Amazon.com Product Description

The Basics:
Toshiba's Satellite A55-S326 Notebook PC is a midlevel, cost-conscious mobile computer well suited to private and professional people on the go who value easy portability, efficiency and wireless connectivity. The system does not expertly handle 3D graphics in its stock configuration, so gamers and anyone who works with 3D visuals may need to upgrade its video capabilities or select another Satellite model. But for most common remote and home tasks, the Satellite A55-S326 is a smart solution.

Processor:
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a miracle of miniaturization 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, though these machines are usually noticeably larger and more power hungry than their less powerful counterparts. For the Satellite A55-S326, Toshiba has selected a 1.6 GHz Pentium M 725 processor. Introduced in 2003, the original Pentium M represented a breakthrough in mobile processing technology, offering ultra-efficient battery usage yet a very large (one MB) "Level 2 cache" for more power than the Pentium M's comparatively low clock speeds might indicate. The CPU in this computer is a brand new breed of Pentium M chip, unveiled in 2004 and offering double the Level 2 cache (a stunning two MB) of the already impressive original Pentium M. Though this particular CPU's 1.6 GHz clock speed is one of the lowest in the new Pentium Ms, it is nevertheless a technologically advanced chip powerful enough for all but the most demanding notebook applications.

Memory:
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM). More RAM means faster computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Satellite A55-S326 includes 512 MB of RAM, an allotment that's considered quite adequate even if you perform lots of multitasking. The system also allows you to expand to two full GB, more than enough for any situation.

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 video card (or controller). This system's video controller is an integrated Intel 852GM chipset with 32 MB or shared (not dedicated) video memory. As such, the Satellite A55-S326 cannot be considered a true graphics powerhouse. Though it will adequately handle most typical mobile 2D programs and undemanding 3D applications such as older games, it won't smoothly render midlevel and high-end 3D graphics. Thusly, serious gamers and 3D artisans may want to steer clear.

Display:
At 15 inches, the unit's XGA TFT LCD display is larger than that of early generation notebooks but is now considered the norm. The screen's highest supported resolution of 1024 by 768 is also typical of current midlevel and even some high-end mobile computers.

Hard Disk:
The Satellite A55-S326 features a solid 60 GB of hard disk space. This is an average size for today's notebooks, offering enough room for general applications and files and a small library of music or multimedia files too.

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 any or all of these tasks. This system features a DVD-SuperMulti drive, through which you can do everything above in all the current CD and DVD formats.

Audio:
The unit features an integrated audio processor, two miniature stereo speakers and a microphone jack.

Keyboard and Controls:
Toshiba has fitted the system with a standard notebook keyboard and a TouchPad pointing device.

Connectivity and Expansion:
The Satellite A55-S326 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 (Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG-802.11g) for cordless e-communication at home, at the office or on the road via a local public hotspot. The unit also features three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast interaction with plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras. An IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders) is not provided.

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. Tipping the scales at 6.1 lbs and measuring 13.3 by 10.7 by 1.4 inches, the Satellite A55-S326 is smaller than today's average yet not so tiny that you'll pay a premium price.

Power:
The Satellite A55-S326 is equipped with a 6-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that delivers a commendable 3.54 hours of operation under ideal conditions.

... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Similar to Toshiba's stunning P25 series of desktop replacement notebooks but sporting a smaller profile, slightly downgraded components and a more affordable price point, the Satellite P10 series is a good solution for power-hungry users who just don't want the added weight and expense of a full-blown mobile desktop. This particular unit, the Satellite P10-S429, doesn't feature DVD burning capabilities like some of the other P10 models and is therefore priced accordingly.

Driving the Satellite P10-S429 is a potent 2.66 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor. Matched with this speedy CPU are 512 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to a full 2048 MB) and an NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5100 graphics controller with 32 MB of dedicated video memory. Even in this stock configuration, the system will handle most anything you can throw at it, including many 3-D games.

Toshiba has equipped the P10-S429 with a sizeable 15-inch widescreen display screen capable of a dazzling 1280 by 800 resolution. It has added a spacious 60 GB hard disk spinning at a snappy 5400 RPM and enclosed a DVD/CD-RW optical drive through which you can listen to and burn audio CDs, archive your data and watch DVD movies.

Other critical features include an IEEE 1394 FireWire 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, two memory slots (both of which may be simultaneously occupied), a single PC Card slot, 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.

Toshiba has loaded the P10-S429 with a solid roster of software that includes Microsoft's beefy Windows XP Professional operating system, Intuit Quicken New User's Edition 2003, and a variety of multimedia and Internet utilities. Potential users should note that due to its speed and level of performance, the P10-S429 is not especially power efficient. Maximum battery life is estimated at 2 hours. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wireless Difficulties
The system is good looking, seems to run fine with no problems, except not able to get the system to recognize wireless network. This has happened with two of our systems here at work. Still looking for a fix. Tried looking up support on Toshiba's website, but all they have there is a phone number. Guess I will have to try tech support. My experience with any tech support (Dell, Gateway, Verizon, Comcast) has been that most of the support people know less than me, even about their own projects. Not sure if this is a just a flaw with all of these models or if we got two bad ones. Anyone else experience the problem?

