- Inexpensive
- Good performance for light tasks
- Weak speakers
- No Bluetooth
Reviewers say the Toshiba mini NB255 is the best cheap netbook for shoppers on a budget. Different though similar configurations of the Toshiba netbook get excellent user reviews, and the NB255 scores a recommendation from a leading testing organization as well. The 10.1-inch netbook comes with a 1.66 GHz Intel Atom processor, 1 GB of RAM and a six-cell Lithium-ion battery. The netbook typically comes with a 160 GB hard drive, but a slightly more expensive version -- the NB255-N250, sold only at Best Buy, swaps that out for a 250 GB drive.
Reviewers say the Toshiba mini NB255 is a great netbook for basic computer tasks like checking email, surfing the web or composing basic documents. Like most inexpensive netbooks, the Toshiba mini is not suited to streaming video, gaming or editing media files. Battery life averages six hours, which isn't bad -- many netbooks in this price range have three-cell batteries and don't last as long on a charge. However, numerous reviewers complain about the netbook's speakers, saying they are weak and tinny. If you can afford to spend more, the Asus Eee PC 1015PEM (Discontinued) has battery life exceeding eight hours.
Many professional reviewers neglect cheap netbooks, so there are few expert evaluations of the Toshiba mini NB255. However, ConsumerReports.org includes the NB255-N250 configuration in its latest test while Laptop Magazine examines the nearly identical (save smaller hard-drive) NB255-N245. You can read user reviews at BestBuy.com, Amazon.com and Newegg.com
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.org
The Toshiba mini NB255-N250 is one of the many netbooks ConsumerReports.org includes in its latest test. Each netbook is rated on portability, ergonomics, performance, versatility, display and speakers.
Review: Netbook Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, As of Nov. 2010
2. Laptop Magazine
Laptop Magazine looks at the Toshiba NB255-N245 and gives it a mixed review. On the plus side, performance is described as above average overall. However, while K.T. Bradford admits that at well over six hours, battery performance is very good, the NB255 is dinged for not lasting as long in that department as its predecessor.
Review: Toshiba Mini NB255, K.T. Bradford, Aug. 13, 2010
3. BestBuy.com
More than 50 owners have reviewed the Toshiba mini NB255-N250 at BestBuy.com. The netbook gets a 4.3-star rating, and more than 90 percent of users say they would recommend it to a friend. Although battery life isn't as long as advertised, most reviewers are pleased with the portability and everyday performance.
Review: Toshiba -- Mini Netbook -- NB255-N250, Contributors to BestBuy.com
4. Amazon.com
Nearly 40 owners report on the Toshiba NB255 here (the NB255-N245 configuration, to be specific), and most like what they see. Some issues are cited with a vendor, some have issues adding additional RAM -- and get help from other owners addressing that. Others say they are happy on the whole with the netbook.
Review: Toshiba Mini NB255-N245, Contributors to Amazon.com
5. NewEgg.com
There are fewer reviews of the Toshiba NB255-N245 at Newegg.com than elsewhere, but the owner input is helpful as posters here tend to have a good level of technical expertise. The only completely unhappy owner cites the inability to effectively run Linux on the netbook. Two others say battery life is disappointing. Most others are happy and the netbook earns a 4 "egg" overall score.
Review: Toshiba NB255-N245, Contributors to Newegg.com
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