Single-core CPUs and Windows 7 thin-and-lights shouldn't mix: Toshiba T135-S1300

Toshiba Satellite T135-S1300: single-core CPU inside.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

We have a bit of a beef with a trend that's currently happening in full-size (by that we mean 13-inch and above) thin-and-light laptops, the machines that as of late have shaved thickness at the expense of optical drives and often processor power. While the battery life on thin-and-lights generally exceeds expectations, the compromise that's often been used is incorporating a single-core ultra-low-voltage processor, which provides marginally better performance than the Atom processor on any Netbook.

Unfortunately, thin-and-lights are more expensive than Netbooks--often by several hundred dollars at the least--and other than increased screen size, they run the risk of not showing much extra value when going single-core. Even worse, it's hard for consumers to tell when their thin-and-light has a single-core or dual-core CPU inside. Thin-and-light laptops may look similar, but they're not all made the same. It's a deceptive world out there, especially since many thin-and-lights trade performance for a stylishly thin chassis, all while marketing a mainstream look that suggests performance equal to other notebooks.

The $599 Toshiba T135-S1300 is part of Toshiba's new T100 line of optical-drive-free thin-and-lights, losing thickness in exchange for a portable design competitive with products such as the Asus UL30A-A1 and the Acer Timeline 3810T. It's set to debut on October 22, when Windows 7 launches its way onto retail shelves and into PCs everywhere.

Unfortunately, while the design tries hard, it simply doesn't provide the power that its Windows 7-running, HDMI-port-toting countenance suggests. This is not a multimedia machine on a budget: rather, it's a slim but underpowered single-core 13.3-inch laptop.

That's not to say we aren't excited about Toshiba's long-term decision to slim down its laptops and enter the world of thin-and-lights, and in other configurations, the T100 series could provide better value. But right now, we were left a little in the cold.

Read the rest of our review of the Toshiba Satellite T135-S1300.

[seamonkey420]

i honestly do not use optical drives only on my main desktop at home.

however, i do agree in that its a shame to see the kind of gimped, weak cpus being used. if its over $500, use a C2D!!! isn't the atom the definiton of a netbook? :)

i do like the new design cues that makers are using though; much prettier looking laptops.

[mr-dave]

I'd have to agree this laptop is a disappointment. It's one thing to sacrifice the optical drive (you can buy an external one and use that when you need it) but to sacrifice both an optical drive AND processing power is not a useful trade off. Toshiba should know better.

[wirelesscaller]

I don't understand this as well, I bet if they put in a dual core atom and a more efficient chipset, and better versions of Intel's IGP it would cost just as much, they'll make their margins, and it'll perform better at multitasking. I hope Amd and Via are watching these trends and reading people's posts, I think Intel is heading the wrong direction in trying to kill off the netbook craze.

[alenas]

It's not an Atom - it is ULV processor. I have Lenovo U350 with Core 2 Solo U3500 1.4 Mhz single core processor - and it works pretty well with Windows 7 for everyday tasks. And who buys ultracompact laptop to encode video ir do gaming? Noone...so single core - is good enough.

[deniceels]

I guess what's missing out is the upgradability of these new CULV boards. They can go up to 4GB of DDR3 at least, push up the processor to a C2D type as well, that's those which I feel puts it 1 up over the netbook counterparts. Even if not taking optical drive into consideration, given that some in-built ones do have more chances of breaking down with heavy usage, the ability to just plug in a new 1 without having to rip up the laptop just to replace a specific design also puts 1 up for me.

Furthermore, I don't think looking at a 13" screen for multimedia is going to be much more fun than a larger 14" and above, other than useful for music/audio which, unless you use it for audio-editing.

Probably a more detailed look into their upgradability for longer term usage is a better indicative factor than just the upfront specs, which, this review, can do with a more expansive report.

[ScottStein8]

There is a dual-core version of this thin-and-light, and we'll post our opinion about it as soon as we get our hands on it.