Best bet in the price range.
1. Windows XP Professional preinstalled. Compared to Home edition it's an... added value.

3. This machine is on the border between the regular Satellites and the Media centers. It has most of Media center's power while not being much bulkier than for example A25 series.

4. Bigger screen is nice.

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. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Equally impressive when used as a business or entertainment notebook,the Satellite 1800-S254 is a reasonably priced system that comes loaded withuseful features. Consider, for example, its 1 GHz Pentium III processor, DVD-ROMdrive, 256 MB of RAM (expandable to 512 MB), and 20 GB hard disk. Also housed inits 7-pound, 1.8-inch-high case are a 56K modem, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC, anda 14.1-inch, active-matrix display with 1,024 x 768 resolution. The system comes with the business-oriented version of Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows XP Professional, pre-installed.

... Read more

Reviews (8)

Good hardware for the money
This is a nice computer however rating this thing is like comparing a head of lettuce. There is little difference between it or something from HP or Dell. I bought it by price and am pleased. The display is crystal clear, the processor, memory and disk drive are adequate but not great - you have to pay more money for more storage or speed. For word processing, web browsing and occassional office tasks this thing is more than adequate as equipped.

Bad Buy
This computer is a very bad buy, it has a number of problems. The Monitor has a weak light that turns off while in use. The mouse is defective, the sensitivity is off, it can get really sensitive to very dull, also it clicks without you using the button this gets really annoing while writing. Its processor is a celeron, means ... in german, it might be a gigahertz processor but the computer doesn't use the full power.

Great Value
This is my second Toshiba... the first being a Tecra, which I still use, but which was just too slow and old to do any graphics work. I LOVE THIS MACHINE....XP is fine, my older software installed without a problem. the sound is wonderful, the screen is crisp and clear. Complaints? It's a little heavy and a little big. Since I mainly use it as a desktop replacement, and move it around in the house, it's not an issue. If I were doing a lot of traveling with it I'd want something lighter. There is an online manual, but it's not very detailed. Customer service is helpful, though. it would be nice to have a manual for the XP operating system, and I'd love to figure out how to get rid of all the pop-up messages. Invasive. The only other issue is that the cursor sometimes jumps around....and I can't figure out why. But all in all, I'm really pleased with it. I haven't seen anything else on the market with as much to offer at this price.

Good buy, but...
This laptop is pretty nice! Definately at the time I made this purchase, the best buy at this price. At these specs, most other brands would cost at least a couple hundred more. It has a built in NIC card and modem, which is great for easy access to the Web. DVD player is nice as well, with TV out. It's pretty much a portable DVD player, assumming you have the cables. It falls short in a couple of areas. No CDRW drive. And video card isn't the greatest. If you're looking for a laptop that can display resolutions higher than 1024 X 768, or want 3D performance, check out a model with the GeForce2Go built in. Otherwise good budget model.

how can I buy?
OK. how can I buy a notebook, if i live in Estonia? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Toshiba's Satellite 3000-S304 is an impressive product that's wellsuited to performing virtually any computing task. Some of its more impressivefeatures are its 1 GHz Pentium III processor, 256 MB of RAM (expandable to 512MB), and a combination CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. This versatile notebook also comeswith a 20 GB hard disk, a 56K modem, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC, and a 14.1-inchactive-matrix flat panel with 1,024 x 768 resolution. Its 5.7-pound weight and1.3-inch height make it ideal for notebook users on the go, while itscompetitive price furthers its appeal for those not ready to take the plungewith higher-end systems. To round out this package, Toshiba has pre-installedWindows XP Professional, the business-oriented version of Microsoft's newest operating system.

... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Laptop but...!
Hello all,

This laptop is great with one exception, it's speakers are not that good, I have had a Compaq laptop with JBL speakers and it's way better than this Toshiba laptop speakers but other than that, it's a great toy :)

Performance without the hassles
It was a toss-up between this unit and the 5005-S504. Other than 1" screen size, 256MB RAM, and 10GB HDD space, there's nothing between them. Oh, a subwoofr :)

Advice from the forum generally held tha of the two, the 3000 was probably the better bet as it's second generation - the 5005 is first gen. That way, most of the bugs have been ironed out, and asthetics have been improved this time round.

Toshiba marketing make NO menton whatsoever of it, but the unit uses the newer Tualatin P3 CPU. Huge difference to the buyer who knows their terminology! With a 133mhz FSB, and larger on-die cache, this is how the system can last as long as 3.5 hours on a single battery charge. That, and a superb power management untility from Toshiba.

The combo CDRW/DVD drive works like a charm, as does the hot-swapping floppy drive. The display is based on Nvidia's GeforceGO, incorporating 16MB of DDR RAM. This shows in the magnificent performance both in office applications and 3D gaming.

