Convertible-hybrid laptops like the Toshiba Satellite Radius 14 E45W-C4200X ($584.99 as tested) have articulated hinges so they can work part time as a laptop and part time as a tablet. Like Lenovo, Toshiba is a pioneer in this category, which includes systems like the $350 Toshiba Satellite Radius 11 (L15W-B1302)($345.99 at eBay), and the significantly pricier Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 P25W-C2300-4K. The Satellite Radius 14( at Amazon) is a larger 14-inch model that's still relatively inexpensive, and is a solid choice for those who won't mind giving up some portability and screen quality in return for a much larger screen and some flexibility in form factor.
Design and Features
When closed, the system has a black, polycarbonate top lid that resembles brushed metal. The keyboard deck sports a bright, silver-metal veneer that also has a brushed finish. It measures 0.83 by 13.3 by 9.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.5 pounds, putting it squarely in the desktop-replacement category in terms of size. The display twists around into several different modes. Those include Laptop, Tablet, Tabletop (folded flat), Presentation (like a tent), and Audience (screen facing outward with the keyboard folded underneath).
The 14-inch touch screen has a relatively low 1,366-by-768 resolution and uses a TFT LCD panel, which limits viewing angles. You'll need to pay much more for an In-Plane Switching (IPS) screen with full HD (1,920-by-1,080) resolution at this screen size, like on the HP Spectre x360 13t (13-4003)( at Amazon), which is our Editors' Choice for midrange convertible-hybrid laptops. The screen has a layer of glass on it to protect the touch screen. It's a necessary evil, but it is reflective and makes it hard to see images on the display in a brightly lit room.
The 10-point touch screen is responsive, although we wish that the screen's hinge was more stable. It tended to move when we used the touch screen extensively in Laptop mode The one-piece touchpad below the keyboard takes a few tenths of a second longer than expected to wake and accept inputs, but it becomes more responsive after that initial pause. Its spring-loaded surface is also loud when you click on the integrated mouse buttons. The backlit keyboard is comfortable to use, though we still prefer the concave keys on systems like the Lenovo Edge 15($299.99 at Lenovo) and Yoga 3 14($949.00 at Lenovo).
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Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 (3147)
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Dell Inspiron 14 (5447)
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Lenovo Edge 15
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Toshiba Satellite Radius 11 (L15W-B1302)
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Video playback is smooth. The screen looks good when viewed from dead center, and it's capable of displaying 720p HD videos clearly at native resolution. The laptop's Harman/Kardon-branded speakers are loud and of better quality than the ones in the Toshiba Satellite C55DT-C5245.
Port selection is average for the category, which is a surprise since the Radius 14 E45W's large chassis has lots of room on its sides to accommodate more. The left side has the headphone jack and a USB 2.0 port next to the volume control and Windows key. The right side sports an HDMI port, an SD card reader, and two USB 3.0 ports. Notably missing is an Ethernet port, so in order to connect to the Internet, you'll need to do so wirelessly via 802.11ac Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.1.
The laptop's 6GB of system memory helps when you like to keep more than a dozen browser tabs or programs active. The 500GB hard drive is a good amount of space for home use. Unfortunately, it comes loaded with a bunch of bloatware; by our estimates, there are more than 30 extra programs like Amazon, eBay, Drop Box, Groupon, and Wild Tangent. Budget at least an hour or two to remove all the software you don't use. At least the McAfee LiveSafe Internet security software comes with a 12-month subscription instead of a 30-day trial. The system comes with a one-year warranty.
Performance
The Radius 14 E45W is outfitted with a 2.1GHz Intel Core i3-5015U processor with integrated Intel HD Graphics 5500. That gives it more power than the Intel Pentium CPU in the Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 (3147)($399.99 at Amazon), or the AMD A8 processor found in the Toshiba Satellite C55DT-C5245. As a result, the system pulled ahead of the others on the PCMark 8 Work Conventional (2,454 points), Handbrake (3:34), and Adobe Photoshop CS6 (5:50) tests.
Graphics performance is class-leading among entry-level systems. While you still wouldn't want to play AAA titles like Grand Theft Auto V at Medium- or Ultra-quality settings, the laptop has the chops to play less strenuous titles like Diablo III or League of Legends at medium and low quality settings. It's certainly faster at the 3DMark and games tests than systems like the Lenovo Edge 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 (5447) ($589.99 at Amazon).
Battery life is very good. The system lasted 6 hours 47 minutes on our rundown test. That's almost all-day battery life, and should last for the length of of a coast-to-coast flight, and then some. It lasted longer than the Asus Transformer Book T200TA-C1-BL($483.99 at Quill), the Lenovo Edge 15, and the Toshiba C55Dt-C5245 which all ran out after about 5.5 hours. There are others that outpaced the system like the Dell Inspiron 11 3147 (8:24), but the Satellite Radius 14's battery life should be more than adequate for untethered use around the house.
Conclusion
The Toshiba Satellite Radius 14 E45W-C4200X is a good starter system if you're looking to explore the convertible-hybrid laptop category. It has a large screen and a modest price that's in the same ballpark as entry-level desktop-replacement laptops, even if it has a slight premium for its convertible design. However, its large amount of bloatware and bulkier build means it can't quite compete with our Editors' Choice for entry-level convertible-hybrid laptops, the Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 (3147), on battery life, system weight, and price (it's $135 less expensive).
The Toshiba Satellite Radius 14 E45W-C4200X is modestly priced, and a good choice for your first convertible-hybrid laptop. However, you may only use it in Tablet mode occasionally, due to its large size.
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