Review: Toshiba NB520 Netbook featuring openSUSE 12.2 Part 1

Category: Linux

With the Smolt Online Profile system effectively retired, users can go directly to laptop Hardware Compatibility Lists for their respective Linux distributions to contribute to hardware profiles. The openSUSE wiki doesn't list Toshiba netbooks and I'm looking to add the Toshiba NB520 to the list despite the decline of the form factor.

As mentioned in a previous post, netbooks are underrated products though I'm realistic about their survival in the face of powerful smartphones and productive tablets. One of the reasons why I purchased the Toshiba NB520 is the rapid decline of netbook availability and manufacturers' decision to end production. They are perfect portable Linux workstations without a hefty price tag.

Why openSUSE 12.2?

openSUSE 12.3 was released last week and I've read one positive review so far, but I'm not an early adopter and I'm sticking with 12.2, which I've been running since its release last August.

OpenSUSE seems to work best with a KDE environment, so openSUSE 12.2 was NOT my distribution of choice when I purchased the Toshiba NB520. Although KDE 4.x does include an improved KDE Plasma Netbook Interface, LXDE or Xfce work much better on small screens. KDE's glossy interface functions (and looks) better on larger screens. However, my distribution of choice, Lubuntu, failed to install on the Toshiba, as did Linux Mint due to a generic Xorg error regarding "no screens found." My second choice after Lubuntu for the Toshiba NB520 was Archlinux but due to mirrorlist access issues in the Middle Kingdom, I turned to the Lizard distribution in the end.

I'll post the Xorg solution once I have time to work on the system, but in the meantime I'm running openSUSE 12.2, which detected the screen resolution and graphics chipset out of the box. I must admit it was a surprise considering that Ubuntu-based distributions are often exceptional at supporting odd screen sizes and video chipsets.

Toshiba Netbook NB520 specifications

• Intel Atom N2800 (1.86Hz) - supports 64-bit computing
• DDR3 1333 4GB
• 10.1" 1024x600 with Intel GMA3150
• Harmon Kardon stereo speaker
• 802.11bgn Intel wireless card
• Bluetooth
• Webcam
• SD card

For more details, visit Toshiba's laptop site, where the NB520 is one of the last netbook models available. CNET also posted a positive review on an earlier release of the model, which ran with a slower N550 1.5 GHz processor.

Superficial Considerations

For anyone who has worked with or owned a netbook during its brief heyday, the Toshiba NB520 provides few surprises. However, I did my research before purchasing the NB520 and there are reasons why I chose it over the Acer Aspire One or one of the last EEEPC models.

1. Supports 64-bit computing and 4GB of RAM - The NB520 came with 2GB of RAM, the maximum allowable amount for the bundled (and severely crippled) Windows 7 Starter. In fact, if you exchanged the 2GB of RAM with 4GB of RAM and attempted to boot into Windows 7, the netbook will refuse to boot into the OS. Not so for 32-bit openSUSE 12.2, which not only loads perfectly but makes use of the full 4GB of RAM I added without any additional PAE configurations. The result? A perfect replacement/upgrade for my aging first-generation ASUS EEEPC1000H netbook.
2. Harmon Kardon speakers - Speakers on a netbook had been a target of reviewers for years but the NB520's speakers are definitely above average, matching those found on the larger Lenovo Ideapad Z360 I own. Although openSUSE's Pulse Audio system may not take advantage of the Harmon Kardon hardware to the fullest, the speakers are more than adequate for playing videos and music.

Toshiba isn't well known for its design pedigree, but they do make solid and dependable hardware. I've known IT professionals who prefer Toshiba's notebooks over Dell's and HP's portable offerings. The NB520 is solidly built and doesn't look as cheap as my beloved EEEPC1000H. The pockmarked lid may not be as shiny as the 1000H's glossy reflective casing, but it does look more professional.

The location of the power connector, LED indicators, USB 2.0, VGA, and audio ports are exactly as where one might expect them to be but there are two odd design choices. The power button is right smack in the middle of system, just above the keyboard, below the LCD screen, and right on the display hinge (which Dell used to call the "light pipe"). It's not a big deal, but it also means you can press the power button while the display is closed.

The second less visible but unusual physical feature of the NB520 is the SD card reader, which is found underneath the touchpad. The slot is all but hidden and reminds me of hidden air-to-air missile launchers in old fighter jets and Japanese sci-fi aircrafts. It's clever but not practical. I found myself accidentally pushing the touchpad buttons while removing or inserting SD cards. It's not a deal-breaker though I definitely prefer the SD card slot placed at the lip of the notebook as with the Ideapad Z360 and 1000H.

The Keyboard: Buyer's Remorse?

As any writer or developer would tell you, a good keyboard can make or break any portable. I prefer the island-type of keys on the Ideapad and Macbook Pro over the more common chiclet-type keyboard. I also prefer a more resistant type of keys as those found on my aged Acer Aspire 5500Z. The NB520 sports neither. I initially thought I had made a mistake in choosing the NB520 over a Samsung netbook especially when I found out that the small arrow keys to the right of the keypad interfered with my typing. The SHIFT key is also awkwardly placed and can be difficult for users who are used to a full size keyboard.  Moreover, the location of the PGUP and PGDN buttons made it very easy to make a mistake while navigating through long documents. While writing a blog post about FreeBSD, I yearned for the tough but well-designed keyboard of the EEEPC1000H, which I had been using for more than 4 years now.

However, as is often the case with a new interface or input device, my hands quickly got used to the key placement. After 2 or 3 rounds of extended typing, I was comfortable with the NB520's keyboard and realized it was my acquired habit that prevented me from appreciating the key placement.

With devices like the Microsoft Surface available and hybrid laptops with touchscreens, are small keyboards like those on a netbook still relevant? It probably isn't for the casual user enamored with the novelty of apps/onscreen keyboard on a touchscreen. But for those who spend a lot of time getting work done, a comfortable keyboard is indispensable and the NB520 has a praiseworthy keyboard - though it does take time to get used to. I definitely prefer it over the detachable keyboard found in docking stations and tablet accessories. Yes, the netbook keyboard will soon be extinct, but I would definitely miss it when it's gone.

Quick Review: Toshiba NB520 Netbook featuring openSUSE 12.2 Part 2 - openSUSE 12.2 KDE