inches |
| Networking Connection | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG |
| Average Battery Life | 6-cell lithium ion 4700 mAh 3.3 hour(s) |
| Price | About $1,600 |
| | |
The M4-S435 model features the Intel Pentium M Processor 740 (1.73GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB), 512MB DDR2 533MHz and high speed internet with the Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 BG (802.11b/g) to ensure quickness while operating your computer and surfing the net.
This Toshiba Tecra laptop also comes with a 8X DVD-SuperMulti drive, 64MB DR SDRAM video card and a 14.1 Diagonal SXGA+ Display (1400x1050) to decode, burn and display all the multimedia files you have stored in the 60GB of space.
The M4-S115TD model is fully customizable to your technical specifications. Simply choose the components you want and your M4 is built to order.
Key Features of Toshiba Tecra M4-S435 Review
- Intel Pentium M 740 (1.73 Ghz)
- 512 MB (upgraded to 2 GB by buying memory through newegg.com)
- 60 GB 5400RPM hard drive
- SXGA+ (1400 x 1050)
- Intel 802.11 b/g wireless
- DVD/Cdrw combo drive
- Windows XP Tablet Edition
- 6 cell battery
- nVidia Go 6600 TE
- free accesories after mail in rebate (ballistic case, epson printer, netgear wireless router)
| Lenovo ThinkPad T60 Specifications | |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 |
| Average Battery Life | 6-cell lithium ion 4700 mAh 3.3 hour(s) |
| Processor | |
| Processor Type | Intel Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz Centrino Mobile Technology |
| Processor Speed | 1.73 GHz |
| Bus Speed | 533 MHz |
| Cache Memory | L2 cache 2 MB |
| Storage Drives | |
| Hard Drive Capacity | 60GB 5400RPM hard drive |
| Ram | |
| Installed Memory | 512 MB Ram PC2-5300 |
| RAM Type | DDR2 SDRAM |
| Maximum Supported RAM | 2GB |
| Motherboard | |
| Motherboard Chipset | - |
| Display | |
| Diagonal Screen Size | 14.1" TFT active matrix |
| Screen Type | TFT active matrix |
| Maximum Resolution | SXGA+ 1400 x 1050 |
| Video Card | |
| Video Card Type | NVIDIA GeForce Go 6200 TE |
| Video Memory | 64 MB |
| Networking | |
| Networking Connection Type | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG |
| Dimensions | |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs with the 6-cell battery |
The Toshiba Tecra M4-S435
If you want to see life on the big screen, the Toshiba Tecra M4 is the tablet for you. While the Acer TravelMate C301XCi, the Gateway M275, and the Toshiba Satellite R15 all feature 14-inch screens, none can touch the Tecra M4's superfine 1,400x1,050 SXGA+ native resolution, which lets you view multiple windows while in landscape mode. Unfortunately, the screen is prone to glare and doesn't have as wide a viewing angle as we've seen elsewhere--for example, on the Motion LE1600. With the Tecra M4 in tablet mode or laid flat beneath overhead lights, we had problems viewing the screen at a 45-degree angle.
Measuring 12.9 inches wide, 11.4 inches deep, and approximately 1.5 inches thick, the Toshiba Tecra M4 has the same dimensions as the Toshiba Satellite R15; both are significantly larger than the other convertible tablets we've seen, such as the HP Compaq tc4200 and the Averatec C3500. Again, the Tecra M4 is one of the heaviest tablets around and really appropriate only for carrying down the hall and on occasional trips.
Nevertheless, the touchpad is large and sensitive, and it has a second set of function keys that are better positioned for use with the included pointing stick. The unit does have a handy volume dial on the front edge, but it lacks any multimedia shortcut buttons.
Like most mid-sized multimedia laptops, the M4 has a full complement of ports, an SD memory card slot, and a port to accommodate a Toshiba docking station. Unlike most convertibles, the M4 has serious graphics chops. The 3DMark2001 score of nearly 12,000 suggests that the M4 won’t balk at playing most current games at acceptable resolutions. The NVIDIA GeForce Go 6200 TE video chipset even ran Doom 3 at 1020 x 768 for us without a hiccup.
It’s solid as a multimedia notebook, but the M4 is merely a serviceable Tablet. The display flips around to lock over the keyboard with a single reversible latch, but we were disappointed that it wiggled a bit on the base. The Toshiba display does not automatically switch to portrait orientation in Tablet mode, and its limited array of two launch buttons and a four-way scrolling stick does not include the handy display orientation switch you find on many other Tablets. The 6.4-pound heft is tolerable for carrying in the crook of an arm, but we wish Toshiba had smoothed, contoured, or rubberized the M4’s bottom for a more comfortable Tablet feel.
