Toshiba Portege M300 review

Memory allocation is 512MB of DDR SDRAM, with 256MB on the motherboard itself. You can insert a stick of up to 1GB in the single slot, giving a maximum of 1.25GB. Up to 64MB of system memory can be dynamically used by the integrated graphics.

But the key difference with IBM's X40 is the inclusion of an impressive DVD SuperMulti drive, taking in DVD-RAM as well as DVD +/- formats. It's mounted near the front on the right side, so it won't snag any cables you've plugged in - an example of the thoughtful design throughout the chassis.

Set further back you'll find a 56K modem, mini-FireWire and two USB 2 ports with an SD/MMC slot and a CompactFlash slot above. Presentations are made easy with a front-mounted volume wheel, a side-mounted D-SUB, a display toggle button near the keyboard and surprisingly loud speakers. There's a handy on/off switch for the 802.11b/g WLAN, a Type II PC Card slot and a third USB 2 port (both the latter are positioned on the left). Only the 10/100 Ethernet jack is round the back of this intelligently laid-out notebook.

Toshiba has done a terrific job with the Portege M300. Its only weaknesses are a slightly cramped keyboard with tiny mouse buttons, and limited screen viewing angles. But it's locked down the essential ingredients of size, weight, strength, sheer usability and battery life to offer an effortlessly portable system. We'll give you a full update when production models become available, but the M300 looks an excellent alternative to IBM's ThinkPad X40 for those who prefer the built-in optical drive and touchpad.

Author: ROGER KIRKWOOD