Toshiba Satellite Z830 ultrabook review

Product Toshiba Satellite Z830 ultrabook
Website www.toshiba.co.uk
Specifications 13.3in LED backlit 1366x768 display, Intel Core i5 2467M dual-core 1.6GHz processor, 6GB of DDR3 RAM, 128GB SSD, headphone-out, audio-out, Ethernet, USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, SD card reader, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, 15.9mm, 1.1kg.
Price £899

THE ULTRABOOK is the new class of notebook promoted by Intel and Toshiba's Satellite Z830 is a sturdy first ultrabook from the Japanese firm.

When splashing out the cash on a premium product like an ultrabook we expect the design and look to be top quality, and the Z830 does look attractive. For starters the magnesium alloy casing looks sleek and the laptop is most definitely thin at 15.9mm.

Clever design
A really nice design touch that we like is that you can open the lid of the laptop with one finger. Traditionally you have to hold the bottom half of a laptop down to stop it from lifting up along with the lid, but that's not the case here. The action is smooth and satisfying.

The inside features the same good looking finish as the outside with a black keyboard. Unfortunately the overall shape of the device is quite square with harsh edges, which means that it doesn't look as good as rivals like the Asus Zenbook and Apple Macbook Air.

The Satellite Z830's compact design makes it versatile and a great laptop for taking around with you. Toshiba has managed to get the weight down to an impressive 1.1kg, undercutting the Zenbook at 1.3kg and the Macbook Air at 1.35kg. A laptop this light deserves credit and we found carrying it around to be no problem at all.

Good specifications but no higher option
A high-end laptop should provide a decent set of specifications and the Toshiba is a good example of this despite its slim profile. Our review model came with the capable and reliable Intel Core i5-2467M dual-core processor with a clock speed of 1.6GHz. Using Intel Turbo Boost technology the clock speed can rise to 2.3GHz.

If you want to save a bit of cash then there is a Core i3 version, but it's a bit disappointing that you can't opt for an Intel Core i7 for this ultrabook.