Tablet mode, tablet buttons, and stylus
If you want to see life on the big screen, the Toshiba Tecra M4 is the tablet for you. While the Acer TravelMate C301XCi, the Gateway M275, and the Toshiba Satellite R15 all feature 14-inch screens, none can touch the Tecra M4's superfine 1,400x1,050 SXGA+ native resolution, which lets you view multiple windows while in landscape mode. Unfortunately, the screen is prone to glare and doesn't have as wide a viewing angle as we've seen elsewhere--for example, on the Motion LE1600. With the Tecra M4 in tablet mode or laid flat beneath overhead lights, we had problems viewing the screen at a 45-degree angle.
The large dimensions do allow for some creature comforts, including a spacious keyboard and two pointing options: an eraser-head pointing stick (similar to the TrackPoint on ThinkPads) and a touch pad. As on the HP Compaq tc4200, the pointing stick and the touch pad each has its own mouse button, and the touch pad features horizontal and vertical scroll zones. With the Tecra M4 in tablet mode, you can navigate and write on the screen with a stylus that has the bulk of a ballpoint pen and offers a good pen-on-paper feel. However, we prefer the rubberized grip and the thick Montblanc feel of the Motion LE1600's stylus. We also wish the Tecra M4's pen had a tether to keep us from losing it.
Wireless
There are two options for Intel integrated wireless, and I chose B/G as I have no need for 802.11A. The tablet connects to my router without problem. I chose not to get bluetooth, but it is also available as an option. There is an infrared port on the left side, but I do not use that either.
Battery
Battery is one of the weaknesses of the M4. which Toshiba claims will give you a total of 6 hours of battery life. With max settings for the processor, the cooling, and the brightest level the battery will last about 2 hours 20 minutes which should be enough to finish a dvd. By contrast, the Toshiba Satellite R15's lasted 4 hours, 42 minutes, and the HP Compaq tc4200's lasted 4 hours, 56 minutes. If you don't need the DVD drive, you might want to consider swapping it out for an additional slim SelectBay battery ($169). On the long life setting for use with normal workloads the battery should be able to get a little over 3 hours and maybe a bit longer with the wireless off. There is also an optional battery which can replace the DVD drive which can increase the battery life by another 2.5 hours. Since I did not choose this option I can't really say for sure. I believe that the shorter battery life is due in a large part to powering the digitizer, which thus gives this notebook a somewhat shorter battery life than comparable notebooks.
Benchmarks and performance:
The performance on my tablet is awesome especially when you consider all of the processes and programs running in the backgroud. There are about 80 processes running at any given time, and since I don't know which of these can be eliminated yet these performance numbers are pretty good.
Super Pi: I ran this benchmark to 2 million digits with the 80+ processes running including Windows firewall and McAfee virus scan with the full power settings and the laptop plugged in.
| Notebook | Time to Calculate Pi to 2 Million Digits |
| Toshiba Tecra M4 (1.86GHz Sonoma Pentium M) | 1m 45s |
| Gateway 7426GX (AMD Athlon 3700+) | 1m 39s |
| IBM ThinkPad T43 (1.86GHz Alviso Pentium M) | 1m 45s |
| Fujitsu LifeBook N3510 (1.73 GHz Alviso Pentium M) | 1m 48s |
| IBM ThinkPad T41 (1.6GHz Banias Pentium M) | 2m 23s |
| Compaq R3000T (Celeron 2.8GHz) | 3m 3s |
| Dell Inspiron 600m (1.6 GHz Dothan Pentium M) | 2m 10s |
| Dell Inspiron 8600 (1.7GHz Banias Pentium M) | 2m 28s |
PCMark04 Results (alongside IBM ThinkPad T43 1.86GHz Pentium M results)
| Futuremark PCMark04 Scores | ||
| IBM T43 (1.86GHz) | Toshiba Tecra M4 (1.86 GHz) | |
| Multithreaded Test 1 / File Compression | 3.33 MB/s | 3.36 MB/s |
| Multithreaded Test 1 / File Encryption | 27.19 MB/s | 27.88 MB/s |
| Multithreaded Test 2 / File Decompression | 23.4 MB/s | 24.27 MB/s |
| Multithreaded Test 2 / Image Processing | 10.88 MPixels/s | 10.98 MPixels/s |
| Multithreaded Test 3 / Virus Scanning | 1914.17 MB/s | 1889.77 MB/s |
| Multithreaded Test 3 / Grammar Check | 2.82 KB/s | 2.94 KB/s |
| File Decryption | 54.11 MB/s | 55.26 MB/s |
| Audio Conversion | 2496.87 KB/s | 2537.37 KB/s |
| Web Page Rendering | 5.27 Pages/s | 5.57 Pages/s |
| DivX Video Compression | 51.71 FPS | 51.17 FPS |
| Physics Calculation and 3D | 159.19 FPS | 182.51 FPS |
| Graphics Memory - 64 Lines | 868.44 FPS | 1180.33 FPS |