Toshiba Tecra Z50-A1503

The Toshiba Tecra Z50 - A1503 ( $ 1599 , as tested ) is a 15.6 - inch business laptop that successfully finds middle ground between an ultrabook and a desktop - replacement notebook . The ultrabook - class Intel Core i7 CPU makes short work of both Office and multimedia activities , and it has some flair , with a thin and attractive metallic exterior . If you can pay the premium price , this powerful laptop that will serve well , but it is not the best you can get .


Design and Features
The Tecra Z50 - A15033 is wide , because it has a chassis to accommodate a 15.6 - inch screen . From the side , however , the system looks slim . It measures 0.8 by 15 by 10 inches ( HWD ) , and weighs a relatively light 3.71 pounds . In comparison , the aluminum -clad Apple MacBook Pro 15 - inch ( 2013) is just a little smaller, but 12 ounces heavier . Like the MacBook , shell Tecra Z50 - A1503 and palm rest are primarily silver metal ( although a much darker silver ) .

The keyboard has a comfortable feel , and the backlighting makes it easy to see in a darkened room key . Grooved mouse buttons are molded in one- piece trackpad , and a pair of separate mouse buttons complement the pointing stick . Although they are becoming more common , pointing sticks are in demand . NFC reader and a fingerprint reader is integrated into the trackpad , along with a row of status lights for power , charging , and drive activity . Numeric keypad The Tecra Z50 - A1503 has a slightly narrower keys than the rest of the keyboard , but it is still useful for serious number crunching .

The 15.6 - inch LCD screen , with a 1,920 -by - 1 , 080 resolution , is bright and clear . Sound from the built - in speakers is enhanced by the software DTS Sound Studio . They render clear enough for audio presentations in an office or conference room . The screen has an anti -glare coating , which helps tame reflections in a brightly lit room , but no touch screen . Because the system is set to use Windows 7 Professional out of the box , it is not as much of an issue . If you want to install the free upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro bundle , there may be some problems . The multitouch trackpad support touch gestures , but Windows 8.1 - optimized apps are really designed for touch screens . Systems like the Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch ( 2014 ) and Dell Latitude e7440 Touch both have Windows 8/8.1 and hit the screen .

Connectivity is plentiful Tecra Z50 - A1503 : an SD card reader , two USB 3.0 ports , a Gigabit Ethernet port , and a line of Kensington lock port on the right side of the laptop . The power jack , a VGA port , an HDMI port , a USB 2.0 port , a USB 3.0 port , and a headset jack on the left side . There is a docking port on the bottom , compatible with Hi - Speed ​​Port Replicator III Toshiba 's ( $ 199.99 ) if you need a semi - permanent home for the laptop at your desk and access to DisplayPort , DVI , and more USB port .

The fast 256GB SSD helps the system boot , and spacious enough to hold an abundance of office documents . Our review unit came with very little bloatware pre - loaded ; about the only extra program is the 30 - day trial subscription to Norton Internet Security and Norton Anti - Theft , and the usual trial copy of Microsoft Office . The system has a three year warranty .