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Battery Life
The Tecra's battery life is slightly behind the Portege's as well. In our PA3929U-1BRS battery test, which stresses processor and graphics at 100 per cent with the TFT slightly dimmed, the R940 achieved a respectable 126 minutes. As with many other Toshiba models, however, this one offers an eco mode that cuts power and performance to some key components. In this mode, the R940 lasted a very respectable 231 minutes. You do lose the full capabilities of the processor and graphics in this mode, but if you need to work on the move for an extended period, the TOSHIBA Tecra R940 will provide this, with the added option of greater performance if you need it for shorter periods. The battery is removable, too, so you could carry a spare if required.
Case
Of particular importance is the meticulous build quality. Parts fit together tightly with no exception. Owing partially to the sturdiness of the chosen construction materials, there is very little flex anywhere across the base of the unit. The only areas which experience any notable bending under pressure are those which border the keyboard on the left- and right-hand sides; and of those two, only the right-hand side (just above the optical drive) exhibits any truly significant flex. Unless the notebook is gripped and held up only from the right side, this is unlikely to be apparent under the scrutiny of typical use. The notebook is also comfortable for use on the lap. Its reasonable weight of 2.084 kg (just slightly heavier than its predecessor) combined with the rigidity of its casing puts it in the same league as such competitors as Dell’s Latitude E5430 and Lenovo’s ThinkPad T430.
The TOSHIBA Tecra R940 display lid is built from the same high-grade plastic as the rest of the unit, featuring a characteristic (yet subtle) grooved pattern which is also found on the palmrest. Although this material is highly fingerprint resistant, it can’t compare to the sturdiness of the metal-construction aluminum and magnesium alloy lids of the Latitudes and ThinkPads. LCD distortion results if any degree of significant pressure is applied to the lid, something which is harder to provoke in many other business-grade notebooks. Still, it’s a clear step above most consumer-grade notebooks, which feature flimsy plastic display lids that hardly protect the panel in the event of an accident.
Meanwhile, the hinges supporting the lid do a fine job. The display remains reliably cocked at whatever angle the user desires in spite of any incidental shifts in movement. About the only point of contention with the design here is the questionable durability of the shiny plastic hinge covers (meant to resemble stainless steel), which seem somewhat out of place when coupled with the rest of the notebook’s construction.
Connectivity
The TOSHIBA Tecra R940 provides an adequate selection of expansion ports, though the number of included USB ports (3 in total—2 of which are USB 3.0 and one of which is USB 2.0/eSATA) might seem a little restrictive. The USB 2.0/eSATA combo port also features Sleep and Charge functionality, which (optionally) enables you to charge any device attached even while the notebook is sleeping. There’s also an ExpressCard 34 mm slot and a docking station port on the bottom, both of which could be used to add more ports if desired. (PABAS235 batteries)
The ports are crammed together puzzlingly in such a way that any attached USB devices are almost certainly guaranteed to eventually get in the way of other devices, whether it’s an ExpressCard adapter or another USB device. Part of the reason for the unforgiving port positioning is the lack of ports on the rear of the notebook (which is obstructed by the display lid when open), but there is a surprising amount of wasted space on both sides of the single DisplayPort which ideally could have been repurposed to give the nearby USB ports a little more room to breathe.
On the brighter side, that single DisplayPort actually can be used (along with the adjacent VGA port and the built-in LCD) to facilitate up to four different simultaneous displays. This is a feature which many businesspeople are likely to find liberating.
Keyboard
The TOSHIBA Tecra R940 includes an impressive chiclet-style keyboard that feels nearly perfectly-tuned. The keys have a crisp stroke and require just a bit of force to depress, featuring sufficient travel and decisive feedback that makes typing a pleasure. The surface of the keys is smooth and comfortable, and it almost feels like it’s made of magnesium alloy. About the only criticism is the small arrow keys, which work fine, but are easy to confuse with one another due to their identical feel and the almost single-key design of the up/down buttons. It’s so far ahead of the keyboards on Toshiba’s lower-end Satellite models that it makes us wish they weren’t only reserved for the business segment.
