The Bottom Line
Jan 17 2012 - Toshiba's first entry into the all-in-one desktop market is a noble attempt that is held back by the companies reliance on mobile parts. Performance is slower than many competing systems and it just doesn't have enough standout features. For instance, it comes with a touchscreen display but lacks any real software to take advantage of it. At least they did include such items as USB 3.0 ports and HDMI input so it isn't held back in terms of use with external devices. The $1000 price is also quite reasonable but there just isn't enough to set this apart from its competition making it just an average offering.
Pros
- Touchscreen Interface
- Pedestal Base Offers Storage Area For Keyboard And Mouse
- USB 3.0 and HDMI Input Ports
Cons
- Performance Lags Behind Much Of The Competition
- Lacks Any Touch Interface Specific Software
- Keyboard Dongle Not Installed And Difficult To Place
Description
- Intel Core i5-2450M Dual Core Mobile Processor
- 6GB PC3-10600 DDR3 Memory
- 1TB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
- 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
- 23" WUXGA (1920x1080) Mutlitouch Display With Intel HD Graphics 3000 Integrated Graphics
- Intel 7.1 HDA Audio With Stereo Speakers
- Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth
- Two USB 2.0, Four USB 2.0, HDMI (Input), 8-in-1 Card Reader
- 25.6" x 17.3" x 7.5"
- Windows 7 Home Premium, Office Starter
Review - Toshiba DX735-D3330
Jan 17 2012 - Toshiba prowess with laptop computers shows with their choice of base components for the DX735-D3300 all-in-one. While most companies have been moving away from mobile parts to faster desktop components, Toshiba has elected to use a dual core Intel Core i5-2450M mobile processor. While this is a decent class of mobile part, it trails against the quad Core i5 desktop processors found in many of the competing systems such as the Apple iMac that is priced just slightly higher than this $1000 system. It will do just fine for the majority of consumers users but will definitely be noticeable if you are doing something like desktop video editing that requires more performance. The processor is matched up with 6GB of DDR3 memory which is fairly typical of many at this price point and should provide a sufficient smooth enough experience in Windows 7.
Storage features for are acceptable for this price range but it would have been nice to see a bit more. Specifically, Toshiba includes a dual layer DVD burner for playback and recording of CD and DVD media. It would have been nice to see a Blu-ray compatible drive included for watching the high definition movies but it would have likely pushed the price over $1000. At least there is an HDMI video input for use with an external player, receiver or game console. A 1TB drive offers a fair amount of storage space for applications, data and media files. The drive is a standard desktop model that offers very good performance especially compared to the variable speed drives many companies have switched to. If that isn't enough storage for you, there are two USB 3.0 ports for use with high speed peripherals such as hard drives.
The 23-inch display of the DX735 has both good and bad aspects to it. First, it uses a traditional pedestal based like most monitors. This is nice in that it frees up space underneath the monitor for storing the keyboard when it isn't in use. The downside is that the range of tilt on it isn't as high as some newer models that make using the touchscreen easier. It is a trade off that consumers will need to consider. As for the touchscreen itself, is uses a standard IR sensor display rather than a capacitive design. This means the display is recessed slightly to fit the sensors in the bezel. This form of sensor also tends to have a bit more lag. One big drawback here is the lack of any real additional touch enabled software to really use the interface compared to HP's TouchSmart software that will soon be renamed Magic Canvas.
The graphics system itself relies upon the integrated graphics processor that is built into the Core i5 processor. This isn't uncommon for many all-in-one systems but it is a bit disappointing as the Intel HD Graphics 3000 lacks Direct X 11 features or even sufficient performance for casual 3D gaming. It does provide a performance boost for encoding digital video when using QuickSync enabled software but still lacks the overall acceleration for non-3D applications that a dedicated graphics processor can provide.
Toshiba provides a wireless keyboard and mouse with the DX735 which is worth commenting about in several areas. First, the wireless devices require that a USB dongle. The problem is that this is a mini-USB connector that must be plugged into a special port behind one of the read panels. Why this isn't installed by the manufacturer or use a standard USB port interface makes it much more difficult for consumers to get their system setup. The keyboard itself is a nice looking design with a flat isolate key design typical of many laptops but the glossy coating makes it a bit difficult to use. A better surface texture would make it more functional.