Lastly, Windows XP :) The soothsayers say "go for Pro, not home" and I can see why. It does just what it advertises, and more besides - but will take some time to learn and tweak to your satisfaction. There are so many aspects to tweaking, it's like learning windows all over again.

On the weight side, it is not a light piece of laptop, but then you save weight at the expense of features. I'm happy with the spec weight of around 3kg, which isn't a herculean load! For users not requiring CD/floppy on the go, the included weight-saver will make a noticeable difference to your shoulder.

The sound is normal for laptops, though I'm no expert, but then if you want great sound, you should look elsewhere. That said, a simple plug-in of a set of speakers will rectify that.

All this, and throw-in IEEE1394, 3 USB, infrared, SmartMedia, LAN, modem and parallel ports, and the whole package is sewn-up nicely. Can't speak highly enough of this machine, and will certainly look to Toshiba for future toys!

I almost forgot, the online support and the sheer depth of the Toshiba website(s) is excellent. Just poke around the forum and you'll see them extent of customer support. Yes, there are gripes and mans, but responses are speedy, helpful and to the point. Go Toshiba. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you’re a student, home user, or business owner shopping for a mobile computer that enables you to work and play with ease and convenience, the Toshiba Satellite 1405-S171 notebook PC offers a strong mix of features without busting your budget.

A 1.5 GHz Mobile Intel Celeron processor cranks out enough computing power to run a broad range of productivity and multimedia software. The notebook’s 256 MB of memory--expandable to 1 GB--and 256 KB of L2 cache smoothly run several applications simultaneously. A 30 GB hard drive offers generous storage capacity.

The 1405-S171’s 15-inch TFT active-matrix display, coupled with an S3 Super Savage graphics controller with 16 MB of internal video memory, delivers up to 16 million colors at 1,024 x 768 resolution for superb visuals. The notebook includes built-in stereo speakers and 3-D sound support with HRTF 3-D positional audio and Direct 3-D sound. A combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive makes it easy and convenient to view movies, listen to and create audio CDs, and rapidly back up data.

The 7.8-pound, 12.8-by-11.2-by-1.7-inch 1405-S171 includes an integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet interface with RJ-45 LAN port and built-in 56K V.90 modem with RJ-11 connector. Wireless options include an 802.11b wireless LAN via an integrated Mini PCI card or a Wi-Fi PC Card.

The notebook offers three USB interfaces, an ECP parallel printer port, an RGB monitor port, an infrared port, and a TV-out interface. It accommodates two Type II or one Type III 32-bit, CardBus-ready PC Cards. The 1405-S171 offers an 85-button keyboard with full-size keys, a touchpad pointing device, and CD controls. It features up to three hours of battery life.

Bundled software includes Windows XP Home Edition, Lotus SmartSuite ME, Quicken Basic 2001, Norton AntiVirus 2002, and Adobe Acrobat Reader. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good value
I bought this machine because I had gotten very good service from my old Toshiba Satellite, and because the price was very competitive. The new one seems to be a very good buy at this price and a comfortable machine to use. I do find that it often seems to think I have clicked the mouse button when I have not, and advice from tech support did not eliminate the problem. Reduced, I think, but not eliminated. THAT is a nuisance, as I find that I have accidentally copied or moved files, launched applications, modified text, or backed up in the browser, sometimes with irritating results. Extra care with the keyboard and mouse buttons and touchpad and some changes to the mouse setup seem to have at least limited that problem. But sometimes there is one unwanted, unintended, mysterious click after another, for no visible reason. Static?

Also, there was no way to claim the alleged rebate. I will have to call again (the special number for rebates, no less) to see whether they will actually come across with that. And there was no indication of how to get the purported two free software packages. (They are probably free for a reason, so that may be no loss.)

There is a learning curve on Windows XP and some real annoyances, but that is not a Toshiba issue. Happily, some things I thought might take a lot of time turned out to be amazingly fast and simple. Specifically, setting up Internet access with my preexisting provider and installing my old plug and play printer took only seconds.

Complete Package, Low Price
I have had this computer for 24 hours, and so far so good. It is fast and packs a lot of hardware features for a low price. Other manufacturers (eg; Dell & IBM) nickel-and-dime you for features that are included with the Toshiba 1405 (eg; DVD/CDRW, floppy, more memory).

Everything worked as it should out of the box. Installs of Office XP, WinAmp, Nero and other software have been a snap, and I have had no problems with automatic detects of USB hardware.

The buttons of the touchpad are too sensitive for my liking, but I suppose I will learn how to use it more effectively. The monitor is nice and big and bright, if not a little TOO bright at default setting.

My only real complaints so far are the fact that there was no documentation in the packaging regarding the rebate offer available when I purchased the machine, and the selection of the 2 free software titles they marketed are all [junk] - plus the order web site for this software has not worked properly.

This machine is not for the mobile warrior really because of it's larger size and heavier weight, but it's perfect to go back and forth to work with, for play, or for use as a desktop replacement.

