4. Technical Data and Equipment

Toshiba equips the Tecra A9 with a 2-GHz Core 2 Duo T7250 with Merom core and 2 MB of L2 cache. It has an Intel GM965 chip set with integrated graphics and 2 GB of memory. The 250-GB hard drive from Hitachi comes with two partitions and a recovery area. There’s a CD/DVD Multi-burner from Matshita for optical media. Windows Vista Business is installed as the operating system, but you also get a recovery DVD with Windows XP Professional.

When it comes to connecting to a network, the Tecra A9 is well equipped. Besides gigabit Ethernet and modem it offers the WLAN standards 802.11 a/b/g and Draft-n, and with Bluetooth you can connect to your cell phone, organizer, headset and other gear. The old Infrared port is history, and a UMTS model is not yet integrated. Even more interesting is that the device includes a serial interface. It also has a fingerprint scanner with a TPM 1.2 chip, now standard for business notebooks.

Wasted space: Only the optical drive and a single USB port are on the right side.

In terms of other interfaces or extension options, Toshiba takes the minimalist approach with the Tecra A9. The multi-card-reader is compatible with MS, MS Pro, MMC, SD and xD media. The CardBus slot takes a Type II PC Card.

On the left side is the card reader, a PC-Card slot, two USB ports and a serial interface.

Despite room for more, there are only three USB 2.0 ports on the Tecra A9—that’s the minimum for an office device. The two ports on the left side are vertically stacked; a thicker USB stick or TV dongle in one port would block the other port. FireWire, digital monitor ports and S-Video are missing completely. This can be solved by using a docking station or port replicator from Toshiba, so it’s helpful to have a suitable connector for such a device on the underbody.

VGA, modem and network connections are on the back, along with some space for additional USB ports.

Toshiba offers a double warranty for the Tecra A9. If the notebook fails within the warranty period, the manufacturer not only repairs it, but gives you all your money back. This is intended as proof to business customers that Toshiba believes in its products, and it may be an important selling point for some buyers. The only catch: You have to register with Toshiba within one week of buying to take advantage of the offer.

Classic front: Audio connectors, volume dial and WLAN switch.

Toshiba doesn’t give you a lot of software. Special versions of InterVideos WinDVD and Magix’s Photo Suite are preinstalled. You’ll also find the usual suspects: a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office and a 90-day trial version of Norton Internet Security. You’ll also get a bunch of Toshiba utilities—to burn CDs and DVDs, adjust hardware settings and so on.