Toshiba Qosmio G55-Q802

It’s not every day that a new notebook processor appears, let alone that said processor is not from Intel or AMD. So we were eagerto get our hands on the new Toshiba Qosmio G55-Q802. It takes all the multimedia goodness we’ve come to expect from the Qosmio line and adds a unique Toshiba Quad Core HD co-processor to complement the primary Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. Mix in an Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics, and you have a potent performer for multimedia and gaming. The Quad Core HD processor also enables Gesture Control, which lets you direct actions (such as starting or stopping multimedia playback) with hand movements, though this gee-whiz features a Version 1.0 implementation. And the lack of a Blu-ray optical drive, even as an option, is a huge letdown for a multimedia machine.

Design

Put simply, we love almost everything about the industrial design of the G55-Q802. The lid is done in glossy tone-on-tone gray pinstripes, and the base is glossy black with chrome accents. Even the black keyboard has a glossy finish, which leads us to our one complaint: The keyboard deck and keys show fingerprints readily, enough to put anal-retentive types into a full-blown panic attack. But we love the white LEDs that illuminate the touchpad, the circular volume control, and the full contingent of multimedia controls above the Function-key row; they are much easier on the eyes (both literally and figuratively) than the blue LEDs that have become a staple among consumer electronics.

The 18.4-inch widescreen display provides enough room for a full-size number pad adjacent the keyboard. The chrome-finish mouse buttons (which also smudge easily) are generously oversized, though the pebble-finish touchpad could be larger to match the screen’s ample dimensions. As expected from a desktop replacement, the G55-Q802 is no bantamweight, but its 10.8-pound heft is in line with the likes of the HP HDX 18 and other big-screen luggables. You wouldn’t want to carry the G55-Q802 every day, but it’s manageable for moving from room to room or for taking on a weekend trip.

Ports and Connections

Toshiba has included all the ports you would expect on a multimedia-centric machine. The left side has a flip-down door to conceal the ExpressCard/54 slot, memory card reader, and USB and FireWire ports when not in use. On the right side are two more USB ports, a connector for the FM tuner antenna (on models equipped with that option), and headphone and mic jacks. Around the back is a VGA connector, a LAN jack, an eSATA port for connecting external drives, and an HDMI jack for connecting to an external monitor. Toshiba thoughtfully added its Sleep and Charge technology to the USB ports, which lets users recharge connected devices (such as phones and MP3 players) while the computer is off.