Hope this review helps...

Compare between Toshiba va HP
I recently bought HP AZ1230 AMD Athlon 1500+ and brought home there are so many problems such as during using voice chat it hangs up or during recorder and playback, I called HP but very little help, they asked me to change the BIOS and all devices drivers why I have to do all of these when the laptop is brand new. This HP laptop is also very hot and the fan is making a lot of noise. I spent 2 days to make it works right
by changing all the device drivers and the BIOS. I'm afraid it will me a problem again in the future.
So I exchanged the HP for Toshiba 1405-S171 it has been great since then it is much cooler and everything works fine. The fan is quiet too.
I think the HP ZE1230 has a faster microprocessor 1500+ than Celeron 1.5 GHz about 15% but Toshiba is much realiable than HP. HP has a better design than Toshiba.
Probably Toshiba has much experience in building the laptop.
I give the Toshiba Satellite 1405-S171 A+ and stay away from HP.
I have a Fujitsu laptop and have been using for 4 years it works good up till now. Hope this help.

Great Buy
I owned a Toshiba Satellite notebook a couple of years ago before my girlfriend basically took it over. I replaced it with an HP notebook. BIG MISTAKE. I went through 3 different HP notebooks because they kept messing... up. Finally I decided to just exchange it for a Toshiba because i had no problems with my old Satellite. And I've had no problems.

The 1405-S171 has a 1.5-GHz celeron which is fast enough for me, but if you need more speed, buy a Satellite with a pentium 4. Its 15" active-matrix display is very clear. Even for your buddy looking over your shoulder at an angle. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sitting at the head of the class within Toshiba's entry level notebook lineup, the Satellite A45-S250 offers powerful multimedia options at an affordable price. An appealing notebook for both students and small business owners, it features a 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 processor, 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB installed RAM, and a 15-inch TFT display. It also offers a DVD writer, FireWire port (for connecting digital video cameras), and 54g built-in wireless LAN.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though not world-beating in size, the 60 GB enhanced-IDE hard drive (4200 RPM) offers more than enough storage capacity for road warriors.
• Processor: The 2.8 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor offers enough speed for your work today and into tomorrow. Thanks to its Mobile features, the processor can save power when it's not needed, thus conserving battery life. It also has a 512 KB L2 cache and a 533 MHz FSB (front-side bus).
• Memory: The A45-S150 comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (2 x 256 MB DDR SDRAM, 266 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB). It has two slots that can be expanded to 2 GB (2048 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: It comes equipped with a DVD+-R/+-RW drive that writes both DVD and CD discs. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 4x write/2x rewrite/2x read speed, while for DVD+RW discs it has a 4x write/2.4x rewrite/2.4x read speed. For CDs, it has a 16x write/10x rewrite/24x read speed.
• Keyboard & Mouse: The A45-S150 has an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys and a two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The A45-S150 offers a good range of connectivity options--including 54g wireless:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II)
• 1 TV-out (S-Video)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMedia (MMC) memory card reader

Preloaded System and Software
The A45-S150 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, InterVideo Win-DVD Creator 2.

Dimensions and Weight
Definitely not the smallest on the block, the A45-S150 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-S150 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very unhappy with Toshiba
Toshiba has the worst customer support system I have ever been involved with. I have had to send my computer into their repair depot 4 times for the same problem (backlight failure). They refuse to replace the computer. The last time the hard drive failed and I lost everything I had stored in the computer. They still tell me "your only option is to have it repaired".
There are difficulties reaching their helpline. The wait times start at 10 minutes and go up to 30 mins. I've given up on several occasions. Even when you do get to talk to a technician, they are difficult to understand as English is obviously their second language. Several times I was talking to people in India.
I would caution everyone reading this to buy a different make of laptop.

Pleased with the product, but
I used the Amazon information to go by, and one thing that I was specifically looking for was a serial port, as many of the applications I run require a serial port connection. I got the device and was very well pleased with it, however, it had no serial port! I like the device well enough to give it to my son, but I am disappointed with the product presentation by Amazon. If you have no need for a serial port, it is a lot of machine in a small package, and I liked it a lot other than the one area. I should have done more research on the device at other sources of info.

good but a problem
I bought this a week back. so far so good..however i am facing a peculiar problem. the booklet mentions that this can write cd-r at a speed of 16x however when i tried writing with nero 6 (which i have been using since long) it allowed me to write only at 4x. i checked with nero support if this is the problem with nero but the support site mentions that they do support this dvd writer with its full capability. (the model is i think pioneer dvr-k12d or something). i called toshiba and told them this problem and they said they dont support any 3rd party apps. that was so pathetic of them to give such uninformative answer. however rest looks fine so 4 stars.

