Toshiba Satellite P50t, we've tested it

Today there is a lot of talk about 4K . This resolution allows to achieve a level of detail four times greater than that of a Full HD panel, and has become one of the most important claims for TV manufacturers. However, this resolution is also reaching other points in the market. The Toshiba Satellite P50t is one of the first notebooks to sport this powerful resolution. This 15.6-inch touchscreen computer is powered by Windows 8.1 operating system , an Intel Core i7-4710HQ quad-core processoror a dedicated graphics card to improve its performance in games and graphics processes. We have had the opportunity to thoroughly test this equipment from the Japanese company, available on the market for a price of 1,500 euros . We tell you our impressions.

4K display

Without a doubt, the great claim of this laptop is its touch screen with 4K resolution . This resolution multiplied by four and the Full HD content is in the 3840 x 2160 pixels , yielding a level of detail of 282 dpi . Despite the fact that this specification attracts (and a lot) attention, here we encounter two problems. On the one hand, there is still little content with 4K and most of the time of normal use of a laptop is spent in situations where this resolution is not needed. On the other hand, it is an effect that is not so appreciated on a 15.6-inch screen.such as on a 50 or 60 inch television. Of course, in the contents in which if this native resolution is reached we will have the impression of being in front of a mirror to the real world. Perhaps more interesting (at least at this moment) is the color calibrated by Chroma Tune and the Technicolor certificate , which ensures more vivid colors and faithful to the original source. In addition, this TFT panel has touch functionality , something that will help us move through the Windows 8 menus when we do not want to use the mouse.

A multimedia notebook

Thus, we are facing a very focused laptop for multimedia use, both in videos and movies and through games. Toshiba has incorporated an AMD Radeon R9 M265X dedicated graphics card  with 2 GB of dedicated memory that should help us run most modern games quite fluently, and which is in the upper-middle range. In addition, we also have Harman Kardon speakers powered by DTS Sound. In our tests we found that these speakers offer good sound power and acceptable quality, although in some cases it gave us the impression that they did not reach the level of other high-end notebooks from the Japanese firm. How could it be otherwise, we will enjoy a Blu-ray reader / writer , a good option to enjoy movies that have been remastered to 4K (at the moment, Blu-ray does not play these contents natively).

As for the power of the equipment, this equipment is reinforced with an Intel Core i7-4710HQ quad-core processor and a power of 2.5 GHz . Thanks to Turbo Boost technology, this capacity can be taken up to 3.5 GHz at times when we need more speed. Moreover, technology Hyper-Threading of Intel allows us to work as if we had actually eight physical cores (two processing threads per core). This chip is combined with a 16GB RAM to create a top-notch set, capable of running most processes without problems.

Storage and connections

Too bad that all this power is a bit overshadowed by the computer's hard drive. And the Toshiba Satellite P50t is committed to a 1 TB hard drive with a speed of 5,400 revolutions per minute. This is a logical choice in a multimedia computer where many files will be stored, but after testing the speed and reliability of SSD disks, the performance of this computer when starting or accessing the disk is quite limited . It would have been desirable for Toshiba to bet on a hybrid memory or even a combination of an SSD disk and a hard disk to improve this point.

As for the connections, we have a fairly complete set. For example, this equipment supports the WiFi AC protocol . This protocol operates in the 5 GHz bandwidth exclusively, which improves both the stability and the speed of the network. Of course, to take advantage of it you must have a compatible router. On the other hand, we can also connect by cable through an Ethernet port . Another interesting connection is four USB 3.0 ports that multiply USB 2.0 transfer rates by ten. One of them has a specific function so that we can charge smartphones and tablets even when the equipment is in sleep mode. The connections are completed with an HDMI output capable of transmitting content in 4K and a card reader.

Operating system and applications

Inside the Toshiba Satellite P50t we find the Windows 8.1 operating system . This platform that has failed to convince the public (in fact, Microsoft has already announced the launch of a new Windows 10 ) is designed to take advantage of both a traditional environment with desktop and mouse and the touch capabilities of next-generation devices. Via the latest Windows 8.1 Update, we can enjoy a much more comfortable interface to use with the mouse. For example, in any app we can see the taskbar at the bottom or minimize or close the window if we drag to the top. Toshiba has also wanted to provide its own set of applications to improve the performance of this computer. Among them we have a solution to easily access the different configurations of the equipment, such as USB charging options, advanced boot options or Internet. In addition, the Japanese company has deployed a hard drive protection system to prevent damage to our data when sudden movements or shocks occur. Other applications that we will have installed by default areGoogle Drive , to store our files online, or Evernote , to take notes and synchronize them across all our devices.

Layout and keyboard

In the field of design, Toshiba's notebook has a classy but rather classic design in silver aluminum. Some of the most distinguishing points are its design of the front part in various heights (separating the keyboard from the touch pad and from the upper area) and the grille that we find in the part closest to the screen. However, it seems to us that this design can give the feeling of being too classic for a laptop that brings the innovation of technologies such as 4K . The full dimensions of this model stand at  37.7 x 24.4 x 2.8 centimeters and its weight amounts to 2.35 kilos.Where if we wanted to stop more is on the keyboard. Many times it is an aspect that we leave something aside in the analyzes but that can be key when analyzing our experience in front of a team. And it must be recognized that the way in which the P50t's keyboard has been deployed is excellent . This full keyboard has the keys high and wide apart , and its typing is smooth and fluid . If you have to write long texts often, this tool more than fulfills its purpose.

Autonomy, price and opinions

This is a laptop designed to be used at home, and it shows in its autonomy. According to official Toshiba data , this equipment lasts for a maximum of 3 hours and 10 minutes of use . In our tests, it has endured between an hour and a half and two hours of operation on average, a fairly humble figure that makes it difficult for us to use it outside the home. The price of the Toshiba Satellite P50t in the market amounts to 1,500 euros. In short, after having tested the Toshiba Kira the Satellite P50tleaves us a somewhat bittersweet feeling. It gives the impression that the Japanese company has sacrificed too much to have a panel with 4K resolution, and that worsens the final result. Of course, this equipment is capable of working without problems as a multimedia device, but in our opinion it does not compensate for the economic effort involved .

Toshiba Satellite P50t

Display and keyboard 

Power and graphics 

Memory

Design

Sound

software

Connections

Autonomy

+ info

Price 1,500 euros