My Windows 8.1 Laptop: Toshiba C50-A-E0110
So I bought a new Toshiba 15.6″ Laptop with 2 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD, Intel Dual Core processor, Windows 8.1 OS, DVD Drive, and 6-Cell Battery at around Rs. 20,000 INR. Isn’t that cool? But wait, not everything is rosy.
Main Specs of Toshiba C50-A-E0110 Laptop:
Windows 8.1 Pre-loaded
Intel Celeron Dual-Core Processor (2.13 GHz)
2 GB DDR RAM (Expandable up to 8 GB)
500 GB; 5400 RPM Hard drive
15.6″ Screen; 1366 x 768 resolution
Built-in DVD Drive
Built-in Speakers, Camera, Mic
802.11n WiFi
1 x USB 3.0 port; 2 x USB 2.0 port; 1 x HDMI port; 1 x Ethernet port; 1 x Audio out port
1-year Warranty
Price: Around 20k INR approx. (this keeps varying)
Overall Review: Excellent Value for Money. Branded laptop with decent specs and pre-loaded Windows 8.1 at 20,000 Rupees is AMAZING. But, Windows 8.1 OS lags quite a bit, especially if you overtax it with multiple applications or even multiple windows. This laptop is an excellent option for working with Linux Mint/Ubuntu OS as primary OS and having Windows 8.1 as secondary OS (Dual-boot).
Actually, I thought I’ll install Linux Mint immediately after buying, but I forced myself to use Windows 8.1 OS for a month. I am writing this review after this initial one month trial period. Now I am not sure if I should continue with Windows 8.1 OS or install Linux Mint alongside and make that my primary OS!
The Windows 8.1 OS is not that bad. If you work on simple applications and minimum open windows on the browser, it is fine. But at times the computer can’t handle too many messages in my Thunderbird email client or too many chrome tabs/windows. It hangs and I have to open task manager to close the program or just wait for the app to become more responsive (it does, after sometime).
I am afraid to even get into the Apps mode, and hence I am working from the Desktop mode only. Some apps like MS Paint have hanged twice already, but most other apps I have worked with (mostly 2D graphical applications like Inkscape, Scribus, Art Text, etc.) work fine. I don’t think this computer can even handle 3D graphics, big games, or heavy video editing tools. At least not in Windows 8.1. If you want to use such applications I suggest you to go with Intel i3 and 4 GB RAM (at minimum).
I am really tempted to go back to Linux. My old Toshiba laptop worked very well on Linux even after 5 years with just 512 MB of RAM! That’s why I decided to buy a Toshiba laptop again. I am sure Linux Mint will ROCK on this system. But since I need to use some Windows only applications, I am hesitating and hope to get used to handling Windows on this system. Let’s see.
The hardware configuration of this laptop (for this price range) is too good. There are 3 USB ports (I am using all three). DVD Drive is a must. I don’t use HDMI Port, but it’s there. VGA port is useful (to connect and work with a larger monitor). 500 GB hard drive is more than sufficient for me. The 6-Cell battery works non-stop for 5-6 hours: I am yet to exhaust it!
You’ll need to buy a mouse though. The mouse pad is not very smooth. The speakers are average – I use external speakers or headphones. The monitor is quite large and wide at 15.6″. The keyboard, surprisingly, has a separate number pad and that’s handy to input numbers quickly. I just wish the delete and backspace keys were larger and kept in a more prominent location (like extreme top right). It’s somewhat bulky and heavy, but for the size and many components it offers, that’s a trade off I ought to live with. It’s still lighter than my old 13.3″ Toshiba laptop!
Altogether, this laptop is OK to use with Windows 8.1 if you mostly use ‘light’ apps and you have patience. But it is an excellent option to work with Linux Mint/Ubuntu primarily and use Windows 8.1 OS occasionally. For this price, I highly recommend this laptop.
Destination Infinity
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