My First PC !!
I really did not know what to expect. Toshiba did a great job of providing every conceivable bit of information a person might need regarding the product. I was grateful for that! I bought the Linksys Wireless G router and the hook up to my existing cable router was virtually automatic. All I had to punch in was my e-mail address one time only!
The freedom to go anywhere in the house or even outside on the front or back porch and be on the internet without wires was a fantastic feeling! I really love this this little baby!!!
I have only had the computer for a few weeks now, so I haven't really had any problems yet. I've downloaded Incredimail Premium and found only one Spam and Pop-up killer that works with it (Giant Corp), but with all the changeover to an alternate mail program this Toshiba has taken it all in stride! Anyone should be happy with this product!!!

Pretty good
So far so good. I had one problem which required I go through their phone support system. The first round was aboslutely useless. The guy acted as if he didn't even care. The next day I gave it another go. That time I was connected to someone who really tried hard - he stuck w/ it while we inunstalled and reinstalled modem drivers and reconfigured, etc., etc., finally got things going. Now all is well. Great PC. Everything seems to work as advertised. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Being on a budget doesn't mean you have to sacrifice key features or solid performance. Toshiba's Satellite 1405-S151 notebook PC delivers the built-in connectivity, storage, and speed you need for home or work. Those who need leading-edge 3-D game performance should look elsewhere, but this bargain notebook is sure to meet the needs of most everyone else.

Measuring 12.8 by 11.2 by 1.7 inches and weighing 7.4 pounds, this system falls firmly in the desktop replacement category. Though a bit heavy for frequent travelers, the 1405-S151 uses an all-in-one design that offers everything you need in a single package. Those features include a built-in floppy drive, built-in DVD/CD-RW drive for playing movies and burning your own CDs, and a very large 30 GB hard drive. The integrated 56K modem and 10/100 network adapter will keep you connected at home or on the road.

Intel's 1.2 GHz Celeron CPU and 256 MB of PC133 memory offer speed for office applications, Web browsing, or multimedia creation. The large, clear 14.1-inch TFT display shows a 1,024 x 768 desktop, large enough that you'll be happy to abandon your bulky monitor for good. Trident's CyberAladdin-T graphics controller, which accesses 16 MB of external UMA video memory, isn't ideal for leading-edge 3-D games, but offers enough 2-D and 3-D power to handle practically any other application. It can also drive an external monitor at up to 800 x 600 resolution or even your TV through the video-out connector.

Built-in stereo speakers plus microphone and headphone ports will let you enjoy your favorite music or do voice conferencing. Two PC Card slots, three USB ports, an infrared port, and a parallel printer port offer plenty of options for expanding the system or connecting peripherals.

The system's keyboard section features a standard 85-key layout and a touch pad for cursor control. Pre-installed software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Lotus SmartSuite Millennium Edition office applications, Intuit Quicken Basic 2001 finance software, and Norton AntiVirus 2002 virus protection, along with Toshiba's custom utilities and online documentation.

... Read more

Reviews (9)

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.

Very Slow
It is a very nice portable, the screen is quite large so your eyes are going to be quite comfortable, BUT it is very slow. It isn't worth the money that you save. For most applications 1.2 GHZ is nothing and the processor gets very hot and noisy. The hard drive gets very noisy as well. I've had mine for 5 months now and I really need to replace it. In short, I don't really recommend it.

Best value in a notebook
When I researched the market for the best notebook/laptop that fit into my budget, this model stood out. With the a combo DVD/CDRW drive, no other computer offered as much for the price. If you are a power user, or are bothered that Windows XP is incorporated into the Toshiba package (you don't get a stand-alone Windows CD), this model is not for you. However if you are an average user looking to buy a complete, up-to-date laptop at a budget price, take a serious look at this one. I've owned it for six months and am happy with its performance and utility in every respect. I packed up and stored my desk-top; I'm not sure I will ever use a desktop again at home...

The money saved is not worth it
Well, while it is a good value based pc it isnt reliable or recommendable. The pc was owned for 3 months before it started exhibiting unreliable behaviour. Then at the 5 month mark it started shutting itself down. I thought it to be a power management problem and since I had just installed a wireless network card I assumed that I just needed to go back through the settings and make sure nothing had changed. 3 weeks later before I got around to finding the problem the machine died in the middle of the night. Now, upon trying to boot it makes a horrible popping sound and shuts itself back off again. From all research materials I have found this make and model is plagued with overheating and shorting problems. My recommendation would be to go with a little more expensive better quality machine. This one just isnt worth the trouble.

Be warned in advance !
This is another poor model from Toshiba made for first time buyers.

