当我们收到用于测试的高端性能设备时，我们喜欢它，并且我们最近获得了东芝(Toshiba)最新和最伟大的超极本设备：KIRA-107 型号(KIRA-107 model)，我们将其称为KIRA，出于本次审查的目的. 这是一款性能卓越的高品质超极本。这是一款非常时尚的Windows 8.1设备，可以让人们大开眼界。我们已经使用了一个多星期，并且已经决定是否值得考虑将其作为您的下一个超极本。阅读本文以了解我们的决定。
拆箱东芝KIRA
Toshiba KIRA包装在一个黑色普通纸板制成的盒子里，上面印有TOSHIBA 标志(TOSHIBA logo)和他们的“Leading Innovation”座右铭，还有KIRA 标志(KIRA logo)，但这只是外部保护层。
打开这个容器后，您会看到一个光滑闪亮的盒子(shiny box)，除了顶部外，所有侧面都是黑色的，顶部是白色的，上面有一张漂亮的KIRA 超极本(KIRA ultrabook)图片。
这个内部容器触感非常好，让您了解您在这里处理的内容。东芝(Toshiba)不遗余力地使用了这个软件包。打开这个盒子，你会发现，在所有其他物品的顶部，真正的KIRA 超极本(KIRA ultrabook)以其所有的荣耀，包裹在一个布袋中(cloth bag)，然后是另一个保护性塑料袋(plastic bag)。取出设备后，您可以使用包装中的所有其他物品：充电器、壁式插座电缆(wall-socket cable)和所有经典文件（快速入门指南(quick-start guide)和功能齐全的使用说明书(instruction manual)，位于各种语言）。
硬件规格
东芝(Toshiba)为这款超极本提供了多个版本，根据CPU和相应的集成显卡进行区分。然而，似乎只有两个版本比其他版本更普遍。其中一个由Intel Core i5-4200U CPU提供动力，另一个（我们为测试目的使用的版本）受益于更强大的Intel Core i7-5500U CPU，搭配Intel HD5500集成显卡。我们为本次评测测试的Toshiba Kira-107搭载(Toshiba Kira-107)Intel Core i7 5500U双核CPU ，主频为 2.4 GHz，能够以 3.0 GHz运行(GHz)需要的时候。这款CPU并不是(CPU)英特尔(CPU Intel)目前在移动部门提供的最强大的CPU ，但它正好属于大炮类别。
超极本在 8GB DDR3 RAM 内存(DDR3 RAM memory)上运行，配置为双通道，主频为 1600MHz。不幸的是，正如制造商在其网站上的产品页面上所述， (product page)RAM 内存(RAM memory)不是用户可更换的。
图形由Intel HD Graphics 5500集成显卡(video card)处理。作为集成显卡(video card)，运行图形密集型软件（如具有大量特效的游戏）效果并不理想，但对于日常办公和家庭使用(office and home use)来说，这已经绰绰有余了。
KIRA在mSATA 上配备了 256 GB SSD 。这款超极本的存储空间没有其他选择，所以这就是你所得到的。SSD由东芝(Toshiba)自己制造，下面是其规格的屏幕截图。
真正让我们欢呼的是东芝(Toshiba)选择为KIRA配备令人惊叹的触摸屏显示器(touch screen display)。我们谈论的是分辨率为 2560 x 1440的 13.3 英寸(x 1440)WQHD LED 显示屏(WQHD LED display)像素，提供极宽的视角和明亮、鲜艳的色彩。在如此高的分辨率（准确地说是 221ppi）的小型显示器上，细节水平令人惊叹。派对的另一个不错的补充是背光键盘，用户可对其进行配置，以保持背光始终打开、始终关闭或仅在使用期间点亮，在几秒钟不活动后自行关闭（默认设置）。背光不是太亮，但也不是太暗，当你在黑暗中打字时，发出的光线与你需要的一样多，没有任何问题，但在晚上使用它时不会干扰你的注意力。
这款超极本配备了由著名制造商Harman/Kardon双扬声器声音设置(dual-speaker sound setup)，并采用DTS Studio Sound 技术(DTS Studio Sound technology)。使用内置扬声器时，声音非常清晰，具有立体感。该设备还配备了用于视频通话的高清网络摄像头(HD webcam)和双麦克风设置(microphone setup)。由于如此纤薄，制造商在设备侧面没有太多空间可用于安装LAN 以太网(LAN ethernet)端口，这也许是您在这款超极本上找不到LAN 卡(LAN card)的原因之一。但是您确实有一个能够处理的英特尔 WiFi 卡(Intel WiFi card)双频 802.11ac(Dual-Band 802.11ac)无线网络。此外，还提供标准蓝牙 4.0(Bluetooth 4.0)芯片。在连接器方面，KIRA配备了所有标准连接器：组合输入和立体声输出(input and stereo output)3.5 毫米插孔、3 个USB 3.0端口（其中一个可用于在KIRA处于睡眠模式时为另一台设备充电）、一个SD 存储(SD memory) 卡读卡器(card reader)和一个HDMI 端口(HDMI port)。
让这款超极本保持运行的电池是 4 芯电池，功率为 52Wh。在自治部门(autonomy department)中这听起来可能并不多，但我们稍后会更详细地介绍这一点。该设备的物理尺寸为宽 12.44 英寸（或 316 毫米）、深 8.15 英寸（或 207 毫米）和令人印象深刻的 0.7 英寸（或 18 毫米）高。它重 2.97 磅（或略高于 1.3 公斤），使其成为市面上最轻的超极本之一——考虑到它的机身是由镁合金制成(magnesium alloy)的，这肯定会增加一点重量。
KIRA-107预装了Windows 8.1 Pro，您可以从Microsoft的优惠中获利并免费升级(offer and upgrade)到Windows 10 Pro。您可以在其网站的产品页面(product page)上找到制造商提供的硬件规格的完整列表： Toshiba KIRA Ultrabook 规格(Toshiba KIRA Ultrabook Specifications)。
使用东芝 KIRA-107 超极本(Toshiba KIRA-107 Ultrabook)
在我们测试这个单元的那一周里，很高兴能在它上面工作。使用它时，您会不禁感受到东芝(Toshiba)在设计这款设备时所考虑的高品质。
镁合金机身(magnesium alloy body)非常坚固，操作时绝对安静，13.3英寸显示屏的质量是一流的。这款超极本的触摸屏支持标准的 10 点手势支持(gesture support)，并利用了所有Windows 8.1手势。所有的细节都得到了很好的照顾：键盘右上角精致的(right corner)背光电源开关(backlit power switch)、旁边的小型Wi-Fi 适配器(Wi-Fi adaptor)状态LED和设备左侧的电源指示灯(power indicator)LED 。连接器位置也很好，提供 2 个USB 左侧的端口和右侧的第三个端口。
按键大小和键盘间距(size and keyboard spacing)恰到好处，让打字变得轻而易举，而按键在按下时手感柔软。一方面，这解释了为什么在这款超极本上长时间输入 a 后不会感到疲倦，但另一方面，习惯于老式机械键盘并且喜欢在手指下握有强键的人会对此感到有些不满意。
触摸板相当大，并且很好地封装在镀铬边框内。虽然设备的机身具有拉丝金属感(metal feel)，但触摸板感觉不同并且使用舒适。点击嵌入在触摸板的表面，而且非常安静。您可以使用其整个表面进行左键单击，而右键单击则保留在触摸板的右下角。
转到此评论的下一页，查看我们对该产品的最终裁决。
Reviewing Toshiba KIRA-107 - Not Just Another Pretty Ultrabook
We love it when we rеceive high-end performancе devіces for testing and we recently got our hands on Toshiba's latest and greatest ultrabоok device: the KIRA-107 model, which we'll refer to as KIRA, for the purpose of this review. This is a high-quality ultrabook with impressive performance. It's a very sleekly built device with Windows 8.1 that will turn peоple's heads around. We hаve used it for oνer a week and have made up our mind on whether or not it'ѕ worth сonsidering aѕ your next ultrabook. Read up on this article to see what we decided.
Unboxing The Toshiba KIRA
Toshiba KIRA is packed in a box made of black ordinary cardboard, with the TOSHIBA logo and their "Leading Innovation" motto, together with the KIRA logo, but this is just the outer protective layer.
Once you open this container, you are presented with a sleek shiny box, black on all sides except the top, which is white and features a nice picture of the KIRA ultrabook.
This inner container feels pretty nice to the touch and gives you an idea of what you're dealing with here. Toshiba spared no expense with this package. Opening this box, you find, on top of all the other items, the actual KIRA ultrabook in all its glory, wrapped in a cloth bag and then another protective plastic bag. After you remove the device, you are allowed access to all the other items contained in the package: the power-charger, the wall-socket cable and all the classic paperwork (the quick-start guide and the full-featured instruction manual, in various languages).
Hardware Specifications
Toshiba offers several versions for this ultrabook, differentiated by the CPU and the corresponding integrated graphics card. However, only two versions seem to be more widespread than others. One of them is powered by the Intel Core i5-4200U CPU and the other one (the version we had for testing purposes) benefits from the more powerful Intel Core i7-5500U CPU, paired with the Intel HD5500 integrated graphics card. The Toshiba Kira-107 we tested for this review is powered by the Intel Core i7 5500U dual-core CPU clocked at 2.4 GHz, able to run at 3.0 GHz when needed. This CPU is not exactly the most powerful CPU Intel currently has to offer in the mobile department, but it is right up in the big-guns category.
The ultrabook runs on 8GB of DDR3 RAM memory, configured in dual-channel and clocked at 1600MHz. Unfortunately, as the manufacturer states on the product page on their website, the RAM memory is not user replaceable.
Graphics are taken care of by the Intel HD Graphics 5500 integrated video card. Being an integrated video card, it won't do much good running graphics-intensive software like games with lots of special effects, but for regular office and home use, this will be more than sufficient.
The KIRA is equipped with a 256 GB SSD on mSATA. There are no other options in regard to storage space for this ultrabook, so this is all you get. The SSD is manufactured by Toshiba itself and below, you'll find a screenshot of its specifications.
What really got us singing is the fact that Toshiba chose to equip the KIRA with a stunning touch screen display. We're talking about a 13.3" WQHD LED display scaled at a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, offering extremely wide viewing angles and bright, vivid colors. The level of detail is marvelous on such a small display scaled at a resolution this high - 221ppi, to be exact. Another nice addition to the party is the backlit keyboard, which is user configurable to keep the backlight always on, always off or lit only during use, turning itself off after a few seconds of inactivity (the default setting). The backlight is not too bright, but not too dim either, giving off just as much light as you need to be able to type without any problems when you're in the dark, but not disturbing your focus when you use it at night.
This ultrabook is equipped with a dual-speaker sound setup produced by the prestigious manufacturer Harman/Kardon and featuring DTS Studio Sound technology. The sound is quite clear and feels three-dimensional when using the incorporated speakers. The device is also equipped with an HD webcam for video-calling and a dual microphone setup. Being this thin, the manufacturer didn't have too much room available on the sides of the device for mounting a LAN ethernet port and perhaps that's one of the reasons you won't find a LAN card on this ultrabook. But you do have available an Intel WiFi card capable of handling Dual-Band 802.11ac wireless networks. Also, the standard Bluetooth 4.0 chip is present. In terms of connectors, the KIRA presents itself with all the standard connectors: the combined input and stereo output 3.5mm jack, 3 USB 3.0 ports (one of which can be used for charging another device while the KIRA is in sleep mode), an SD memory card reader and an HDMI port.
The battery that keeps this ultrabook running is a 4-cell battery with 52Wh of power. It might not sound like much in the autonomy department, but we'll cover this in more detail later. The physical dimensions of this device are 12.44 inch (or 316 mm) in width, 8.15 inch (or 207 mm) in depth and an impressive 0.7 inch (or 18 mm) in height. It weighs 2.97 lbs (or a little over 1.3 kg), making it one of the lightest ultrabooks available - and this considering that its body is built of a magnesium alloy, which surely adds a little to its weight.
The KIRA-107 comes with Windows 8.1 Pro preinstalled and you can profit from Microsoft's offer and upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, for free. You can find the full list of hardware specifications offered by the manufacturer on the product page on their website: Toshiba KIRA Ultrabook Specifications.
Using The Toshiba KIRA-107 Ultrabook
During the week we had this unit in for testing, it was a pleasure to work on it. While using it, you can't help but feel the high level of quality Toshiba had in mind when designing this device.
The magnesium alloy body is pretty sturdy and is absolutely quiet when you handle it and the quality of the 13.3-inch display is top notch. The touchscreen of this ultrabook supports the standard 10-points gesture support and makes use of all the Windows 8.1 gestures. All the details were taken good care of: the delicate backlit power switch in the top right corner of the keyboard, the small Wi-Fi adaptor status LED beside it and the power indicator LED on the left side of the device. The connectors are also well positioned, offering 2 USB ports on the left side and the third one on the right side.
The key size and keyboard spacing are just right and make typing a breeze, while the keys have a soft feel to them while being pressed. On one hand, this explains why you won't get tired after typing a for a long period of time on this ultrabook, but on the other hand, people used to older, mechanical keyboards and who like having a strong key under their finger will feel a bit unsatisfied by this.
The touchpad is rather large and nicely enclosed within a chrome bezel. While the body of the device has a brushed metal feel to it, the touchpad feels different and is comfortable to use. The clicks are embedded in the touchpad's surface and also pretty silent. You can left-click using its whole surface, while the right click is reserved for the bottom-right corner of the touchpad.
Go to the next page of this review to see our final verdict for this product.
