Review: The Toshiba Portégé Z20t
Federal users want an ultralight notebook computer and tablet with a crisp, clear display, multiple ports and long battery life, while administrators seek durability, a long warranty and management functionality.
The Toshiba Portégé Z20t will make both happy.
A combination notebook and tablet, the Z20t features a 12.5-inch, 1080p display with a wonderful anti-glare finish, yet maintains a bright, sharp picture that makes small and light fonts clear and readable.
The Z20t’s core processor sits inside a 1.8-pound tablet that connects with a detachable keyboard for easy transition to notebook duty.
The tablet can be docked in two directions: Users can prop it up in presentation mode or position it flat for a thicker tablet. The Z20t feels solid, but the hinges give a little, so there is some bounce when using the touch screen in notebook mode.
The Portégé Z20t Is a Power Player
The Z20t’s battery is simply epic.
During tests, the computer’s three-cell, 36-watt-hour Lithium-ion battery held its life for 7 hours and 20 minutes during a continuous movie playback test in balanced mode.
The keyboard dock includes a matching battery pack that adds an additional 6 hours and 48 minutes of life — for a total of more than 14 hours.
A 45W AC adapter charges both batteries, plugging into the tablet or keyboard dock.
The Z20t does not use fans, which keeps it incredibly quiet, but it rarely feels hot. The backlit keyboard features raised keys that respond well to pressure and clean easily. Both the Windows 8 gesture touchpad and AccuPoint pointing stick provide solid input options, but the Wacom digitizer pen is the best way to navigate. If the pen is too thick for you, Toshiba includes a second, smaller pressure-sensitive digitizer pen that works just as well.