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

Let me give you 12 reasons NOT to buy it,
1. Uses a desktop Celeron processor (very cheap), not Mobile Celeron or Mobile Pentium. This means laptop will get very hot, its fan will be very noisy, will use too much power and have much lower performance.
2. No USB 2.0, firewire or wirless access. What use is 1.5 GHz processor if you can't connect it to any other device at any reasonably fast speed ? Will you wait for an hour to burn a CD on a external CD-RW connected to an old USB 1.1 port on this ?
3. It bigger and bulkier than previous models. Again this is partly because of a desktop Celeron being used in this. Desktop CPU means more space for cooling it down etc.
4. Uses a slower memory speed, way below today's standard. Again this notebook won't have any fast performance with mp3 or multimedia stuff because of this. You will even have trouble finding the memory at this low speed when upgrading !
5. The keyboard isn't same a desktop, so keys are placed at different positions, some missing. But this might a case with most laptops though.
6. The touchpad isn't very great. You will end up buying a USB mouse.
7. Doesn't have older serial port, PS2 ports etc. Nor does it have any thing like Bluetooth or Firewire or USB 2. Yes you can buy a PCMCIA card for say wireless access or USB 2 or Bluetooth. But there's only on PCMCIA slot in it !
8. Because desktop Celeron runs so hot, you won't be able to use it a "lap"-top to avoid burning your skin. Beleive it gets very very hot !
9. The hard disk is much slower rpm and smaller in size. And it makes just too much noise.
10. Toshiba doesn't even include a Windows XP CD. All it has is a recovery CD to reformat the whole disk and re-install everything all over again & deleting all your data. Its horrible SW bundle, nothing worth a penny in it. Norton is only trial offer. Not even XP is included properly.
11. The new battery lasts around 45 mins on full charge. Who knows how much will it last for when it becomes old. Again cheap desktop Celeron has a major part to play in this.
12. Finally Toshiba doesn't make or design this laptop. Its designed/made by a cheap contractor in Taiwan and then sold as Toshiba brand. This is the truth, you can do some google search to verify this !

If you don't have lots of cash or urgent need for mobility you might wanna reconsider having the good old PC for now. Don't be mislead by Intel 1.2GHz label on it. There are reasons why Toshiba can sell it for so cheap and hopefully you enough not to regret later on. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Basics:
Designed to appeal to portable computer users who prioritize multimedia yet don't want a cumbersome and ultra-expensive "desktop replacement" notebook, Toshiba's Satellite M35-S456 is a conveniently sized and satisfactorily powerful yet battery-efficient notebook PC. The system does cost a few dollars more than many of Toshiba's midlevel notebooks, but its combination of modern amenities, superb connectivity and welcome versatility is well worth it.

Processor:
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of microscopic 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, though these machines are usually noticeably larger and more power hungry than their less powerful counterparts. For the Satellite M35-S456, Toshiba has selected a 1.7 GHz Pentium M 735 processor. Introduced in 2003, the original Pentium M represented a breakthrough in mobile processing technology, offering ultra-efficient battery usage yet a very large (one MB) "Level 2 cache" for more power than the Pentium M's comparatively low clock speeds might indicate. The CPU in this computer is a brand new breed of Pentium M chip, unveiled in 2004 and offering double the Level 2 cache (a stunning two MB) of the already impressive original Pentium M. This particular CPU's 1.7 GHz clock speed puts it in the middle of the new Pentium M pack, and it is thusly powerful enough for all but the most demanding notebook applications.

Memory:
Computers typically store information in their hard disk, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM). More RAM means faster computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard disk. The Satellite M35-S456 includes 512 MB of RAM, an allotment that's considered quite adequate even if you perform lots of multitasking. The system also allows you to expand to two full GB, more than enough for any situation.

Video:
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output (particularly 3D graphics) to the viewing screen, a duty that falls upon a "video card" or video controller. This system's video controller is an nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB of dedicated video memory. Though this would be considered a midlevel graphic chipset in the desktop world, the nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 is a solid workhorse for mobile users who require strong 2D and competent 3D performance. The latest and greatest 3D games will tax it some, but most other games and 3D graphics applications should run just fine.

Display:
At 15.4 inches and featuring a widescreen format suitable for displaying DVD movies and Toshiba's TruBrite technology for improved DVD and game viewing, the unit's WXGA TFT active matrix display is great for multimedia enthusiasts. The screen's highest supported resolution of 1280 by 800 is also superior to the genre's average 1024 by 768, delivering crisp images and lots of fine detail.

Hard Disk:
The Satellite M35-S456 features an impressively large 80 GB of hard disk space. This is a comparatively spacious hard disk, offering enough room for a bevy of applications and files and a full library of music or multimedia files too.

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 any or all of these tasks. For this system, Toshiba has included a DVD-SuperMulti drive, through which you can do everything above in all current CD and DVD formats.

Audio:
The unit features an integrated audio processor, two miniature stereo speakers and a microphone jack.

Keyboard and Controls:
You'll control your notebook via an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys and a TouchPad pointing device. CD control functions include play/pause, stop/eject, previous, and skip/next.

Connectivity and Expansion:
The Satellite M35-S456 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 fast interaction with plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), and a high-quality digital TV-out.

Operating System and Software:
Toshiba will preinstall 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 or three lbs and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. Tipping the scales at 6.1 lbs and measuring 14.2 by 10.6 by 1.4 inches, the Satellite M35-S456 is smaller and substantially less heavy than today's average.