Touchpad
On the other hand, the integrated Alps Electric touchpad leaves something to be desired. It isn’t bad, per se, but the pointer controls lack the accuracy of, say, comparable Synaptics-brand touchpads. The response speed also appears to be a bit delayed. Even the buttons below the touchpad, for all their quietness, lack the detectable “click” feel that makes using them second-nature, and instead exude a sort of mushy feel. On the positive side, the pad is certainly sufficiently large, and its finish is smooth and unrestrictive.
The included pointing stick is almost too tiny to be practical, but those accustomed in its use may well prefer it to the touchpad. A small button below the spacebar disables the touchpad with a single press.
Display
Toshiba offers two different 14-inch display options for the TOSHIBA Tecra R940: a standard HD (1366x768) display and an HD+ (1600x900) display, both thankfully augmented with a matte finish. Our review unit includes an HD+ display, and, as many business professionals would surely agree, we appreciate the additional real estate it provides. Having said that, the actual subjective quality of the display, both in terms of brightness and color quality, is unremarkable. Colors are somewhat washed-out, and brightness appears lacking in well-lit environments.(PA3832U-1BRS batteries)
We turned to our measurements for quantification of our initial observations. In terms of luminosity, the display yielded an unexceptional 200 nits, a fact which presents no problems in standard indoor lighting, but which quickly shows its limitations when brighter circumstances are introduced. The panel’s abysmal contrast ratio of 136:1 has this to thank, coupled with the unfortunately high black value of 1.71 cd/m². Brightness distribution is also relatively disparate at just 78%. In spite of its shortcomings, the display still suffices for office use; given conventional indoor lighting conditions, most users will likely find a brightness setting of around 7/8 most comfortable (approx. 150 cd/m²).
It should come as no surprise that the included panel is equally disappointing in terms of sRGB coverage, where it manages just 64% of the spectrum. As always, it’s important to remember that, while greater color space coverage can provide a better overall experience, it is generally only critical to those interested in photography, graphic design, and other such activities. If color accuracy is important to you, it might be prudent to consider competing options, such as the HP Probook 6465b or, best of all, any number of notebooks with high-end IPS displays, such as the ASUS Zenbook UX32VD or the Dell Precision M4700 with upgraded RGB LED display option.
Thanks to the screen’s matte finish, outdoor use is possible, but certainly not optimal thanks to the detrimental brightness and contrast ratio values. Operation in shaded environments is recommended, as when direct sunlight is introduced, the screen quickly washes out even on the highest brightness setting. Many competing business notebooks (such as the Dell Latitude E5430 and Lenovo ThinkPad T430) provide better outdoor capabilities thanks to brighter panels and better black values.
The hinge design of the TOSHIBA Tecra R940 limits its opening angle to about 120 degrees, which is quite narrow in comparison with most other business notebooks. Regardless, the practicality of its use in such situations is questionable at best thanks to the panel’s unimpressive viewing angles. As is typically the case with most low-grade TN display panels, don’t expect to be able to comfortably view the screen at anything greater than 45 degrees to any side.
Speakers
As illustrated by our photos of the system, the TOSHIBA Tecra R940 speakers are tiny indeed. The sound completely lacks bass and is overall quite flat. However, it goes without saying that, for all its strengths, the TOSHIBA Tecra R940 doesn’t seek to compete in the realm of entertainment. As a business notebook, very little can be expected of the audio system, which essentially exists merely to provide the very basics. If more is desired, there is always the option of an external speaker system.
Verdict
The R940-1CW isn't the hugely equipped Toshiba Tecra of old, but it isn't as hugely expensive either. It is a little more pricey than the average 14in notebook, but has a reassuringly solid build, understated looks and some useful extra features, in particular the ExpressCard slot, DisplayPort and 3G data option. It's not breaking any boundaries, but won't disappoint as a solid business traveller, where 13in models are just that little bit too small.
More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu
