Amazon.com Product Description

Compact and battery efficient yet as powerful and versatile as many larger, bulkier portable computers, the Gateway 450X is a smart choice for those who put equal emphasis on performance and portability. Those who regularly push the capabilities of their notebook with complex professional applications, deep multitasking or 3-D games should perhaps explore Gateway's M500X series, which incorporates a more capable video card and double the RAM memory, but this model should suffice for light- to medium workloads.

Not surprisingly, the unit features Intel's new Centrino technology. Built upon a triad of interconnected elements -- an Intel Pentium M CPU (with 1 full GB of Level 2 cache), an Intel 855 chipset, and a cord-free network connection -- Centrino-equipped notebooks deliver more power and more perks than their comparatively diminutive size and rated processor speed would otherwise indicate. In the case of the Gateway 450X, that processor is a 1.4 GHz Intel Pentium M. Along for the ride is a somewhat minimal alloent of 256 MB DDR SDRAM memory and an ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics controller (32 MB dedicated video memory). In this configuration, the unit will certainly suffice for typical mobile tasks.

Measuring just 13.1 by 10.6 by 1.3 inches and tipping the scales at a mere 6.13 pounds with optical drive and battery installed, the Gateway 450X is a very compact unit. It does, however, feature several impressive mobile features, including an adequate 40 GB hard disk and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive through which you can play and burn audio CDs, archive data and enjoy DVD movies. DVD writing is not supported. At 15 inches, its display is larger than might be expected, and capable of an extremely accurate 1400 by 1050 resolution. Communication options include not only a standard 56K dial-up modem and a 10/100 Ethernet network adapter, but also an integrated 802.11b wireless connection for those times when you can't or don't want to plug in.

Other important amenities include a pair of high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast interaction with external peripherals such as scanners or digital cameras, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (typically used for digital camcorder downloads), a VGA port for external monitors and a parallel "printer" port, but no S-Video TV-out.

Bundled software includes Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works Suite 7.0 and a 90-day free trial with Norton AntiVirus. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Well-balanced middle weight
I've used the Gateway 450X for several months now and find it to be a solid, reliable full-featured laptop that strikes a decent balance between weight and features.

The case is sleek, thin and modern, but plastic not metal (don't let the silver color mislead you).

The screen is bright with fine detail.

The keyboard is responsive with good feel. The wrist rest is a little deep compared to the ideal and there is only a touchpad, no pointing stick. However, the touchpad is better than many. I have an HP that drives me crazy with an overly sensitive touchpad.

The 450X has very good battery life and good wireless performance. I use a Linksys wireless network and the 450X has better range with its built-in wireless than older laptops with add-in cards.

There are some trade-offs. The optical drive is a good DVD-CD/RW combo drive, but no DVD writer is available. Similarly, the speakers are not really adequate for a multi-media presentation platform.

Gateway's dock or port replicator plugs into a slot on the bottom of the laptop case and promotes ventilation and a good typing angle. The availability of a port replicator was a requirement in my selection process (so you can leave printers and other peripherals plugged into the dock). I highly recommend this accessory. It makes working with a laptop much easier.

This is not a video creation platform, but for everyday work in Microsoft Office and web browsing, it's a great laptop with balanced features and excellent pricing.

I also recommend Gateway's service and support. Support information is individualized to your actual machine. Gateway's website resolves most issues for me without resort to techs, but when techs are necessary they are located in the United States and have consistently been helpful. This is my sixth Gateway computer and the service and support system is a key reason for coming back. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

No matter how you prefer to input your data, the Gateway M275X Tablet PC has you covered. If you favor traditional methods, the M275X is packaged with a flip-open full-size keyboard. If you'd rather work with a stylus, the unit's swiveling display allows you to write and store information, sketch pictures and annotate documents via your own handwriting. Versatile, adaptable, compact and substantially more powerful than the majority of competing tablet PCs, the Gateway M275X is ready to handle virtually any situation and user preference.

Certainly Gateway has designed the unit with portability in mind. Tipping the scales at just 5.7 pounds and measuring 12.6 by 10.8 by a mere 1.1 inches, the Gateway M275X is larger than many tablets but substantially slimmer and more lightweight than the notebook norm.

Gateway has turned to Intel's new Centrino platform to power the system. Centrino, a technology built upon a triad of three interconnected elements -- an Intel Pentium M CPU (with 1 full GB of Level 2 cache), an Intel 855 chipset, and a cord-free network connection -- allows portable computers to be smaller, more power efficient, and faster than their rated CPU speeds might indicate. The Gateway M275X features a snappy 1.4 GHz Pentium M processor and a smallish alloent of 256 MB DDR SDRAM as its power base, and an Intel Extreme Graphics 2 3-D graphics chipset with 32 MB shared (not dedicated) video memory to drive its 3-D visuals. Consequently, the unit is ready for most standard mobile 2-D tasks but will have some troubles in intense multitasking situations and when trying to smoothly display midlevel and high-end 3-D apps and games.

The distinctive Gateway M275X sports several other desirable amenities, including a generous 14-inch XGA TFT Active Matrix display (large by tablet standards), a 56K modem, a 10/100 Ethernet connection, and an 802.11b wireless networking card for trouble-free LAN and Internet access in any environment. The enclosed 40 GB hard disk is of average size, and the system's optical drive handles CD playing and burning and DVD playing but doesn't support DVD writing. Connectivity options include two high-speed USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port (typically used for downloading from digital camcorders) and an integrated 4-in-1 card reader for linking with memory cards from PDAs, digital cameras, and the like.

The bundled software package features Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet Edition, Microsoft Works 7.0 and a 90-day free trial with the respected Norton AntiVirus utility. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Killer Computer
Are you looking for an awesome deal on a laptop? Need the best Tablet PC on the market? Are you a student that has difficulty with there typing skills? Are you an office worker that thinks they can be more productive if they didn't have to type everything? Do you need an excellent computer, but don't want to pay $2,000* + on a computer that's not as good as the M275? If you answered yes to any of these questions than the Gateway** M275 convertible tablet pc is the right choice for you. Now you're probably saying ok here's a laptop reasonably priced nothing special hmm... next! WRONG the M275 unlike most tablets that don't have built in keyboards and, unlike most laptops that don't offer handwriting recondition the M275 offers the best of both worlds, when you first open it up it's a normal laptop, then all you have to do is turn the screen, push a button and Boom... it instantly becomes a tablet. What is a tablet you ask, a tablet is a special type of computer with special software made by Microsoft*** that offers converted handwriting recondition, that means that with a special pen (Included) you can write on the screen press a button and BOOM!!! It converts your handwriting. As well as offering handwriting recondition it also offers a 14" screen, something only offered by two manufacturers of tablets (Gateway** and Acer**) in addition it also offers a memory card reader so if you are going on vacation and you're bringing along your digital camera you don't have to pack a cable for your digital camera (if it supports SD, Memory Stick**, or Smart Media) This is why I think the M275 is a excellent system!!!!

By Andrew Kostin -- Student

*Depending on options system can be configurable to exceed $2,000 as of 6/23/04

** products/companies are registered trademarks of there respected owners

The Next Revolution in Mobile Computing- I Love This Tablet!
Versatile, lightweight, portable, durable and powerful.

I love this thing! I've had my Gateway tablet for about two months now and it's already changed the way I use my computer for both business and fun.

First of all: Some other reviewers had complaints about the latch breaking... mine is still working just fine! It's easy to get carried away having fun with such a cool new technology, but you have to remember that this is NOT a toy! It's a powerful hybrid computing system that gives you an edge over both laptop AND tablet PC users. If you screw around with it of course it's going to break- just like any number of other delicate parts on your laptop. The latch is built well and works perfectly if you make sure not to force it.

For the guy who broke his after 20 days... you should have gotten an extended warranty! I highly reccomend the extended warranty on this because, like any other advanced technology, you're going to want to protect yourself from any repair or replacement costs you might face should something go wrong. I didnt get the extended warranty because this is a bad computer... I got the extended warranty because it's the smart thing to do!

I love my tablet because it's smaller than a notebook but still has a full-size keyboard. Basically you get the best of both worlds with this one!

I can now do all of my graphic design work by sitting the computer on a desk or my lap and writing directly on the screen... and then swivel the screen out so I have acces to the keyboard when I need to write an e-mail or chat online... this is brilliant!!

I have this set of CDs I recently purchased that contains materials and resources I'm studying for an upcoming licensing exam. Before, I had to sit at my PC for hours a day reading this stuff. Now I just throw the CD in the tablet PC and I can recline or relax at ANY angle and I'm able to hold the tablet whichever way is comfortable. If you ever use your laptop to read, watch movies, or even just surf message boards then you'll love the M275X.

I can't say enough good things about this computer. It's made working when I travel so much easier. Tablets are so far superior to laptops in terms of ease of use and comfortable viewing/ operating options. And this tablet takes it a step further by including the ONLY thing that tablets were missing- a keyboard! Maybe the only downside is all the attention it attracts when I'm using it at Starbucks! Tablet PCs are the future!

I want my etch a sketch!
-----------------------------------------
HARDWARE

M275XL tablets 1.6 GHz is one of the high speed tablets compared to other on the market plus not very expensive. Yes more expensive than a laptop. Before buying Tablet PC make sure that you hold it and use it for a while before you buy it (do not drool... bad for screen)

Display View Angle: In tablet mode you will often hold it in different angles and hold it much closer than a laptop. Most screens fail in this test. M275 works OK in default landscape mode but very bad in both portraits and reverse landscape.

Pen: Check how well pens perform at the screen edges. Often scrollbars are on the edge in maximized view. I noticed sometime physical touch point on the screen and the 'soft pointer' don't align (off by 1/2 the thickness of scrollbar) making it difficult to use. M275X works OK. Few times I have had to recalibrate pointer/pen.

Processor and Memory: Low CPU speeds and lesser RAM might might be a factor if you plan to use this for something more than data entry and/or etch-a-sketch.

SOFTWARE

M275 ships with Table PC Edition 2002. Microsoft will be launching 2004 Edition with better features in June... that is what I last heard. It ships with Windows Journal and Office Works OneNote, which are really good basic tools for free form writing and recording information in tablet mode.

Other more serious graphic application such as Corel Graphigo, SketchBook, or Office 2003 with OneNote will improve your productivity.

BOTTOM LINE

M275 is good hardware except viewing angle issues. I just use it in default landscape mode and I am OK with that. Go for more CPU speed and memory. Hard disk space of 40GB~60GB is ample. Upgrade to Edition 2004 will be free... yeah from Microsoft. If you can't wait... BUY IT!!! And, if you can... DON'T WAIT!!!

It takes a week to get used to pen and different user interface.

NOTE: Don't buy (or take it for free) cheapest Gateway carrying case. Better off using manila envelope. Very thin. No pockets. Minimal padding. No protection. No use. Buy an extra Pen $20.

Great Machine and Very Versatile
The best part about this machine is the versatility it has in providing you both the Tablet PC experience and when needed converts to a standard laptop. It took me about two weeks to get comfortable with the stylus but now it is second nature.

I use the M275 in Tablet mode about 75% of the time. I have downloaded Microsoft Reader and find it quite easy to read ebooks. I also have subsribed to Zinio Magazine reader and have subsribed to both PC Magazine and PC World. Being able to hyperlink to various products in the ezines in great.

The system is a bit heavy but it has not prevented me from carrying it around the house. The Centrino CPU makes it very convenient to take around the house and connect wirelessly to the net. I had no difficulty setting it up with my wireless network. Battery life is quite good and the battery charges very quickly. I can't say enough good things about this system. Although a bit heavy it is well worth the money I paid to get this great system. Gateway has done their homework and developed a great Tablet PC. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Some compromise is expected when investing in a "budget" computer. Toshiba's entry-level Satellite 1135-S125 Notebook, for example, definitely isn't a powerhouse. It will, however, suffice for most standard mobile computing tasks, without breaking the bank.

Based upon a 1.8 GHz Intel Celeron processor, the Satellite 1135-S125 clearly sports less raw power than its pricier Pentium 4-equipped Satellite counterparts. Toshiba has matched this CPU with an adequate allotment of 256 MB RAM (expandable to 1024 MB), a 32 MB Intel 852GM graphics chipset and an adequate 30 GB hard drive. Consequently, the system is quite satisfactory for most common business and personal applications apart from high-end games and 3-D animation packages.

Otherwise, the Satellite 1135-S125 is equipped with a multitude of features normally reserved for mid- to high-end models, including a full 15-inch display screen capable of 1024 by 768 resolution. The system's integrated optical drive incorporates DVD-ROM with CD-RW technology to allow you to backup your data, listen to and burn music CDs and watch the latest movies. The integrated keyboard features 85 full-size keys, 12 function keys and a TouchPad pointing device with scroll capability. And if you need future expandability, the Satellite 1135-S155 features two memory slots (both of which may be occupied) and dual PC Card slots.

The long list of connectivity options includes an integrated 56K modem for low-speed e-communications, a 10/100 Ethernet LAN for high-speed Internet and network operations, an S-Video TV-out, a printer port, and a trio of ultra-fast USB 2.0 ports. The system does not include an IEEE 1394 FireWire connection, nor does it permit wireless communication.

The Satellite 1135-S125 is unexpectedly portable at 13 by 11 by 1.7 inches and just 6.8 pounds. Under ideal conditions, battery life is estimated at 3 hours. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Similar to Toshiba's stunning P25 series of desktop replacement notebooks but sporting a lighter, more portable chassis, slightly downgraded components and a more affordable price point, the Satellite P15 series is an excellent solution for power-hungry business and personal users and multimedia fans who can't financially justify absolute top-of-the-line gear. This model, the Satellite P15-S420, is the midrange model in the P15 series, and thus strikes a perfect balance between performance and price.

Those who enjoy the perks of a full-featured stationary PC will find plenty to like in the Satellite P15-S420. For starters, Toshiba fitted the unit with a sizeable 15.4-inch widescreen display screen capable of dazzling 1280 by 800 resolutions. It added a super-spacious 80 GB hard disk spinning at a snappy 4200 RPM and enclosed a versatile DVD Multi Drive through which you can not only watch the latest Hollywood releases, but also burn your own home movies to DVD media and utilize both DVD+ and DVD- formats.

Moreover, the unit is fast -- faster in fact than the majority of desktops. Driving the Satellite P15-S420 is a potent 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with a scorching 800 MHz system bus clock speed and Hyper-Threading Technology for more efficient CPU usage. Working in conjunction with this CPU are a generous 512 MB alloent of PC2100 DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to a full 2048 MB) and an nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 graphics chipset with 32 MB of dedicated video memory. Thusly, the system will handle most anything you can throw at it, be it 2-D or 3-D in nature, though its display may slow some when trying to render high-end 3-D games. Diehard gamers who want more powerful 3-D capabilities and an even larger display screen should investigate Toshiba's Satellite P25 series.

Other critical features include an IEEE 1394 Fire Wire port for fast interaction with devices such as digital camcorders, a trio of high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals such as scanners or external drives, one PC Card slot supporting the Type II card format, and an impressive variety of interior and exterior one-touch controls. Communication facilities include 802.11a/g wireless networking, 10/100 Ethernet LAN and an integrated 56K modem.

Measuring 14.2 by 10.8 by 1.7 inches and tipping the scales at 8 pounds, the Satellite P15-S420 is substantially smaller and two pounds lighter than models in the more powerful, more expensive P25 series. Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Intuit Quicken New User's Edition 2004, Microsoft Works, and InterVideo's WinDVD Creator Plus. Battery life is average at 2.0 hours. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you're looking for a super-slim, ultra-compact portable that you can easily slip inside your briefcase or handbag and carry around like a notepad, you've come to the wrong place. If, however, you want a beefy, full-featured mobile computer that might well blow the doors off your stay-at-home PC, the Gateway M675X Notebook may be just the ticket. Power-packed and beautifully equipped, the Gateway M675X is one of Gateway's most capable notebooks to date and perfectly suited to those who need a state-of-the-art desktop replacement.

Measuring 15.75 by 10.63 by 1.52 inches and tipping the scales at 8.8 pounds, the Gateway M675X is clearly larger than the norm yet not nearly as bulky as some competing desktop replacements. Yet it's just as potent. Driven by a high-end 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading Technology for more efficient CPU usage, 512 MB DDR SDRAM memory and an ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 8x AGP graphics accelerator with 64 MB of dedicated DDR video memory, the system delivers ample power for even the most complex computing situations. Extremely sophisticated state-of-the-art 3-D computer games may exhibit slight frame rate issues, but not so much that they aren't playable. Using the Gateway M675X, you'll certainly never need to squint. Equipped with a massive 17.1-inch viewing screen -- one of the biggest in the business -- the system displays its huge images in resolutions up to a crystal clear 1440 by 900 resolution. The unit features several other hardware perks, including a modular DVD--R/-RW/CD-RW optical drive though which you can play and burn audio CDs, backup data to long-lasting digital media, play the latest Hollywood blockbusters and transfer your home movies to DVD. Gateway has also included an accommodating 60 GB hard drive to give you plenty of room for your applications, files and music or video library.

Connectivity is offered in a variety of forms, including a quartet of high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast interaction with external devices such as digital cameras and scanners, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (typically used for downloading data from digital camcorders), SPDIF ins and outs for high-quality audio, and much more. Communication options include an integrated 802.11g wireless networking card for those times when you can't plug in, an ultra-fast 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port for stunningly fast networking and Internet access, and a standard 56K dial-up modem. A full-size keyboard with a convenient EZ-PAD pointing device and several handy one-touch multimedia controls complete the hardware picture. Bundled software includes Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition and Microsoft Works 7.0. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The 2 month computer.
It's a nice computer, great specs, but when the power supply
failed it became an expensive doorstop.
My M675 worked fine for two months when the power supply was
bathed in the cold winter air at floor level, but when spring
arrived the power supply overheated and failed.
I plugged in the second power supply I received with the
port replicator. It failed after 20 minutes.
Gateway customer support was minimally helpful. They sent me
a new power supply ( I had to give them a credit card number ???). I attached the port replicator (a difficult feat)
and used the power jack on the replicator (to see if the jack
on the computer was the problem). The 3rd power supply
failed after 10 minutes. The power supply say 150 watts
maximum on its case. The computer says 150 watts of power
on its case, so the power supply is operating at its maximum
capacity, and apparently beyond. After calling customer
support again I was told the power jack was the problem and
I would have to send the computer to Solectron for repair,
although I had told the technician the computer was working
without any problems. Since I feel the problem is an inadequate
power supply, I am reluctant to commit my unblemished computer
to the mirkly uncertanties of Solectron, and I am left to find
a dependable power supply on my own.

Once skeptical, now a believer
I've always used HP notebooks and had what I considered "typical" glitches (periodic crashes, screen freezing, network connections being dropped). I started researching the M675 because Money Magazine reviewed it highly and TechEdge gave it Editor's Choice. I've never used a Gateway and always considered their products more consumer focused, not everyday workhorses. I've had this machine for 2 months and it has made me a believer. I've never since experienced the glitches from before and it truly has more power than my new desktop. Unlike the other reviewers, any questions I've had were quickly taken care of on their live chat or in a Gateway store. I give their service a 5-star as well as the product.
What's hot:
-Speed!
-full size keyboard WITH a 10-key and real function keys
-scroll wheel below the touchpad for quickly navigating web pages
-ports out the ears: 4 USB (2 in back, 1 on each side), firewire & s-video
-hot keys for mail, web, and to switch on/off wireless-g
-awesome screen for watching DVD's
What's not:
-It's a beast to carry. Don't plan on much traveling unless you have a sherpa
-The fan is noisy, when it runs
-The touchpad gets bumped during typing and skips the cursor (or it could be my oversized hands)

Bottom-line, the reviewers who do this for a living are right, this is a choice system, and Gateway backs it up with good service.

Good system, but Customer Service.....
I agree with the previous reviewer that Gateway customer service is lacking. In my case, I ordered the PC from the Gateway website with their "order by 12/19 to receive by 12/24" which was missing the fine print that the shipping guarantee didn't apply to desktops or notebooks. I contacted Gateway on 12/24 when the PC didn't arrive and was notified that the guarantee didn't apply and they were sorry. Later I tracked my shippment and it was direct shipped from Singapore and I received it on 1/2.

After I got it, I will say that it is a very impressive system, almost an equal to my HP desktop. Not everything works well on a widescreen monitor, but with a little tweaking everything will work. The 54g built in wireless works perfectly with my Linksys network and there is an "on/off" button for the radio if you are using batteries and don't need it. My only complaint with the PC is the short battery time and lack of location to add a second battery. Considering that this stays plugged in 99% of the time it isn't a huge issue, but I like to have options.

Even though I like the system, I will think twice before buying a PC from Gateway again. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Offering powerful mobility options, the HP Pavilion zx5070us notebook PC is a great choice for a family multimedia laptop or a get-up-and-go workstation for your home office. The zx5070us features a fast 2.8 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, a combo DVD/CD writer, 54g wireless LAN, large 80 GB hard drive, and 512 MB of installed RAM. For a step down in price, the HP Pavilion zx5040us offers a 60 GB hard drive and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The spacious 80 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) offers more than enough storage for both your work and home files as well as a multimedia library.
• Processor: The 2.8 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor will come in handy for tasks such as digital photo or video editing. Thanks to its Mobile features, the processor can save power when it's not needed, thus conserving battery life. It also has a 533 MHz FSB (front-side bus).
• Memory: The zx5070us comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 1.28 GB (1 x 256 MB, 1 x 1024 MB). It also has an L2 cache of 512 KB.
• CD/DVD Drive: It is equipped with a combo drive that is capable of reading and writing of both DVDs and CDs (4x DVD+R, 2.4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-ROM, 16x CD-R, 10x CD-RW, 40x CD-ROM). It uses the DVD+RW format, one of two formats for rewriteable DVDs.
• Keyboard & Mouse: The zx5070us has a 101-key keyboard and touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical scroll up/down pad.

The installed ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 IGP video/graphics card is a relatively strong 3-D graphics renderer, and it has 64 MB of shared video memory. The 15.4-inch WXGA WVA TFT active matrix LCD has a native 1280 x 800 pixel display.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get a good offering of connectivity options with the zx5070us, including both high-speed USB 2.0 and FireWire:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 TV-out (S-Video)
• 1 PS/2 port for connecting keyboard or mouse
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II compatible)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The zx5070us comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Norton Antivirus 2003 (with 60 days of complimentary live updates), Quicken, Microsoft Money, Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe, Adobe Acrobat Reader, InterVideo WinDVD SE (for playing DVD movies) and WinDVD Creator, MusicMatch Jukebox, Muvee AutoProducer, and Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator (Basic).

Dimensions and Weight
Measuring 11.6 x 14.25 x 1.8 inches (L x W x H), it's not the thinnest notebook available. It weighs a moderate 8 pounds.

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery has 8 cells (which refers to the number of charge-storing components within the battery) and offers a standard amount of power for a notebook PC (around 2 hours of typical use).

What's in the Box
This package includes the HP Pavilion zx5070us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Though it isn't designed to efficiently run more powerful high-end programs, Toshiba's new Satellite 1415-S105 Notebook will certainly suffice for anyone who works with typical mobile computing applications. Furthermore, it's quipped with a big display screen and all the perks you need to watch a movie or burn an audio CD. Well suited to those who need to keep tabs on their budget but want the most for their money, the Satellite 1415-S105 is a complete mid-range notebook solution.

Powered by a 1.6 GHz Intel Celeron processor, 256 MB RAM (expandable to 512 MB) and an Nvidia GeForce4 420 Go graphics controller with 16 MB of internal memory, the system is sufficient for standard business and personal applications and even some light gaming, but will have trouble with complex 3-D animation and drawing packages and the current crop of 3-D games. Toshiba has included an adequate 20 GB hard disk and a combination CD-RW/DVD drive through which you can record and listen to music, backup important data and enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters. The unit does not support DVD burning as configured.

At 12.8 by 11.2 by 1.7 inches and 7.7 pounds, the Satellite 1415-S105 is comfortable to carry and easy to manage. With a surprisingly generous 15-inch display screen (1024 by 768 maximum resolution), a full-size 85-key keyboard and TouchPad pointing device and a wide variety of useful internal and external function and multimedia controls, it's easy to operate too. Toshiba has included a number of useful amenities, including a 3.5-inch diskette drive, three USB ports, an integrated 56K modem for low-speed connectivity and a 10/100 Ethernet LAN connection for high-speed surfing and network interaction. The unit does not feature high-speed USB 2.0 or IEEE 1394 ports, and therefore is not ideal for fast data transfer to and from peripherals such as digital camcorders. Under ideal conditions, battery life is estimated at 2.52 hours. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

help me out plz
hi

my friend is offering me this very laptop for $450/-. his is under a year old and in good shape. do u think this is a not-to-be-lost offer or can i get a better deal elsewhere with the same one or a new one of similar configuration? mail me
ramtanuj at yhoo dot comm

thx.

great features from a reputable company
I've had this laptop for about 11 months now and I really can't say anything bad about it.

loads of features that are listed in the other reviews but one that's been missed is the BUILT IN wireless antennae. That means you install the card inside the laptop and don't have to deal with an antennae sticking out the side ready to break off.

I have found I can get nearly the 2.5 hour battery life if I don't use the cd-rom drive.

I ended up paying only seven hundred fifty dollars after rebates from best buy.

I would recomend the upgrade to 512 meg of ram though.

Too expensive on amazon
First off [money] is way to much for this computer, I got mine from [my local electronics store] for [money] after rebates. Although you probably won't see if for under [money], don't pay [money]. This computer is awesome for the price I paid. The Geforce 420 go will play ArmyOps which is a game that says it requires 32mb of video memory, but I can run it at about 30fps on this computer. I have had absoultely no problems with it so far. You can really squeeze all the life out of this baby, you can make it work really hard. The hard drive is a little small by today's standards but it's all right. I recently bought a pc card to give me usb 2.0 for my external dvd+r/rw drive, and it cooks off the dvd's like a top. It has an option to play cd's and digital media files with the cover closed and the computer off, and I have really taken advantage of that. Don't hesitate to buy because you don't think it will perform, It has done anything i have asked it to do and it did it fast and well; and i ask some pretty demanding things. With the proper software it will compress and convert digital media files, this is the only place I have ever maxed out the processor. It can burn cd's, play movies, play some fairly decent 3d games, however I doubt it's ability to play future graphic intensive games. After I upgraded the memory to 512mb it has been much better about recovering from full screen games etc. I feel that because it has a geforce 420 go card it does outperform my sisters toshiba laptop with 32mb integrated intel video memory, with games anyway. Again this is an awesome bang for the buck computer. It probably won't run AutoCAD 2004, but it is an awesome laptop for anything the average, or even technical person can throw at it.

a great buy
When I decided to buy a laptop for grad school, I made a list of requirements:
-20 GB drive
-network card
-CD burner
-nice-sized screen
-Windows XP
-Word
-cheap (under a grand)

This is the only computer that gave me everything I needed (except for Word), and from a company known for great laptops.
It's been a month now, and I couldn't be happier. Setup was quick and painless, the computer itself runs pretty fast, battery life is acceptable (2.5 hours), and the DVD combo drive is a nice feature.

Two caveats:
-It gets HOT. As someone's already said, don't plan on setting it on your lap for any length of time.
-The touch pad is tempermental. It works great sometimes, and takes some coaxing others. I'm buying a notebook mouse, since I hate touch pads, anyway :).

Overall, a great first laptop that I really recommend for students on a budget (like me). And about Word--I just downloaded OpenOffice for free and like it better!

another comparison to HP&Compaq alternatives
...

The Toshiba Satellite 1415-S105 can't beat the cheaper HP x125 on any grade except for sceen size (and there is a catch to that).

Let's compare these two models:

HP Pavilion xt125
CPU: 1.6 GHz Celeron (Built on a P4 core with a smaller cache)
RAM: 256 MB DDR RAM - Good
20GB hard drive - Good enough
Graphics Card: ATI MOBILITY RADEON 7500C w/32MB - very good
Display Diagonal Size: 14 inches - Fine
LCD Resolution: 1024x768 - Good for a 14"

Toshiba Satellite 1415-S105 (cost 10% more)
CPU: 1.6 GHz Celeron
RAM: 256 MB DDR RAM - Good
20GB hard drive - Good enough
Graphics Card: nVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go w/16MB - pretty good
Display Diagonal Size: 15 inches - Good
LCD Resolution: 1024x768 - Not great for a 15"

Summary: The xt125 has a better graphic chipset, and a smaller screen that uses the same number of pixels as the Toshiba. What does that mean? Well the better graphics chipset on the HP will run 3D games and applications better. The larger screen on the Toshiba uses the same number of pixels as the 14" screen on the HP, so the image on the Toshiba won't be as sharp. So if you really want a 15" and you don't care about screen quality, this might be okay for you. Personally I think a 15" LCD screen aught to have 1280x1024 pixels. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

More than decent beginner/cheap laptop
This is a great laptop for the value. If you get a deal with rebates then you can come out real good on price... I am not sure of Amazon.com's deal. But as for the price, is still a great deal. Especially for me, I am a college student who needs a decent mobile system on top of my desktop system at home. Comes with a built in network interface and modem (not that I'll ever use that really). All I need to do is add a wireless network card and I am done.

My only problem with it is the missing built in floppy drive and a TV out adaptor. Other than that, its a great laptop. I don't need a CD-RW on my laptop I have that angle covered and I enjoy having a DVD-ROM (if anything I must have DVD capability). It would have been nice to make atleast one of those USB ports an IEEE 1394 firewire port. But other than those three major draw backs it again is a nice system. Microsoft Works isn't that bad. It is cross compatible with the Office software package. The 1.5GHz celeron is perfect, and 256MB of ram makes this thing even better. I LOVE IT! Pick one up. . . .

Is it worth your money ?
This is notebook model from Toshiba for first time laptop buyers looking a value priced notebook. Read ahead to decide whether you want this or not.

Let me give 12 reasons to buy it,
1. You want a laptop.
2. You don't have much money to spend.
3. You don't care about its 45 mins battery life.
4. You don't want or don't care for top performance.
5. You have never heard of USB 2.0 or Firewire or Bluetooth.
6. You don't care for the noise or heat it will generate.
7. You don't care about system instability and overheating problems it may have.
8. You don't care for graphics performance or play any PC games.
9. You don't want to burn a CD for mp3 or data backup's.
10. You don't care about its 7 pound weight or big size or medium sized 14" display.
11. You don't care about irritating and noisy Hard Disk and CPU fans.
12. You are a student and will install Linux on it anyways !

Let me give you 12 reasons NOT to buy it,
1. Uses a desktop Celeron processor (costs much lower than a mobile version), not Mobile Celeron/Pentium/Athlon. This means laptop gets very hot, fans noisy & uses too much power/battery.
2. No new interfaces like USB 2.0, Firewire, Bluetooth or wireless access. (Doesn't have older serial port, PS2 ports either). And you have only one PCMCIA slot to expand later on for any of those interfaces.
3. It bigger and bulkier than previous models. Desktop CPU means more space for cooling it down etc.
4. Uses a slower memory speed DDR RAM PC1600, good luck finding a PC1600 SoDimm module when upgrading !
5. The keyboard isn't same a desktop, some keys are placed at different positions, some missing. But this might a case with most laptops though.
6. The video card is way too under-powered. You can forget about playing any games made in last 2-3 yrs. DVD's play fine though.
7. Because desktop Celeron runs so hot.
8. The hard disk a only 20GB.
9. Toshiba doesn't even include a OEM Windows XP CD. All it has is are recovery CDs to reformat the whole disk and re-install OS/everything all over again & deleting all your data. Norton AV is only trial version.
10. Toshiba doesn't make or design this laptop. Its designed/made by a [inexpensive] contractor in Taiwan and then sold as Toshiba brand.
11. The battery life is low.
12. Too much noise from fans etc. Wish it was quieter.

Toshiba is good at giving rebate money back so you can count on its low price and this laptop will work great for most simple applications. But don't let the Intel 1.5Ghz label fool you, its missing too many things & will feel obsolete pretty soon. Spending some more money to get a model with mobile Athlon/Pentium processor, maybe 15" LCD, in-built CD-RW & USB 2.0 is well worth it. (Very soon USB 2.0 would be there in all laptops, its already there in most desktops.) There are reasons why Toshiba's selling it for so inexpensively and hopefully you understand enough not to regret later on.

Update: A ignorant reviewer claims this has mobile CPU. Let me clarify again it has a desktop CPU, NOT mobile. Check detailed specs on Toshiba's website if there's still any doubt left. One local store has this for around 500 after rebates. If you find any such bargain price go for it, otherwise there are better models out there.

if you want to waste 650 dollars, be my guest.
I bought this laptop, and its the worst 650 dollars i ever spent. it ran flawlessly until the warenty expired. the day after, the whole right side of my keyboard died. also, when you type, the whole keyboard goes up and down, actually the whole laptop. a month later, the soundcard died. the month after, the battery wouldnt sit. when i tried to put it in, i found a little button, that was light blue, which wasnt there before. i pressed it, and my sound worked for 20 seconds. also, random keys fall off, and my whole right side of the keyboard eventually fell off. the only reason this laptop got 1 star is because nothing goes lower than that. your better off with just about any pc. also, this is a MOBILE CELRON. i was a beta tester for this laptop, and filed my complaints on the keyboard and reliability on other OS than windows XP. If you want a laptop, go for a higher end toshiba. this doesnt cut it for anyone. i spent more money in it than i bought it for after it released. i had to buy a usb keyboard, usb 2 card, wireless card, new mouse, because the onboard touchpad caught on fire. so much money spent, go for a desktop or another toshiba/ibm. jsut not a dell though.

Donot fall for the price
I had very bad experience with this machine. Personally, I think this laptop is good for the price but what is bad is the customer service from toshiba. They failed me big time with the tech service. The machine crashes very often. It won't boot saying there is a windows file missing. Initialy i thought it is a virus problem. I installed good anti-virus software. after a month, boom.. again the machine fails to boot. Took it to the sys ad, who suggested bad blocks in hard disk. Toshiba wont accept that and stands on their front that it is a software issue. It is not even 8 months but I used recovery cds more than 8 time and lost all my data. For every problem that they donot understand, they go for recovery cds. They dont seem to understand the importance of the data on the machine. They promised me a replacement after the 7th time the problem came up and it is also sent to the depot. When it cam back from the depot, microphone jack wont work. And the machine crashed with in a couple of weeks. When i called them, they tell me to use the recovery cds as the so called T-techs in Toshiba suggested the managers that it is not a hardware problem. I trashed this piece and went to bestbuy to get a better one, and not definitely toshiba. I got HP ze5300 that is running great. And during the chat with the best buy rep. i told him the story and after listening to the problem with the laptop he immediately suggested that it might be a hard disk or ram problem. Even if u enter this query in google, there are zillions of people who suggest you on what the cause is but it is just the Toshiba guys who dont seem to get it.

I am not saying this is a bad piece. But if at any point it fails, you are doomed. That's it. Dont rely on 1 year company warranty or the Toshiba tech service. Just spend few more 100 dollars and get a better one - i recommend sony or HP. they have good laptops.

PLEASED, BUT.
I am very satisfied with my equipment.
I'm sorry I was told to fill my rebate offer out and receive my rebate within a certain length of time then read that this model was discontiued after that. What's your take on it?

Sincerly Sheliah ... Read more