Power:
The Satellite M35-S456 is equipped with a 6-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that delivers an admirable four hours of operation under ideal conditions. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Toshiba Satellite A45-S130 is an entry level notebook that will appeal to small businesses on a budget who crave mobility. The A45-S130 resides at the lower, more affordable end of Toshiba's Satellite business A45 lineup, and it features a 2.8 GHz Celeron processor, 40 GB hard drive, 512 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 2.8 GHz Intel Celeron processor is speedy enough for everyday computing tasks and CD burning. It also has a 128 KB L2 cache and a 400 MHz FSB (front-side bus).
• Memory: The A45-S130 comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (2 x 256 MB DDR SDRAM, 266 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB). 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-S130 has an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys and a two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The A45-S130 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-S130 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-S130 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-S130 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cant get any better for the price!
I paid $799 for this computer as best buy, less than a week ago. After buying it there was no problems removing all the crap software that came with this computer. The performance of this machine impressed me the most. Even though it comes with windows xp home edition (Highly recommend Professional). This is the best laptop on the market for the price i paid. I have yet to see a laptop priced this low for the performance it gives. If your on a budget and do not want to break the bank. I suggest giving the A45-S130 a serious look. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Equally impressive when used as a business or entertainment notebook,the Satellite 1800-S204 is a reasonably priced system that comes loaded withuseful features. Consider, for example, its 1 GHz Celeron processor, DVD-ROMdrive, 256 MB of RAM (expandable to 512 MB), and 20 GB hard disk. Also housed inits 7-pound, 1.8-inch-high case are a 56K modem, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC, anda 13.3-inch, active-matrix display with 1,024 x 768 resolution. The system comes with the business-oriented version of Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows XP Professional, pre-installed.

... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Toshiba Satellite A45-S150 is an entry level notebook that will appeal to students, families, and small businesses who crave mobility. The A45-S150 resides in the middle of Toshiba's Satellite A45 lineup, and it features a 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 processor, 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB installed RAM, a 54g wireless LAN, 15-inch TFT display, and a DVD player/CD writer combo drive. Stepping up to the next level with the A45-S250 adds an even faster Pentium 4 processor and a DVD writer.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: Though not world-beating in size, the 60 GB enhanced-IDE hard drive (4200 RPM) offers more than enough storage capacity for road warriors.
• Processor: The 2.4 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor offers enough speed for your work today, but it is in the middle level of processor speeds. Thanks to its Mobile features, the processor can save power when it's not needed, thus conserving battery life. It also has a 512 KB L2 cache and a 533 MHz FSB (front-side bus).
• Memory: The A45-S150 comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (2 x 256 MB DDR SDRAM, 266 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 1 GB (2 x 512 MB). 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-S150 has an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys and a two-button touchpad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The A45-S150 offers a decent amount of connectivity options--including 54g wireless:

• 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 TV-out (S-Video)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
The A45-S150 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-S150 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-S150 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Not everyone needs a high-end, high cost notebook. A midlevel workhorse that offers solid but certainly not spectacular amenities and speed, the Toshiba Satellite A45-S121 Notebook PC delivers CD burning, DVD playing, reasonable 3-D performance, a very affordable price point and enough muscle for day-to-day personal and light business tasks. Power users should definitely look toward one of Toshiba's more upscale machines, but budget-minded shoppers may just find the economical Satellite A45-S121 more than meets their requirements.

Driven by a cost-effective 2.8 GHz Intel Celeron processor and a nominal 256 MB RAM, the Satellite A45-S121 isn't designed for complex multitasking or demanding state-of-the-art applications. However, it will easily handle general chores such as word processing, personal finances, electronic communications and Internet browsing. Surprisingly, Toshiba has equipped this comparatively inexpensive system with a 32 MB Intel 852GME graphics controller. Though not ideal for high-end 3-D games, this chipset will allow you to efficiently play older and less demanding games and perform some 3-D graphics work. This level of 3-D capability is uncommon in this price range.

Measuring 13.2 by 11.7 by 1.9 inches and weighing in at 7.7 pounds, the Satellite A45-S121 is of average size -- less bulky than a "desktop replacement" unit but nearly double the weight of some of today's lightweight tablets and ultra-compact notebooks. Inside, Toshiba has included a 40 GB hard disk, a full-size 85-key keyboard with 12 hotkeys, a midsize 15-inch XGA TFT active-matrix display capable of 1024 by 768 resolution, and a convenient DVD/CD-RW drive through which you can burn and listen to audio CDs, archive files, and enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters. If you wish to burn DVDs, you'll either need to upgrade or utilize an external DVD writer. As to be expected in this price range, connectivity options are only fair. The system features a traditional 56K modem port for dial-up communication and an RJ-45 LAN port for high-speed networking, but does not include wireless facilities or an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (normally used for fast downloads from digital camcorders). Furthermore, Toshiba has fitted the unit with four traditional USB ports rather than the new USB 2.0 standard, thus limiting data streaming speed from external devices such as digital cameras and the like.

