Review

Created: June, 1999

Toshiba Satellite 2610 Notebook Computer

By Mike Oliveira, Cyberwalker Media Syndicate

They say you get what you pay for, but that's not always a bad thing. The Toshiba Satellite 2610 isn't the most powerful system on the market, but its $1,799 US ($2,700 Canadian) price tag makes it a bargain. It also has some extras that separate it from its budget-priced competition, such as its stylish case and DVD drive.

If you don't need a cutting-edge processor with every bell and whistle, this notebook is worth a look. The question is, does this notebook have enough computer power for you?

Unless you're doing graphic design or otherwise need obscene amounts of RAM (random access memory), you'll probably be fine. The Pentium Celeron 433 MHz (megahertz) processor is more than adequate for anything from word-processing to Web surfing. Its 64 MB (megabytes) of RAM is pretty much standard, as is its 6 GB (gigabyte) hard drive.

The bonus is a DVD drive that plays not only DVD movies and software but also CDs, CDRs (CDs created in a CD burner) and CD-RWs (CDs that were created in a CD burner and can be overwritten). A nice touch is the row of buttons on the notebook's front panel to control an audio CD or DVD movie. It's surprising to get such an extra, considering the Satellite 2610 is one of Toshiba's most inexpensive models. You have to wonder why Toshiba saved this little touch for its cheapest notebook and didn't even include it with its powerful Tecra line.

This definitely isn't the lightest model on the market. If your notebook just get carried from one room to another, weight is not an issue. But if your morning ritual consists of a walk to the subway station and a 15-minute walk to the office, you'll notice its size every day. At 6 pounds, you'll feel its weight on your shoulder. Add the included power adapter and you won't want to add much more to your computer bag when on the go.

With a three-hour batter, you don't have to worry about running out of power on short road trips. You may even find yourself leaving the power adapter at home, making your bag a little easier to lug around.
You can stretch those three hours of battery power even further with the aid of Toshiba's power saving tools. By reducing the monitor's brightness or overall processing power, you can tack on valuable minutes to your battery's life span.

Another handy addition is the hibernation feature. If you need to stop what you're doing fast, then just turn off the computer. There's no need to save, exit or power down. Your progress is saved to the hard drive and when you turn on the computer again you're back where you left off. Hibernation will also kick in as your battery is about to run out, saving you in case you're unaware of your lack of battery power.

It may not be the sexiest notebook on the market but Toshiba's Satellite 2610 is a workhorse that will do the job. If you don't mind sacrificing a little bit of performance and convenience for a big savings, this notebook is worth a look. It offers nice extras, such as a DVD drive, that you won't find equipped in the competition's budget models.

Reviewer's rating: 4.25 / 5

Comments: An affordable notebook that's not top of the line, Toshiba's Satellite 2610 is a workhorse that provides more than enough computing power.

Specifications: Intel Celeron 433 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 2.5 MB of RAM, 6 GB hard drive, floppy drive, 4X DVD, 24X CD ROM that can play CDs, CDRs and CD-RWs, 12.1-inch screen, AccuPoint II pointing device, PC Card slot, Sound Blaster Pro, internal 56k modem.

Price: $1,799 US, $2,700 Canadian

More info: http://www.toshiba.com or http://www.toshiba.ca