Toshiba Qosmio G20

Posted by T3 Online on Wed 31 Oct 2007

Just don't drop it on your foot.

Unless you're built like a Russian shot-putter with a thyroid problem, this is a laptop in styling only. The average person is likely to cut off the circulation in their legs if they stuck this hefty Media Centre PC on their thighs.

But that's okay, as Toshiba makes no bones about the fact that this is more of a compact, portable desktop model than a notebook. And thanks to a piano-black finish and some ice-blue lights, this will look good on any desk.

Its spec is good for a laptop, but nothing special for a desktop - a 2.13GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, a pair of 100GB hard disks, a DVD-RAM drive and the usual wireless options of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It's good for multimedia, although some hard-core gamers will require more beefiness.

The first thing you notice when the G20 is fired up is the amazing clarity of the 17-inch screen - it's the best we've seen on a portable, with fantastic colour and brightness bursting from every pixel. Fed a Hi-Def video file, it's hard not to be gobsmacked by the detail and fluidity of motion.

Sound quality is surprisingly good, thanks to a pair of Harman Kardon speakers, and volume can be controlled using a large dial set next to the keyboard.

Our concern is the price, which is a little too much for what is essentially a compact desktop with a decent spec and a screen that can't be upgraded in size. But if you want portability and style to go with your Media Centre, this won't disappoint