Amazon.com Product Description

The Toshiba Satellite A45-S120 is an entry level notebook that will appeal to students, families, and small businesses who crave mobility. The A45-S120 resides at the low end of Toshiba's Satellite A45 lineup, and it features a 40 GB hard drive, 256 MB installed RAM, a 15-inch TFT display, and a DVD player/CD writer combo drive. Stepping up to the next level with the A45-S150 adds a faster Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, integrated wireless card, and larger RAM and hard drive, while the A45-S250 adds an even faster Pentium 4 processor and a DVD writer.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB enhanced IDE hard drive (4200 RPM) will suffice for storing the majority of your software applications and document files, but it is on the low side compared with other models in this Toshiba Satellite line.
• Processor: While not as powerful as a Pentium 4, the 2.6 GHz Intel Celeron processor is speedy enough for everyday computing tasks and CD burning. It also has 1 128 KB L2 cache and a 400 MHz FSB (front-side bus).
• Memory: The installed 256 MB of DDR SDRAM is serviceable, but you should think of it as a starting point--especially if you plan on working with processor-intensive spreadsheets or PC games. It has two slots that can be expanded to 2 GB (2048 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a combo DVD/CD-RW drive, which enables you to play DVD-ROM discs and DVD movies as well as burn data and record music to CD discs. The CD writer has the following speeds: 24x write/10x rewrite/24x read.
• Keyboard & Mouse: The A45-S120 has an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys and a two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The A45-S120 offers a basic amount of connectivity options:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The A45-S120 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 90 days of complimentary live updates), Quicken New User Edition 2004, and ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD 1.3.

Dimensions and Weight
Definitely not the smallest on the block, the A45-S120 notebook measures 13.2 x 11.7 x 1.9 inches (L x W x H) and weighs a comfortable 7.7 pounds.

Power
The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery has 12 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 2.9 hours of typical use).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Toshiba Satellite A45-S120 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Poor product support
This laptop computer has a lot of features for the money. However, after two months of use the ac power adapter quit working. The part replacement time is 2 months! None of the universal adapters will fit so there is no alternative except to wait for Toshiba to ship the new ac adapter. Toshiba must be having a major problem with this ac adapter since all of the distributors have them on back order. Even a major seller like BestBuy, that sold me the computer, can't get the adapters any sooner.

Very good first/student notebook
Howdy!

Well, so far it's been a week with my new toy, and I've come to appreciate its' strengths and weaknesses so far. First, I'll let you know why I got it. I plan on going back to school, and I needed a fairly mobile notebook to use in class and for my schoolwork, as well as light gaming and occasional DVD movies. (...) So, here are the bad points first:

Built-in memory/Hard drive - 256MB with XP doesn't cut the mustard, and with 32MB taken out of the main system memory for your video card leaves you with a paltry 224MB RAM available. This hurts performance, since the swap file is constantly used, and with a 4,200 RPM drive, it can bog the system down. I recommend an immediate upgrade to at least 512MB RAM on top of the included 256MB. Also, I know that this is a basic system, so 40GB HD space is limited, but 60GB would have been really nice. Wishful thinking, though. ;)

Power adapter - A true brick, over a pound. Yuck.

No WiFi - This is somewhat bad and somewhat good, since I was able to get a WiFi PC card that works with my D-Link router to give me double 802.11g speeds, which is cool. I wouldn't be able to do that with built-in WiFi. The antennae sticking out of the PC Card is sometimes a eyesore, though.

The good:

Display - 15" display is very nice, although viewing angle isn't all that great. Still, considering that I'll want to do some private work on this, that's probably a good thing.

Keyboard - Not too mushy, and the keys are placed a bit oddly, but nothing you can't get over after a few days of intense use.

Processor - For what I do, the 2.8 GHz Celeron is fine, and with the RAM upgrade, it rarely runs at 100%.

So, that's it. Overall, if you want a student-level or really basic notebook, go ahead and get this one, it's pretty decent. If you're even a medium-level gamer or someone that needs more than the basics, go elsewhere. =) ... 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

The Satellite 1805-S203 does not represent the leading edge of Toshiba's notebook technology, but it does offer a nice set of basic components at a very attractive price. An 800-MHz Celeron processor is paired with 128 MB of RAM; storage includes a 15 GB hard disk drive and a DVD-ROM drive. The system's midrange-sized screen measures 13.3 inches diagonally and supports 1,024 x 768 resolution. A 56K modem is included as well. One area where the Satellite is less than ideal is portability: at 7 pounds, almost 2 inches thick, and with a rated 2-hour battery life, it's not easy to carry around for long. The Satellite comes with Microsoft Windows Me, plus Lotus SmartSuite Millennium Edition and Quicken Basic 2001. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

I HATE IT! I HATE IT! I HATE IT!
When my parents bought me the satellite for my 17th birthday i was so excited since it was my first personal notebook. Now i am 19 and have suffered the last two years with this peice of junk. I don't even know where to start...first it randomly shuts down for no apparent reason. It constantly locks up when using the internet, my screen freaks out randomly at least a couple times a year to the point where it literally wont show an image, the speakers suck, it's slow as hell and i can't even remember everything else that is wrong with it.
On top of all of this Toshiba itself sucks in the customer service department. My father is now on their "beware of customer" list because he continually calls when the damn thing breaks down and ends up getting people who don't speak english and don't understand anything he is trying to explain. I promise you he and I are both fully capable of explaining a problem. Toshiba's solution has been multiple times to send the computer in for fixing - which i have done at least four times over the last two years.
- One example of Toshiba's poor service: I sent the computer in to fix a dimming screen and on their service sheet, i boldy stated NO to refragmenting becuase of all the saved work i had on it. Well they refragmented it, lost all my work over the last year, and on top of it as my luck would turn the back up CD i had didnt work. Though the CD part was my mistake, i was devestated considering Toshiba shouldn't have lost the work in the first place.
The other reason i hate this thing is that being a college freshmen i have to rely entirely on my computer. SO low and behold this thing decides not to show images on my screen two weeks before my final exams. I was forced to box it up and send it to a repair shop ASAP, in which the computer wasn't returned to me for over a week.
Thanks to Toshiba, i am forever turned off of Toshiba computers. i will never in my ENTIRE LIFE purchase a product from their company and i suggest to those reading this that they do the same. On top of it i am worried that Toshiba has completely turned me away from PCs which i have so dilegently used the last few years...looks like Apple has a new customer. THANK YOU TOSHIBA!

A piece of junk
I kick myself every time I try to use this worthless piece of frustration. I hate it. It shuts down all the time. The sound card doesn't work. Half the time, when it boots up, the screen is black. Keep rebooting, and eventually, it will display and image. I hate it. I hate Toshiba products. I will never ever buy another one. And, of course, all this started immediately after it was out of warranty.

Manufactured with known defect
It seems that toshiba manufactured these machines with a known defect in which the CPU needs to be throttled back in order to keep the laptop from shutting down due to over heating. The cause of this issue is that Toshiba used a desktop CPU (Intel Pentium III) instead of a mobile CPU in these laptops. Toshiba's solution to the problem is a BIOS update which effectively throttles back the clock speed of the CPU and causes some issues with DVD playback. This defect is also present in the satellite 5505 series laptops.

BIOS is NOT the problem
Hey all- I have been following the class-action suit against Toshiba RE: random shut-offs and wanted to correct something that another reviewer asserted. In the "one bad apple..." review, the reviewer asserts that the BIOS fixes offered by Toshiba will correct this problem. This is a truth wrapped in falsehood. The BIOS fix WILL prevent this problem from occuring, but it is because it prevents your computer from running at its advertised speed. To say this is a solution is insane. All it suggests is that you should have bought a cheaper, slower computer to begin with. Do NOT confuse the BIOS fix as a real fix. Do not buy this computer. Also, do not buy a Satellite 5005-series or 1900-series. Same deal. Viva le lawsuit!

Just a note...
I am one of many with the famous Toshiba laptop overheat-and-shut-down problems. I just wanted to point out- since someone dismissed this problem as being easily correctible- it is NOT. updating BIOS was a clever trick by Toshiba to deflect the problem- not fix it. The BIOS fix merely SLOWS your computer down so that the processer produces less heat. However, it means that the user wasted a lot of money on a fast chip they cannot use. do not buy this computer (or the 1900 series) and expect to run it at the speed you were promised. Hell it may not run at all. Mine shuts down when i load some acrobat files, use Word, burn Cds, etc. i'm furious! right now, as I type, I have TWO ice packs on this piece of plastic and yet it has already shut-off twice in the last hour. I'm not kidding. this is not a whiny-- why isn't my computer perfect?-- complaint. I cannot use many Cd-roms, I cannot watch dvds AT ALL (meaning $ wasted on that drive), I cannot watch streaming video. I cannot even write a term paper without expecting a shut-off or two. No joke. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Marketed primarily as an ideal tool for business power users, Toshiba's A20 and A25 series of Satellite notebooks blend high-end processors with solid battery life, average 3-D performance and integrated wireless communication. The midrange model of the A25 lineup is the Toshiba Satellite A25-307, a muscular unit that shares almost all of the upscale traits of the top-of-the-line A25-308, but utilizes the Windows XP Home Edition operating system rather than Windows XP Professional. This system does, however, offer something the pricier A25-308 does not -- a DVD burner. And for many, that'll be more than a fair trade-off.

Driven by a powerful 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor (512 KB Level 2 cache) and 512 MB of DDR SDRAM memory, the Satellite A25-307 is no slouch when it comes to raw speed. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find any 2-D application it couldn't easily handle. As for games and other demanding 3-D tasks, the forecast isn't quite as rosy. With 32 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory, the system's integrated Trident CyberBlade XP2 graphics chipset simply isn't fast enough to guarantee smooth frame rates during ultra-complex 3-D rendering.

Measuring 13.4 by 11.6 by 1.9 inches and 7.9 pounds, the unit is substantially smaller than most notebooks manufactured before the turn of the millennium but slightly above average when compared to today's ultra-compact models. It does, however, feature a large 15-inch XGA TFT display and a variety of welcome amenities, including a full size 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys and a TouchPad pointing device, three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals, and a trio of communication options -- wireless 802.11b LAN, 10/100 wired LAN, and a low-speed 56K modem. In its stock form, the Satellite A25-307 does not incorporate a FireWire port (often used for digital camcorder connectivity).

A large 60 GB hard disk efficiently handles data storage duties, and a combination DVD-R/RW drive facilitates file archiving, audio CD listening and burning, DVD movies and video recording. According to independent testing, estimated battery life is a commendable 3 hours, 18 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

terrible tech support
Toshiba may make good products, but their support is the worst i have ever come across. They have lost my laptop for over a month now and do not care a lick about it. They're tech support team is in Turkey and they dont care a thing about anybody. They kept hanging up on me and refused to help me saying it will take some time. When i called back- no one knew anything and had zero updates. DO NOT BUY TOSHIBA PRODUCTS! Get a Gateway or Dell instead...two companies that actually care about their customers.

I love this computer
Well, I just bought the A25-307 and absolutely love this computer. I have installed Windows Office 2000 and many other business programs, and the machine runs beautifully and quickly. In addition, I've also installed video editing and DVD burning programs, and everything functions smoothly. I'm not a gamer, so I can't comment on that facet of the computer's performance. And when I view a DVD, it is displayed with clarity on the screen (no shadows, either). And the DVD burner is a great plus! The wireless function is really wonderful, too, and 60 GB on the hard disk is plenty of memory!

The Karmon speakers emphasise the treble more than the bass, but when I hook up external portable speakers (Phillips, in my case) the sound is, of course, wonderful. My only wish is that the screen, while of good resolution, would have yet a higher resolution for extra crispness. However, this is just a small suggestion. The current resolution is perfectly fine. The A25-307 is a marvelous computer that I would instantly recommend to anyone!

It's okay
I just got this last night. It was at no cost to me and I am glad of that fact, because the video/graphics card alone would deter me from buying this computer. For everyday applications ( surfing, e-mailing...) I can safely bet it's about the same as any other computer on the market. The speed is an improvement over my desktop (800mhz PIII), but that's not saying much.

I am pretty impressed with how comfortable the full size keys are. I have used an Acer in school and it makes me feel like I am typing with Italian sausages. I have no problem with double-keying on this. The layout took a little getting used to since I have grown accustomed to having the Windows shortcut keys at the bottom as opposed to up in the right corner.

The display is decent as well.

I have yet to try any DVD burning, but since it only comes with one drive any hopes of copying DVD's are squashed unless I buy an additional external drive. Same goes for the lack of a floppy drive, which, while getting phased out, still has a use and therefore should be left in until they have gone the way of the 5" floppy drive.

The sound is weak... but I haven't seen a laptop with sound comparable to regular speakers... yet.

I do like the scroll touch pad software that comes with the system, as it's very customizable and fairly easy to figure out.
Same goes for the Toshiba Console software, which helped a lot when establishing my Wi-Fi connection.

Overall it's a decent laptop computer, but if you are looking for a mobile gaming platform stay far away from this and look to Sager. Would I have paid money for this... No. I'd put toss away the additional $1,000+ for a mobile gaming system, because it'll take that much longer to be outdated. (which I intend to do) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Featuring an all-in-one design--DVD, hard and floppy disk drives, and aone-touch Internet access button--the Satellite 1800 series offers high-endfeatures without breaking the piggy bank. Included are a 1.1 GHz Intel Celeronprocessor, a 14.1-inch TFT active-matrix display, 256 MB of RAM (expandable to512 MB), a DVD/CD-RW multifunction drive, a 20 GB hard drive, 10/100Base-TEthernet, V.90/56K modem, and Windows XP Home Edition pre-installed. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My 1805-s207 is a lemon!!! I'll try Samsung next
I always loved Toshiba products so when it came time to buy a notebook, I turned to Toshiba first.

I bought the notebook in February 2002 and have had little use of it due to major problems. The first was the BIOS problem.
I downloaded the updated version and it still had problems. Each day the hard drive would display more and more serious problems until finally it quit.

I sent it to Toshiba. They replaced the hard drive. This was September. Gradually, the computer began to work slower and it took 5-10 minutes to boot up!!!

When I did a scan disk it could not complete the test and again I sent it to Toshiba about a week ago. They replaced the hard drive again!! I should get it back tomorrow.

I really hope this solves the problem.

Buy another brand if you can. 1 coworker of mine and email friend own samsung notebooks and they've had em for years with ZERO problems. I should have bought a samsung. They are the largest chip producer in the world. I am really disappointed in Toshiba.

Beware of sudden shut-downs!
I got this laptop for a birthday present and I have loved every moment with it. Other reviewers have covered most aspects of this computer in great detail, but I feel I must add something.

This laptop shuts down suddenly while you're working on your computer, whether you're playing music, a DVD, working on a word processor, or just fooling around on chat. I've checked Toshiba's online support, and they blame the BIOS, for which they have issued a patch twice at least. I have installed the patch twice, once on Feb 20 (I checked), and once April 25. It still shuts down suddenly.

I've called Toshiba Customer Support, and they suggest I take it to my local authorized dealer to have it fixed. Hopefully they can fix it, because I do love my laptop (my baby!) and it's a wonderful machine, except for this _very_ irritating (and scary--it's finals time, and I have lots of papers due) flaw.

DVD playback is choppy at times (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon wasn't as fun when the fight scenes were truncated or came frame by frame) but then again, I'm not really complaining . . . yet. After all, I didn't ask for this laptop for the sole purpose of DVD playback.

Everything else works fine, and I've been extolling this laptop's virtues wherever I go. I've influenced my roommate to save up over the summer for a laptop, though I suspect after hearing me yell at the computer when it shuts down for the third time in a night she won't be buying the 1805-S207. :\

Great product for the $
This is a great laptop and I encourage anyone who wants one to buy it. Of course this is NOT a intense gaming laptop though it played Age of Empires II pretty well on my laptop. I won't comment on the DVD/CD-RW drive since I rarely use it. Since I use it mostly at home or while I am at my university, given the battery life, I mostly sit near an outlet. But you can also buy an extra battery I'm just too cheat to do so.

Commenting about windows XP home backup utility it's Windows XP's fault for that. I installed Windows XP on one of my destop pc's and it didn't come with the backup utility either. I checked around and it seems that you have to manually install it from the cd. Damn windows xp home. I really didn't expect any company to manually install the backup utility but microsoft should have made it part of the installation. Anyway, the ir port is great for communicating with my cell phone and the screen size is a plus.

Overall the laptop is more than I bargained for so I'm very happy with my purchase.

Very Disappointed
I'm not sure if it because of Windows XP, but this PC runs slower than my older compter. My dial up on the internet is slower also. Ugh .. and I tried to return it after only two days and Toshiba won't take it back. I feel like they handed me the 'hot potato" and I'm stuck with it.
I will be putting it in the paper this week, and taking the loss, I'd rather just repair my old one, the one with a different brand name.

Best value notebook, great support, very few drawbacks
I actually own the Satellite 1800-S207, but the only difference is that my laptop has Windows XP Professional, whereas the 1805-S207 has XP Home. Other the OS, these two notebooks are identical.

I purchased this laptop (about 2 months ago) because of it's many features and the great price. I paid [$] including shipping over the internet, couldn't find a better deal for a notebook that has 14" screen, DVD/CDRW, 1.1GHz Celeron, etc.

I've had no problems with full screen DVD playback when the notebook is plugged in to the AC Adapter, and on batteries I've only had a jerky picture once or twice an hour (didn't bother me at all). I've read that other users have had issues with DVD playback, but I have had no major issues and am very satisfied. The speakers surprised me with their clarity and loudness, best I've heard in a laptop.

I've burned 2 CDs with no problems, the Roxio software worked perfectly and burned the CD-Rs at a fast 8x speed.

The display is a very nice 14" active matrix, with great brightness and resolution. I've had one pixel go out, but it's barely noticable and I've heard it's a common thing with active screens.

Everything is layed out logically, the touchpad works well and you can even use it to scroll up/down, sideways, and go back and forward pages when surfing the internet. Below the touchpad are also rewind, ff, stop and play buttons that can be used to play CD's when the laptop is off and closed. Hooking up the laptop to a TV to play DVD's is easy with the RCA out in the back, and I can close the laptop and use the above mentioned buttons during TV playback.

Performance is OK, I've never owned an Intel Celeron before, but it's plenty for the majority of applications. This is NOT a gaming machine, graphic intensive games like Links at full res or Unreal will not work well on this machine. However, strategy games like The Sims or Civ3 work flawlessly.

There are a couple of other minor drawbacks. I'm not too excited about the 2.5 hour battery life, but for [$] I'm willing to sacrifice that feature. It's also a bit heavy and bulky, but that doesn't bother me too much since I don't travel much and this was a desktop replacement.

Another thing to mention is Toshiba Support. This is one of the major reasons I bought this laptop, because many other user comments I read about felt that Toshiba offered the best phone support. I had a minor bios issue, where after extreme extended use (like 6 straight hours of working on a grad school paper in a hot library), the bios would suddenly shut down the XP OS. I called in and the technician answered right away, we upgraded my bios and the problem was solved in 10 minutes. Haven't had this problem since then.

Overall, I feel this is the best value notebook currently on the market, and with good price/performance and great tech support, I plan to stick with Toshiba for years. ... 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

Amazon.com Product Description

Considerably larger (16.4 by 11.5 by 1.8 inches, 9.9 pounds) than the average portable computer yet packed with more high-end amenities than most stay-at-home PCs, Toshiba's new Satellite P25 series of "desktop replacement" notebooks is designed for discriminating individuals who won't accept anything less than the very best. This model, the stunning Satellite P25-S609, sits at the very top of the P25 lineup as one of the most capable and exciting notebooks manufactured to date. For starters, the Satellite P25-S609 is a true portable multimedia powerhouse. Toshiba has fitted the unit with a whopping 17-inch widescreen display screen capable of dazzling 1440 by 900 resolutions. It has added a pair of high-quality harman/kardon stereo speakers and enclosed a versatile DVD multi-drive through which you can not only watch the latest Hollywood releases and burn audio and data CDs, but also record your own home movies to DVD media. An nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 graphics chipset with 64 MB dedicated video memory ensures solid 3-D support for the latest games and 3-D graphics applications.

Moreover, the unit is blazingly fast. Driving the Satellite P25-S609 is a high-end 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. Matched with this speedy processor is a staggering 1024 MB alloent of DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to a 2048 MB). Though the rated speed of this RAM is only average, there's so much of it that you can multitask to your heart's content.

Other critical features include a huge 80 GB hard disk (more than enough room for a thorough roster of applications and a massive library of multimedia files), four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals such as scanners or external drives, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port for fast interaction with devices such as digital camcorders, and two Type II and Type III PC Card slots. Communication facilities include 802.11a/g wireless networking, 10/100 Ethernet LAN and an integrated 56K modem.

The bundled software package features Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft Works, Intuit Quicken New User Edition 2003, and a variety of multimedia utilities. Battery life expectancy is not one of the unit's strong suits -- you can expect just 1.5 hours from the standard Lithium Ion cell.

More About Microsoft Windows XP Media Center

What sets this PC apart is that it is powered by Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, which offers the features, reliability, and power of Windows XP Professional, plus advanced digital entertainment capabilities. The Media Center interface offers you more types of entertainment to enjoy: TV, Personal Video Recording (PVR), Movies, Music, Photos, Videos, Radio, and DVD. Use the remote control to enjoy from anywhere in your room.

TV & Movies 
Watch TV when and how you want, and never miss a moment of your favorite programs.Pause and rewind live TV. Record a TV episode, series, or category. Automaticallyrecord a personalized selection of TV programs using Keyword Record. Media Centerdownloads the latest program listings for you and even wakes up from power-savingstandby mode to record programs, so you can watch shows on your schedule.
 	 
	Photos & Video
	Easily edit your digital pictures and digital videos, and then launch a dynamic slideshow complete with animated transitions and your favorite soundtrack. While viewing a picture, zoom in to see more detail. You can rotate, correct red-eye, and print your pictures using the remote. Play slide-shows straight from digital storage devices.
 	 
Music & Radio 
All your music is stored in one digital jukebox and using the remote, shuffle your entire music collection according to artist or genre or listen to your tunes through playlists that learn what you like. Tune in FM stations and pause live radio. Full-screen visualizations pulse to the beat of the music. Cool on-screen effects show music information, such as track title, track time, and artist.

... Read more

Reviews (19)

Absolutely Amazing!
I was puzzled why Toshiba would discontinue the P25 series so quickly leaving the 15" P15 as the only Media Center laptop they offer, but on with the review. I recently purchased this beautiful machine on discount at CompUSA and I knew this was the laptop that I was looking for.

This laptop is truly a DESKTOP REPLACEMENT (don't look for battery life to be stellar) with jaw-dropping specs even for a desktop (except for the graphics which seem a little undersized with a FX Go5200 64MB). The unit is put together well but visually, the looks are an acquired taste.

Another problem is the keyboard which seems so small compared to the rest of the laptop. A 10-digit keypad like the HP 17-inch notebook would have been a welcomed edition. At least, Toshiba could have put the Windows and Menu buttons in the standard position instead of the upper-right hand corner.

With the Media Center Edition of Windows XP, I have gotten rid of the television in my room and replaced it with this notebook. However, I don't see why the television tuner had to be a removable module forcing you to chose between a battery and television. The thing is so huge and so heavy (10 pounds!), I think Toshiba could have fit in the TV Tuner.

So if you are looking for a true desktop replacment, look no further because, despite some minor problems, this is an all-around excellent machine.

Highly recommended for multimedia work & gorgeous screen
This computer (next to my beau) is the light of my life. I've had it for 11 months and am head over heals in love. I use it for photo manipulation with Photoshop CS, web development with Dreamweaver MX 2004, animation creation with Flash MX 2004, authoring multimedia projects with Director MX, a bit of music mixing with Adobe Audition, streaming music from Rhapsody, listening to NPR and watching DVDs.

All my peripherals (Epson Photo printer, iRiver mp3 player, SanDisk media reader, cordless mouse) plug and play nicely together, all at the same time. The big, beautiful monitor is the best feature. Watching DVDs in bed is such a treat!

The computer is a dream to type on. Feels like there are shock absorbers or pockets of air beneath each key.

The harman/kardon speakers are the only drawback. Having heard the speakers on the Toshiba Satellite 5205-S704, which are fantastic, rectangular speakers that actually raise up above the keyboard area, I had high expectations. But the volume on the P25 speakers is far too low. I overcome this with Creature speakers plugged in.

Whilst I wouldn't want to transport this computer with me every day due to the weight, it does fit in my bike messenger bag for those occasional trips across town or overseas. Not many laptop backpacks will fit the 17" screen.

The WiFi is wonderful. Even in a small apartment. I love being able to take it to the kitchen table, the living room couch or the bed with no cords dangling off.

I've worked on 2 laptops and 4 desktop computers for multimedia in the past and this one is by far the best.

BUYER BEWARE!
I bought my P25-S609 brand new from Circuit City on 1/24/04. I bought the $300 mega-warranty through Toshiba upon registeration. I have never hated a computer or a company like this before. 45 days after shelling out over $3000 for everything listed above, my HD starts clicking and sputtering. Long story short, total hard drive failure and data loss. After a week of waiting, my repaired laptop came back to me. I spent over $200 on software suites to create back-ups and restore disks to try and avoid ever losing everything like that again. Big help they turned out to be. Here we are, less than 5 months after buying it and already having the HD replaced.....the HD has failed AGAIN. The situation is such that I cant even get my back up disks to restore data. Toshiba wants to just replace the HD again. FORGET IT! I have a warranty that covers replacement should I physically break the unit, yet when I I politely request that my lemon of a notebook please be replaced, I am told no. I am fed up. I lost everything, AGAIN!!! Toshiba could care less. Looks like my notebook is headed for a head on collision with my Range Rover....OOOPS! And Toshiba America is being handled through my state's Attorney General's Office.....better luck to those of you out there with this computer!

my job lets me see all laptops around, your in TheRightPlace
A CAVEAT: WinDVD4 works great on the smaller Satellites, but for some reason works horrible on the big one (19" screen), I brought it back to BestB, thinking there was something wrong with the graphics card, but ashrewd tech (rare)told me that some DVD programs work better than others- and loaded "POWER-DVD" which works awesome. You won't be sorry.

It's big of course, and you probably won't be taking it on too many trips, though I still do because it's ma lil-Big-Screen. And don't forget, it's so beautifully wide. And so PERFECT for widescreen DVD's.

Me Happy-(...)

Great overall fit and finish but.......
This is my 3rd Toshiba laptop. I've tried Dell and returned it, HP and returned it, Compaq.etc... I finally settled on Toshiba because of the overall construction, sturdiness and build of the computer. I LOVE the 17" screen and the brushed aluminum. My biggest complaint about Toshibas in general is that they don't offer a 7200 RPM hard drive. A friend purchased a Sager with a Hitachi 7200 RPM hard drive and it's much faster than Toshiba's 5400. As of this writing I have ordered a Hitachi 7200 RPM 60 gig hard drive which they say is compatible with the P25-S609. We shall see. Toshiba's hard drives are all made by Hitachi but I suspect Toshiba has not yet introduced the 7200 into their line. If this hard drive does indeed work I will probably put the 5400 rpm drive into the 2nd bay where the battery is. I rarely use the battery. It's bascially a desktop replacement. But back to the Sager - it is loaded with more features and much faster but the fit and finish just don't equal that of Toshibas.....this goes for the Hps, Compaqs, Dells etc. I do like Sony Vaios but they are very, very overpriced. For now, I'm sticking with Toshiba. ... Read more

Manufacturer Product Description

The Basics:
An awesome roster of portable computers designed for those who won't accept anything less than the finest mobile performance, Toshiba's P25 series of Satellite notebooks will handle virtually any duty you might normally reserve for high-end desktop PCs. As powerful "desktop replacement" notebooks, they are somewhat bulkier and less battery efficient than today's new breed of ultra-lightweight notebooks. However, true power users will find the extra size a small price to pay for amenities such as high-end Pentium 4 processing, solid 3D graphic capabilities and massive 17-inch widescreen displays. This model, the Satellite P25-S526 Notebook PC, features all of the above plus DVD recording and a spacious 80 GB hard disk.

Processor:
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The Satellite P25-S526 lies firmly in the latter category, equipped with a blazing 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading. Hyper-Threading, a new Intel technology, allows a single CPU system (which most are) to behave at times as a dual CPU system, thus adding substantially more speed to some high-end tasks. Running at 3.2 GHz, this particular processor would be one of the fastest in any notebook, but it is nothing less than spectacular with its Hyper-Threading support.

Memory:
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Satellite P25-S526 incorporates 512 MB of RAM, more than enough for most situations. Ultra-demanding users may want to expand their RAM, and with the Satellite P25-S526 they can, to a boggling maximum of 2048 MB.

Video:
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). This system's graphics controller is an nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB of dedicated video RAM. While a graphics card with 128 MB or more of video RAM is considered ideal for a completely smooth frame rate in state-of-the-art 3D games and 3D animation apps, this card is nevertheless comparatively powerful and more than enough for all but the most demanding gamers and 3D artisans.

Display:
You'll love the way your DVD movies and 3D games look on the system's roomy 17-inch TFT WXGA display. Substantially larger than most notebook viewing screens, this display is especially notable for its widescreen format, the same panoramic configuration favored by movie-makers and some high-end game producers. And with a maximum resolution of 1440 by 900, you can expect super-sharp images no matter what application you're using.

Hard Disk:
The Satellite P25-S526 features a massive 80 GB of hard disk space. This amount of data storage is a welcome perk indeed for those who want to operate a broad range of applications and also keep a large library of space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files.

Optical Drive:
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. This system features a DVD-Super-Multi drive that supports all of the above in each of today's most common CD and DVD formats.

Audio:
The system features an integrated audio processor that mimics the spatial awareness of surround sound, and two harman-kardon speakers for powerful mobile stereo output.

Keyboard and Controls:
You'll control your notebook via an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys, dedicated Windows keys support, and a TouchPad pointing device with scroll. CD controls include Play/Pause, Stop/Eject, Previous, and Skip/Next.

Connectivity and Expansion:
The Satellite P25-S526 offers a wide variety of ways to keep in touch, including a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, an RJ-45 Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, and integrated wireless LAN for cordless e-communication at home, at the office or on the road via a local public hotspot. Other key amenities include four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an infrared port for interacting with wireless peripherals, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), and a digital (S-Video) TV-out port.

Operating System and Software:
Toshiba has fitted the system with today's most widely accepted operating system, Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition.

Dimensions and Weight:
Notebook computers are manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and weights. Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and therefore too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two lbs and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The Satellite P25-S526 is definitely larger than average, yet more compact than many other "desktop replacements" at 16.4 by 11.5 by 1.8 inches and 9.9 lbs.

Power:
The system is equipped with a 12-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that delivers 1.5 hours between charges. This is not particularly efficient when compared with less capable ultra-portables using Intel's Centrino technology and Pentium M processor, but is in keeping with standard desktop replacement battery longevity. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sporting a spacious hard drive and enough muscle to drive most any application, Toshiba's Satellite 5205-S705 Notebook is built for those who won't settle for compact performance in their compact computer, but must also consider their budget. Whether used for business, personal or entertainment purposes, the Satellite 5205-S705 is capably outfitted to meet most requirements.

Toshiba has not skimped where it counts most -- at the heart of the unit. Powered by a fast 2.4 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, a whopping 512 MB RAM (expandable to 1024 MB) and an Nvidia GeForce 4 graphics controller with 64 MB of DDR video memory, the Satellite 5205-S705 has no trouble running most common computing tasks, and will also effectively handle all but the most demanding 3-D animation/drawing packages and 3-D games.

Toshiba has equipped the unit with several top-notch amenities, including a generous 15-inch SXGA+ display (1600 by 1200 maximum resolution), a three-way Harman/Kardon speaker system with miniature subwoofer, and a DVD/CD-RW drive through which you can play audio CDs, burn music and data, and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Digital media enthusiasts will appreciate the trio of high-speed USB 2.0 ports and the single IEEE 1394 port, and everyone will enjoy the large internal 60 GB hard drive. To help you control your applications, the system includes a full-size 86-key keyboard, 12 function keys, and a wide array of internal and external media buttons and illuminated indicators.

The Satellite 5205-S705 is ready for the future too, sporting a Toshiba Style Bay for supplementary peripherals such as a second optical drive, hard drive or battery pack. Connectivity comes in the form of an internal 56K modem and a 10/100 Ethernet card, though wireless communication is not offered in this stock format. The system is of average size at 13.2 by 11.7 by 1.5 inches and 7.9 pounds.

More About Microsoft Windows XP Media Center

What sets this PC apart is that it is powered by Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, which offers the features, reliability, and power of Windows XP Professional, plus advanced digital entertainment capabilities. The Media Center interface offers you more types of entertainment to enjoy: TV, Personal Video Recording (PVR), Movies, Music, Photos, Videos, Radio, and DVD. Use the remote control to enjoy from anywhere in your room.

TV & Movies 
Watch TV when and how you want, and never miss a moment of your favorite programs.Pause and rewind live TV. Record a TV episode, series, or category. Automaticallyrecord a personalized selection of TV programs using Keyword Record. Media Centerdownloads the latest program listings for you and even wakes up from power-savingstandby mode to record programs, so you can watch shows on your schedule.
 	 
	Photos & Video
	Easily edit your digital pictures and digital videos, and then launch a dynamic slideshow complete with animated transitions and your favorite soundtrack. While viewing a picture, zoom in to see more detail. You can rotate, correct red-eye, and print your pictures using the remote. Play slide-shows straight from digital storage devices.
 	 
Music & Radio 
All your music is stored in one digital jukebox and using the remote, shuffle your entire music collection according to artist or genre or listen to your tunes through playlists that learn what you like. Tune in FM stations and pause live radio. Full-screen visualizations pulse to the beat of the music. Cool on-screen effects show music information, such as track title, track time, and artist.

... Read more

Reviews (8)

One year on-0 problems
I have had the laptop for more than a year and had no problems what so ever with it. Works great and together with 400 GB external memory drive it is a true replacement to a good desktop.

I have used it to convert my analog video collection into digital format. I have worked the machine 56 hours continuously and there wasn't one single glitch.

Pity it has been discontinued. It had a promising future to be replace quite a few desktops out there.

Great Product
I've had this notebook for about a year now. I use it 8+h/day and It's a workhorse. My old dell notebooks HD crashed after 1mo! and the lcd had to be replaced after a few months. I've had no problems with this Notebook so far! It's not something you want to carry around, but it's perfect around the house, and it's awesome to play high end computergames on which require a decent machine.

My Fat Top
Good Points: Nice, Sharp Screen

Bad Points: Flimsy port covers (my ethernet cover snapped off). Another annoying point are the CD/DVD controls at the front. Sure, it allows you easy access to CD's and DVD's. But let's say that you accidentally trigger it when your computer is off and your laptop os in its case. You'll have to take it out and power it down again.

I think the worst point that no one mentioned is its weight. It's a monster. It must be close to 9 pounds with the battery, 10 pounds with the AC adapter, and 14-15 pounds with you lap top bag and all the miscellaneous stuff you carry around. Hope you never have to run to catch a bus or train! As someone who's travelled extensively with this laptop and also commutes daily with it, the weight is enormous. The photo above makes it look thin, but it over 1.5" thick on one end. The most hilarious thing about it is the included concept video which shows that the "designers" wanted to create a wing shaped design. It's about as aerodynamic as a cargo plane.

Beautiful but delicate
After spending a good deal of time researching machines and retailers, I chose this Toshiba for its TFT screen and Media Center OS. I also chose Amazon based on past experiences with it's outstanding customer service and quick, efficient shipping.

Unfortunately, three things went wrong: Amazon shipped the Toshiba box free-floating among a sea of packing peanuts; UPS delivered the Amazon box in a mangled mess; and the Toshiba itself arrived with a top to bottom series of dead display lines down the middle of the otherwise beautiful screen. The return policy conditions, though understandable, delayed pickup of the product, which in turn delayed the credit to my account, which in turn delayed my alternate purchase from Dell. Though I will never know where the damage occured, I won't be purchasing anything this delicate again from Amazon.

The product rating is really for the experience and inability to use the machine. Everything people say about the brilliance of the screen is true...if it survives the trip.

If you're buying this laptop, or any of a number of others normally picked up from local retailers, go local...the trip it takes may not be worth your trouble.

Developers - put a second hard drive in the style bay
The most important thing about this notebook for developers is that you can put a second hard drive into the style bay. Yes, you lose the TV tuner. But you can boot from either drive (switch through a utility in the control panel from Toshiba). Install multiple operating systems, test on multiple platforms, go for it... ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The great notebook
I got this notebook June 1st. It is great. It is rather large and heavy, but this is due to the 15 inch screen. THis large screen is ideal for watching DVD's and playing games. It is a good computer over all. The main problems is that the Microsoft mouse that I have doesn't work as plug-and-play 40% of the time. This is the only accesory that does this so I think that that is a mouse problem. The other problem is that the built in CD palyer controls don't work. I think it's beacuse the manual is VERY vague on the subject. I don't no why, but mine has a nVIDA GeForce4 32MB graphics card. This was the only laptop in CompUSA to have a card greater then 16 MB.

New Toshiba Satellite 2455-S305 Does not work
I just got Toshiba Satellite 2455-S305 for not too long. The machines started to act strange without any other physical or virus reason. It is not physical shaken, and the XP virus patch is up to date. In addition to the hard drive does not work, the screen displays blurring text, and becomes black sometime.

New Toshiba Satellite 2455-S305 Does not work
I just got the Toshiba Satellite 2455-S305 from Amazon for not too long, its hard drive does not work for no physical or virus reason. When I booted the machine, a lot of noise come from the disk, but no XP shows up. It is not shaken in any way, the XP service's patch is up to date. The only possibility is its manufacture quality.

Reliable, Fast, Solid
I bought this laptop mainly to use at home, but in different rooms. Occasionally however I take it at work or abroad. Although it is not as light and slim as proper mobile units I have seen, it seems more strong and capable of enduring some hard times.

Pros: 2.4Ghz Intel Pentium 4 (not mobile/celeron)
533 Mhz FSB
Smart Digital slot
DVD-R/RW
Infra Red
60 Gb Hardisk
Well over 3 hours autonomy in 'Long Life' battery mode
Toshiba reliability/reputation

Cons: No Flobby Drive (Had to buy a USB one from Iomega - although I hate those diskettes.)
No built-in 802.11 wireless, although it is prepared to take one. I prefered a Linksys Wireless-G pc card, which I may remove and use on another system with ease.

If I may suggest another laptop which has better features, have a look at the Fujitsu N-Series. It has floppy and wireless built in.

A plenty of features... defective screen
This notebook offers a lot of features and can be considered a real desktop replacement.

However, the quality of the screen is very low.

I bought one from [local store] (it was the last one) with some defective pixels. I have just received one from amazon and it too has defective pixels and some 'dark' little spots around on the screen. I have to return this one too. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics:
An awesome roster of portable computers designed for those who won't accept anything less than the finest mobile performance, Toshiba's Satellite P25 series of notebooks will handle virtually any duty you might normally reserve for a high-end desktop PC. As powerful "desktop replacements", they are somewhat bulkier and less battery efficient than today's new breed of ultra-lightweight notebooks. However, true power users will find the extra size a small price to pay for such a stunning list of amenities. This model, the Satellite P25-S676 Notebook PC, features such perks as a 17-inch widescreen display, DVD recording, state-of-the-art 3D graphic handling abilities, and a spacious 80 GB hard disk.

Processor:
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The Satellite P25-S676 lies firmly in the former category, equipped with a blazing 3.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading. Hyper-Threading, a new Intel technology, allows a single CPU system (which most are) to behave at times as a dual CPU system, thus adding substantially more speed to some high-end applications. Running at 3.4 GHz, this particular processor would be one of the fastest in any notebook, but is nothing less than spectacular with its integrated Hyper-Threading.

Memory:
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Satellite P25-S676 incorporates 512 MB of RAM, more than enough for most situations. Ultra-demanding users have the option of expanding their RAM to a boggling maximum of 2048 MB.

Video:
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). This system's graphics controller is an nVidia GeForce FX Go5700 with a whopping 128 MB of dedicated video RAM. This is simply one of the fastest graphics controllers in today's notebook world, delivering top-notch images and super-smooth frame rates to virtually any 2D or 3D application, including today's most demanding 3D games.

Display:
You'll love the way your DVD movies and 3D games look on the system's roomy 17-inch TFT WXGA display. Substantially larger than most notebook viewing screens, this display is especially notable for its widescreen format, the same panoramic configuration favored by movie-makers and some high-end game producers. And with a maximum resolution of 1440 by 900, you can expect super-sharp images no matter what you're doing.

Hard Disk:
The Satellite P25-S676 features a massive 80 GB of hard disk space. This quantity of data storage is a welcome perk indeed for those who want to operate a broad range of applications and also keep a large library of space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files.

Optical Drive:
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. This system features a DVD-Super-Multi drive that supports all of the above in each of today's most common CD and DVD formats.

Audio:
The system features an integrated audio processor that mimics the spatial awareness of surround sound, and two harman-kardon speakers for powerful mobile stereo output.

Keyboard and Controls:
You'll control your notebook via an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys, dedicated Windows keys support, and a TouchPad pointing device with scroll. CD controls include Play/Pause, Stop/Eject, Previous, and Skip/Next.

Connectivity and Expansion:
The Satellite P25-S676 offers a wide variety of ways to keep in touch, including a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, an RJ-45 Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, and integrated wireless LAN for cordless e-communication at home, at the office or on the road via a local public hotspot. Other key amenities include four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an infrared port for interacting with wireless peripherals, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), two digital (S-Video) TV-out ports, and a digital audio out (SPDIF) connection.

Operating System and Software:
Toshiba has fitted the system with one of today's most advanced operating systems, Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition.

Dimensions and Weight:
Notebook computers are manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and weights. Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and therefore too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two lbs and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The Satellite P25-S676 is definitely larger than average, yet more compact than many other "desktop replacements" at 16.4 by 11.5 by 1.8 inches and 9.9 lbs.

Power:
The unit is equipped with a 12-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that delivers 1.5 hours between charges. This is not particularly efficient when compared with less powerful ultra-portables using Intel's Centrino technology and Pentium M processor, but is in keeping with standard desktop replacement battery longevity. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Exceptionally roomy and packed with enough muscle to drive applications you might otherwise reserve for your desktop PC, Toshiba's Satellite 5205-S505 Notebook is built for discerning individuals who won't settle for compact performance in their compact computer. Whether used for business, personal, or entertainment purposes, the Satellite 5205-S505 is capably outfitted to meet your requirements.

Toshiba has not skimped where it counts most--at the heart of the unit. The system is powered by a fast 2.2 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, a whopping 512 MB RAM (expandable to 1024 MB) and an Nvidia GeForce 4 graphics controller with 32 MB of dedicated (not shared) 250 MHz DDR video memory. With this level of power, the Satellite 5205-S505 has no trouble running most common computing tasks, and will also effectively handle all but the most demanding 3-D animation/drawing packages and 3-D games.

Speaking of leisure pursuits, the Satellite 5205-S505 is ready to please. Toshiba has equipped the unit with several top-notch amenities, including a generous 15-inch SXGA+ display (1400 by 1050 resolution), a three-way Harman/Kardon speaker system with miniature subwoofer, and a DVD/CD-RW drive through which you can play audio CDs, burn music and data and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Digital media enthusiasts will appreciate the trio of high-speed USB 2.0 ports and the single IEEE 1394 port, and everyone will enjoy the large internal 60 GB hard drive. To help you control your many applications, the system also includes a full-size 85-key keyboard, 12 function keys, and an impressive array of internal and external media buttons and illuminated indicators.

The Satellite 5205-S505 is ready for the future too, sporting a Toshiba Style Bay for supplementary peripherals such as a second optical drive, hard drive, or battery pack. Connectivity comes in the form of an internal 56K modem and a 10/100 Ethernet card. Surprisingly, this full-featured system is not inordinately cumbersome at 13.2 by 11.7 by 1.5 inches and 7.94 pounds. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

curosity
hi..i'm halil...

now i am writing about toshiba satellite 5205-s505 notebook. you have already determined the price of this notebook about 1,699.99 dollars. now i wonder, is this price include a tax?. if not, what about tax?. than i live in turkey..so how can i get this notebook..if i come to usa, can i get this notebook more cheap? give me some information please..:) already now, thanks for all helps...

A good shopping
The toshiba satellite 5205 is a very good shopping. It was delivered on time and i recived it soon. The price is correct for a machine that fly at 2.2 Ghtz . Enough memory of 512 and HD of 60 gigas . I recommend it . I!m happy with my purchase

I will never buy any thing from toshiba
I have one of the satellite models. The screen kept turning black soon after 1 year warranty. I called their technical support and they diagnosed it was a back light problem. I have to find a place myself to fix it. A friend of mine also has a satellite model.The floppy driver broke one week after purchasing. I am buying a new one, certainly not toshiba. And I will never buy anything from toshiba.

Great Machine
We bought this for our daughter for commuter schoolwork. It quickly became the most popular machine in the house. Not the greatest on battery life, but fast, reliable, and extremely capable. Almost a year now and no problems at all. Amazon was prompt on their rebate, Toshiba needed a little prodding. I am tempted to buy another for myself - company HP machine looks sick next to it.

Love This Machine
I bought this Toshiba laptop after selling an Apple iBook that I had owned for 10 days and absolutely hated (the Apple iBook was slower than Christmas!)

The Toshiba is light years ahead of the Apple (although $... cheaper in price after rebates). It's incredibly fast, has a wonderful 15" screen, plays DVDs perfectly, runs 5 applications at once with no reduction in performance, has not crashed on me once, is beautifully designed, and is just an all round great machine. The only drawback is that it IS heavy - I'd hope that future models would be lighter than this one, but overall the positives FAR outweigh this one negative.

This is the first Toshiba I've ever owned, and I'll definitely be buying another one. I've owned it for almost three months and couldn't be happier. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Toshiba’s Satellite 2415-S205 notebook proves you don’t need to spend top dollar on state-of-the-art components to own a fast and proficient portable computer. Powerful and stocked with all the features most users will ever need, the 2415-S205 is a smart and economically sound notebook investment.

Driven by a capable and reliable 2 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor and 256 MB of fast PC2100 DDR SDRAM system memory (expandable to a whopping 1,024 MB), the affordable 2415-S205 is ready to blast through virtually any standard notebook or desktop task. The unit’s integrated 16 MB nVidia GeForce4 420 Go graphics controller will have some trouble rendering today’s most demanding 3-D drawing packages and games but is certainly ready to handle anything else you toss its way.

The 2415-S205 ensures you’ll have numerous data storage and transfer options. The system comes equipped with a large 40 GB hard disk, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, and a DVD/CD-RW multifunction drive through which you can back up your files, burn and listen to CDs, and watch your favorite big-screen blockbusters.

Featuring an 85-key keyboard with 12 quick-access function buttons, a wheel-enhanced touchpad pointing device with separate scroll capability, and a variety of convenient external compact disc controls, the unit is easy to use too. Other popular amenities include a pair of PC Card slots, three USB 1.1 ports for plug-and-play peripherals, an internal 56K modem for low-speed e-mail and Internet access, and a 10/100 Ethernet LAN for high-speed connectivity. Toshiba has pre-installed several applications to help get you started, including the Professional Edition of Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system, Intuit Quicken Basic 2001, and Norton AntiVirus 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

excellent system, durable and reliable
Its worth is alot more than the its price. I loved it.

Excellent package in less money.
Affordable system with excellent working and capabilities and functionalities.
Great addition to working style.

Toshiba Notebook
The motherboard on this machine, which has been sparingly used since it was purchased in October 2002, failed in November 2003, a date approximately one month after the expiration of the manufacturer's warranty. The cost to replace the board was approximately 25% of the cost of this laptop.

Picky About Laptops
The few problems experienced below/above I have also had (little battery life mostly). The speakers aren't so bad, and you can always buy a good pair of headphones which will do just as well. The weight isn't too bad, a bit heavy but comes with the territory. I do graphic and web design so I'm very picky on screen clarity and performance... This definitely excels in both! It's pros really do way out its cons. I've had mine for almost 2 years. It's not very stable when it comes to getting banged up. My previous hard drive crashed and was unrecoverable from my laptop being dropped (maybe 10 inches) to the ground. Toshiba kept the previous hard drive and I was unable to get it back to try and recover my data. Other than that this machine is excellent!

toshiba 2415-S205
My girlfriend surprised me with this laptop after a virus took our other computer out of commission. Needless to say, it's nice to have some sort of virus program on here that comes with the computer even if it's not the most recent one. Start up on this laptop is phenomenol. I can go to a client's house and be up and going in no time at all. Visuals are nothing less than extraordinary when I do a presentation. I have dsl at home and the speed is fine. However, when a pop up ad starts up it does tend to freeze up the computer and not really tell you why its freezing up. I've tried making adjustments to it but no luck as of yet. Could be of a fault of my own. This laptop does come with speakers. However, I would say this is definately not a strong point on this laptop. Plugging in a dvd gives great clarity but rotten listening. I have only had this laptop less than a week without any regrets. But then again, this is my first laptop. Last of all, couldn't they make this laptop a little lighter with battery life a little longer than just two hours? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Considerably larger than the average portable computer yet packed with more high-end amenities than most desktops, Toshiba's new Satellite P25-507 17" Notebook PC is a stunningly capable and exceedingly powerful system designed for discriminating individuals who won't accept anything less than the very best.

Those who can't live without the benefits of a full-featured stationary PC will find plenty to like in the Satellite P25-507. For starters, Toshiba has fitted the unit with a whopping 17-inch display screen capable of a dazzling 1440 by 900 resolution. It has added a pair of high-quality Harman/Kardon stereo speakers and enclosed a versatile DVD-R/RW drive through which you can not only watch the latest Hollywood releases, but also burn your own home movies to DVD media. Thusly, the Satellite P25-507 is one of very few notebooks to deliver a true high-end desktop multimedia experience to your mobile world.

Moreover, the unit is blazingly fast. Driving the Satellite P25-507 is a potent 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading Technology for more efficient CPU usage and a scorching 800 MHz processor system bus clock speed. Matched with this speedy CPU are a generous 512 MB allotment of PC2100 DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to an extraordinary 2048 MB) and an NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics chipset with 32 MB of dedicated video memory.

Other critical features include a 60 GB hard disk, four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals such as scanners or external drives, an IEEE 1394 Fire Wire port for fast interaction with devices such as digital camcorders, two memory slots (both of which may be simultaneously occupied), two PC Card slots, and an impressive variety of interior and exterior one-touch controls. Communication facilities include 802.11wireless networking, 10/100 Ethernet LAN and an integrated 56K modem. Average battery life expectancy is two hours. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great for work and games
I bought the computer mainly for games. However, the wide screen is especially useful for work. I can keep a number of submenus on the right while my document is on the left. It is also easier to juggle two documents at once. If you have the screen real estate, you will find a way to use it.

The computer gets heavy if you leave it on your lap for 8 hour gaming sessions. But then, its a small price to pay for the wide screen. Saved my virtual life a few times. I can spot the enemy coming a lot sooner with the bigger screen.

The DVD drive has a 1X write speed. I could not get the built in wireless to work with my wireless network (linksys wireless G router). I am not the smartest wireless guy. No problem, I just plug in a linksys PC card and everything is fine. Life is too short to figure out these small problems when there is a workaround.

There is no trackwheel (the little wheel on some mice) and I miss that. Speakers are nice but you can't expect loud volumes from computer speakers. There is a dial for speaker volume - nice.

You can buy a 3 year warranty from Toshiba for $120. I forgot the exact price.

I love the machine. This will be my main game engine for the next year.

Its really a small Desktop Computer
This computer really does have it all. Its quick, has plenty of extra's and has a great screen. Sure its heavy, and the battery life is not great, but if your looking at THIS kind of power, those factors don;t matter. Your more likely to have this plugged in the wall and not on the go anyway. Its really a small desktop: 2.8P,(with 800mhz bus) 512MB RAM, 32MB Video RAM, DVD-R/RW, 17 inch screen, and a pretty good software package!!!! On paper, it matches or BEATS many of today desktops. And on top of it all, you can have it for under 2 grand. I've owned it for 5 weeks now, and its been running great. The built in Wi-Fi is great too, because if you manage to take it somewhere where there is wireless internet, its ready to jump on. The Screen is without a doubt, the greatest feature. You can see everything, and watching DVD movies are really fun. Its like you have a portable desktop with a 17" widescreen that you can carry with you if you had to. The battery lasts about 1 hour and a half, depending on how heavy you use it, but like I said, power like this comes with a price. Great for digital pictures, great for home movies, although the hard drive is a bit small, I suggest buying the opitional 2nd hard drvie for the unit. Great for a first time buyer, or the professional.

Oustanding performer! WOW!
I'm a professional cartoonist/illustrator and needed something portable, but with enough power to really push my graphics programs around. This thing MORE than fits the bill! And the 17" screen? Supoib!

Don't hesitate! Wonderful computer from head to toe!

terrible tech support
Toshiba may make good products, but their support is the worst i have ever come across. They have lost my laptop for over a month now and do not care a lick about it. They're tech support team is in Turkey and they dont care a thing about anybody. They kept hanging up on me and refused to help me saying it will take some time. When i called back- no one knew anything and had zero updates. DO NOT BUY TOSHIBA PRODUCTS! Get a Gateway or Dell instead...two companies that actually care about their customers.

Awesome hardware, but customer support ...is lacking
I have had this laptop for two months and it is in general a fine machine. The big screen, accurate colors on the screen, DVD burner, and powerful processor make this a fantastic machine to write code/design websites/edit multimedia files on. The reason why i haven't given it a five star review is that toshiba will probably never release an updated video card driver for the geforce fx 5200 that is part of this laptop. Usually I manually install the driver update nvidia makes (as of now it is the ForceWare Rel. 50 Driver Download) to avoid lazyness of the company selling the machine/card, but since this is a wide screen machine with a rare resolution (1440 x 900), nvidia's generic driver doesn't work. After speaking with a Toshiba rep on the phone I was told that their offical policy is to not make updated drivers unless a MAJOR problem happens. This is crazy. Everyone knows that updated drivers make a huge difference in performance and quality of hardware (especially since the FX series of cards are new and I'm sure that in a year the drivers will need major updates), so it is irriatating to see toshiba make such a fine machine in general and not bother updating their drivers. Am I going to have to wait until Half Life 2 comes out (and chokes on old drivers), and everyone complains due to poor performance of the video card for Toshiba to maybe do something? Does Toshiba seriously expect me to ever buy anything they make again if this continues to be a problem??? (i'm going to say hello to alien ware, LOL) The funniest part about all this is that the stickers on this machine when you pull it out of the box advertise the geforce fx card for gaming.

Also speaking of the video card, why have 32 MB of RAM on it with no offical way of upgrading (i guess i could always ask yoshi on tech tv if there is a way i can mod this thing LOL)? This alone will probably make Half Life 2 unplayable at a decent resolution whenever it comes out.

If you are a Toshiba employee and you are reading this, show this to your bosses and show them that there ARE customers who actually expect their hardware to work as best as it can and if a company is too LAZY to ensure this they WILL look elsewhere when the time comes to buy a new machine (due to moore's law it will be sooner than later). I would be a toshiba fanboy for life if they just did the right thing on this issue since their hardware is of high quality. Ask your bosses why they don't want to support their hardware with new drivers. They may think that I will have to buy more hardware at a earlier time, but if I do, it definately won't be a toshiba machine.

Shame on nvidia for not supporting wide screens on their generic driver too! (but since it is a generic driver i don't really expect much) Would it really kill you guys to do this?...bad support from ATI on their Rage 128 (yes this a old school card) made me steer clear of their new cards and this incident isn't helping your standing with me right now either. You COULD pressure your OEM customers like Toshiba to do the right thing you know.

Another tip: whenever you buy a laptop or LCD screen at a store, make sure that there are NO BLOWN PIXELS before you pay for it or you will be stuck with it unless there are more than 8 (i even had the service plan)! If it wasn't for the DVD Burner not working right I would've been stuck with annoying blown pixels! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Nice, but hot!
If you buy this laptop, it would be very wise of you to buy one of those cooling pads with the fans in them. The laptop itself is friggin awesome, wireless everything! Nice size screen, and very clear. I have never had a single problem, other than the heat it generates. I would recommend it only with the cooling pad. Oh and also, I could not find a suitable case either (below) and had to settle with a piece of carry-on luggage myself... Case Logic :)

Pass on this one
This laptop generates way too much heat. It has a built in feature to automatically shut down if it gets too hot.

IT SHUTS DOWN ALL THE TIME WITHOUT WARNING!

Toshiba you have a major design flaw here!

BTW - I did install the BIOS patch that was suppossed to correct the problem - ha - whatever, the laptop still heats up and shuts down without warning!

AVOID THIS COMPUTER AND TOSHIBA!!!
I bought this computer and within 6 months the motherboard needed replacing - it has now been in the shop for two months waiting on Toshiba to ship the replacement motherboard ($700 for the part and $200 for the service). Each week, the date of arrival of the motherboard changes and I have since bought another computer as I have no idea when (if ever!) Toshiba will supply the part. Considering the cost of the computer, I am irate that the repair is both so costly and so time-consuming. I will never buy a Toshiba product again, and suggest you pass on this problematic machine.

terrible tech support
Toshiba may make good products, but their support is the worst i have ever come across. They have lost my laptop for over a month now and do not care a lick about it. They're tech support team is in Turkey and they dont care a thing about anybody. They kept hanging up on me and refused to help me saying it will take some time. When i called back- no one knew anything and had zero updates. DO NOT BUY TOSHIBA PRODUCTS! Get a Gateway or Dell instead...two companies that actually care about their customers.

Kaplooey!
Purchased from Best Buy online. Arrived with no adaptor. Used "universal" adaptor supposed to work with this model. Worked for about 2 1/2 minutes and then "Kaplooey!" End of computer. Efforts to obtain an adaptor specifically for this model fruitless. Yuch!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Featuring a cost-effective Intel Celeron processor and middle-of-the-road accouterments, the Toshiba Satellite A15-S129 Notebook is a wise choice for budget-conscious individuals, students and professionals who need a mobile computer that’ll handle the basics.

Although part of the entry-level Celeron line, the system’s processor is nevertheless the most sophisticated mobile Celeron available, the 2.4 GHz model. Featuring a fast 400 MHz system bus clock speed and 256 MB Level 2 cache, this CPU is both fast and affordable. Accompanying the Celeron is 256 MB of RAM memory (expandable to 1024 MB) and an Intel 852GM graphics chipset with 32 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory. Accordingly, the Satellite A15-S129 can’t be called upon for complex 3-D rendering, high-end games or ultra-demanding business environments. It is, however, perfectly satisfactory for standard word processing, database and spreadsheet activities, contact management, and Internet surfing.

Measuring 13 by 11.5 by 1.5 inches and tipping the scales at just 6.3 pounds, the Satellite A15-S129 is comparatively compact and comfortably lightweight. Under the hood you’ll find such amenities as integrated stereo speakers, a full-size 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys and a TouchPad pointing device, an adequate 40 GB hard disk and a generous 15-inch active-matrix display (1024x768 maximum resolution). With the integrated DVD/CD-RW drive, you can burn and listen to audio CDs, archive files, and enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters. In this stock configuration, the unit does not permit DVD burning.

Connectivity options are plentiful but not particularly state-of-the-art. Though the system does feature two USB ports for plug and play peripherals, an integrated 56K modem and an RJ-45 LAN network port, it does not include high-speed USB 2.0 ports or a FireWire port (often used to link devices such as digital camcorders). Furthermore, wireless networking is available only as an option. Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works and Intuit Quicken New User Edition 2003. Battery life is estimated at a commendable 3.13 hours. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

For the price can not be beat!
I bought mine at CompUSA for $599 after rebates w/ a free printer before Christmas. It has seen a lot of use since. Great for watching DVDs on road trips (although you'll need a DC adapter, the battery won't last for a full movie). Battery life is pretty good though, if you're using programs resident on the hard drive. The only problems I've had have been OS related (but we all know MS sux). Burns CDs fast & reliable. As fast as I expected for a Celeron. Display is not the best I've seen, but is large and bright. The only problem I see going forward is that the display hinge seems flimsy .. close it with 2 hands on the sides... On physical construction, probably not the most solid laptop. Daily laptop users may want to consider different units. All in all much much better than I expected for the price.

My Toshiba Laptop is a LEMON
On January 31, 2004, I purchased a Toshiba Satellite laptop A15-S129 at my local Microcenter store here in Houston, Texas. From the start, the battery always died within 90 minutes, sometimes with 45. Since I had purchased a laptop for its portability and deliberately chose a model with a battery life >2 hours, this was a problem for me! Leaving it plugged in all the time effectively transformed it to a desktop, which is not what I had wanted.. I also noticed that it always got very very hot, whether it was plugged in or running off battery -- and I mean MUCH hotter than normal. Then, it started shutting itself off -- just instantly going to a black screen. No saving work, no warning, just instant off.
So I immediately contacted the Tech Support line at Toshiba, and got very friendly with a number of the techs there. I spent several hours trying to work out the problems with them, but they finally admitted defeat and suggested I take it to a repair center. There was a registered Toshiba repair center just 15 minutes from my home, so on April 7, 2003, I took it to the repair shop.
I'm writing this on June 9th, and I still don't have my laptop back.
After the service center had replaced the system board and the power supply and it was still not working, I called Toshiba. By then it was mid-May (the power supply had been on back order). After going through the usual 8 people and being disconnected twice, I finally got to a service person (Alisha) who listened to my tale of woe.
I explained that I felt that four months of attempted repairs was a reasonable length of time to give the company to fix the thing and asked what I needed to do to have a replacement sent to me. She informed me that no replacement would be sent as Toshiba had not yet determined that there was a problem with the laptop. I pointed out to her that it was Toshiba who worked with me on the problems for weeks then finally told me to take it to the service center, and that it was the Toshiba-approved service center who told me they were having major problems fixing it. Her reply was, essentially, "Tough." Until they declare it unfixable, no replacement would be forthcoming. Furthermore, she explained, they had no time limit under which they had to declare something unfixable. I asked if this meant that they could just put it on the shelf and wait 5 years to see if someone then could fix it, and she said that was pretty much the case. In the meantime, I was just out of luck and out of a computer, and out of the money that I had spent on their LEMON.
She said she would talk with "the corporate office in California" about my case as they were the ones who needed to decide about replacing an unfixable computer anyway.
I thanked her but said that while I understood she did not have the authority to send me a new computer, I'd like to plead my own case with the "corporate office" and asked for their phone number.
Nope. She wouldn't give me that. I was "not allowed" to call them.
Okay, I said, may I please speak with your supervisor?
No, she replied. I am the supervisor. There is no one else to speak with.
I asked if that meant that she reported directly to the head of Toshiba, and she said yes. (Wow! They sure have important people manning phone trees at Toshiba, don't they?)
Okay, I said (hanging onto my temper with an effort). So what you're telling me is that there is no one with whom I can speak, and I just continue to not have a computer.
Right, she said. See if the service center can fix it.
How much longer am I supposed to wait? I asked.
As long as it takes, she replied, sounding as if she were surprised I was so dumb I had to ask.
She swore she would contact the "corporate office" within the next 2 days and would contact me with the results. That was 3 weeks ago, and my good buddy Alisha has -- gasp! -- never called back. Alisha was extremely rude in that supercilious, "I am doing you a favor and you're too stupid to know it", passive-aggressive way. I hate being told that "you can't talk to anyone but me and I refuse to help you in any way at all".
The service center is STILL in possession of the laptop. I spoke with them today, and they have called Toshiba to declare the laptop a lemon, only to be told that just because nothing they do (by now they have also replaced the battery) can cause the thing to keep its charge over 90 minutes doesn't make it a lemon. The service center people are not happy with Toshiba either. They are now going to send my laptop to the Toshiba "Depot", where more Toshiba people can look at my laptop.
So, here I sit. It's been almost 5 months since I bought the computer. It's been at the repair shop (continuously) since April 7th.
Why would you want to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars, as I did, on a laptop that won't run on battery, that is too hot to hold in your lap, that suddenly turns off and loses all your data, and THEN, on TOP of that, after you have been patient and been without your new laptop for MONTHS, get all sorts of rude crap from their Customer Service (ha! what an oxymoron that is!)?

Nice Computer, Some Flaws
This is an overall nice computer. It has a wonderful Modem, but has some flaws to it. If you hit the backspace button, it will go Back(internet). That does not help when you are trying to fill an order. Its price is wonderful though. I got this one for $499 with a free printer. Overall, it is a nice computer.

Bad stuff
Send to Toshiba (submitted it to Amazon)

I've never been as disappointed with a computer as with this one. The worst thing about it: I'm in the middle of typing a paragraph, and suddenly my cursor has magically transported itself two paragraphs up the page -- unbeknowst to me. So the last two sentences I've typed are now in the middle of the wrong paragraph. Or, I'm in the middle of typing something and all of a sudden the last three sentences I've typed highlight themselves automatically and disappear in a cloud of smoke. This can happen over and over again in as little as a five-minute period.

Toshiba said I could prevent this by pressing the FN key and the F9 key whenever I type anything. But what that does is disable the cursor -- so that you're completely prevented from moving it from one place to another on any internet page. Even in a word processing document, it's a real slow-down to have to have nothing but the arrow keys to move your cursor to various places in the document.

Also: even with the cursor enabled, it's difficult sometimes to get it to go where I want it to go. Whether I'm trying to move the cursor with the touch pad, the PgUp and PgDn keys, or the arrow keys, the cursor just doesn't move sometimes -- unless I take the time to stop, move it around on the desktop, and then try again to move it.

Excellent Deal for Price Shoppers!
... It has seen a lot of use ... . Great for watching DVDs on road trips (although you'll need a DC adapter, the battery won't last for a full movie). Battery life is pretty good though, if you're using programs resident on the hard drive. The only problems I've had have been OS related (but we all know MS sux). Burns CDs fast & reliable. As fast as I expected for a Celeron. Display is not the best I've seen, but is large and bright. The only problem I see going forward is that the display hinge seems flimsy .. close it with 2 hands on the sides... On physical construction, probably not the most solid laptop. Daily laptop users may want to consider different units. All in all much much better than I expected for the price. ... Read more