The bundled software package features Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Microsoft's Works productivity suite, and Intuit's Quicken New User Edition 2004 financial center. In ideal conditions, battery life is estimated at an impressive 2.9 hours. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Well made and good performance, but with a few glitches.
Purchased the A45-S121 yesterday(Memorial Day Weekend) to check it out and compare to the CPQ 2199US, and here are my 2 cents.
Pro:
- Well built and different design from the rest.
- Intel 852/855GME chipset, this could ensure future support for next generation and other Operating Systems, unlike the ATI/VIA chipset on the 2199US which may be drop by CPQ/HP once they come out with a new line of notebooks. Example, Intel released a driver for the 852 on 3/04, while the ATI driver is dated 6/03 and can only be optained from Compaq since ATI won't support their IGP 320M.
- 4 x USB 2.0, this is the standard and every notebook should have at least 3 ports. USB 1.1 is more than 3 years old and notebook makers like CPQ/HP should keep up with the rest of the industry instead of pushing an outdated technology.
- Intel Celeron 2.8Ghz, 256MB RAM & 40GB 4200RPM HD, "diehard" fan of AMD may be suprise of this CPU with 128Kb cache and 240MB of system memory performs as well as the AMD XP-M. Boot up time and overall usage of the system is a little slower than the 2199US, but with 240MB left(16MB for Video) it does a good job even when playing games or opening several applications at once, probably will give credit to the Intel chipset here again.
- Battery seems to last around 3Hrs with normal usage like surfing and word processing.
- Video card has good performance, with only 16MB got an 1700 score with 3DMark01 @ 1024x768x32 almost the same as the ATI IGP on the 2199US.
- Most people claim that the support and service from Toshiba is far superior than HP/CPQ, can't account for that since I only had these systems for a few hours.
- Audio, volume control is on the right hand side and adjustable by hand, unlike the 2199US that is dificult to reach and works only under Windows. The built-in speakers are very good indeed and well located.
- The CPU fan is somehow more silent specially when controlled by the Toshiba Power Saving Modes.
- Haven't tested the rest of the peripherals like DVD/CDRW but they seem to be of standard quality.

Cons:
- Misleading specs, Toshiba claims to include an Intel Celeron M 2.8Ghz CPU when in fact this is a your average OEM desktop CPU, Integrated 32MB VRAM video card is another wrong specs about this system since the Intel 852GME is an IGP that uses/shared system memory and allocates 16MB when you have 256MB or 32MB when 512MB is installed, these settings can't be changed by the user.
- Heavy an bulky, another specs blunder by Toshiba on the A45 line, it's as thick as the 2199US on the front(1.6") but the back is almost 2.5" thick, also the sides are around 1/2" - 3/4" bigger than the 2199US. This notebook won't fit on your averge bag.
- The LCD is just too bright and controlled by the Toshiba Power Saving application, don't remove it from your startup config else you will have to adjust the brightness everytime you boot. To get a good contrast and viewing angle the screen has to be at least 125 degrees from the base of the unit, this is problem especially in small places like in a car or small desk or just sitting on your lap.
- No S-Video out, if you want to watch a DVD/Divx on your TV or simply make a presentation then you may have to buy an extra peripheral to do the job.
- Video support for OpenGL games only, I didn't see any settings for Direct3D only for OpenGL and the fact that Serious Sam played without a problem but Splinter Cell 2 fail to load may be a problem, also the lack of video memory could be an issue most games require at least 64MB of video RAM to work now days.
- Noisy HD, the access "clicking" noise from the HD is very loud at times, I also was getting a pulsating pixel on a right hand corner when accessing the HD, which dissapeared after a while.

Well this is my opinion and my overall reaction to the few hours of usage, in the end is you(or myself) that have to choose between this Toshiba, the HP/CPQ or any other low budget notebook out there.

Incredible Notebook!
I received this notebook as a present from my mother and it is also my first notebook, and let me tell you---this is a great buy. Compared to other notebooks on the market, this one is truly cost-efficient and works PERFECTLY! Not recommended if you like to play complicated games on the computer. But otherwise, buy it, you won't regret it! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you’re looking for the ultimate desktop replacement in a mobile computer, the Toshiba Satellite 1955-S803 notebook PC’s sheer processing firepower, its large futuristic display, and its advanced detachable input components place it atop the pyramid.

The 1955-S803’s 2.5 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor defines high-power computing across a broad range of productivity and multimedia software. The notebook’s 512 MB of memory--expandable to 1 GB--and 512 KB of L2 cache smoothly run multiple applications simultaneously. A 60 GB hard drive offers voluminous data and multimedia download storage.

A multifunction DVD/CD-RW drive lets you watch movies, and listen to and record music and back up data on CD. Sound from the notebook’s built-in stereo speakers is enhanced by 3-D sound support with HRTF 3-D positional audio, Direct 3-D sound, and hardware acceleration for DirectSound and DirectMusic.

The 1955-S803 includes a 16-inch ASV (advanced super view) active-matrix display that, coupled with an nVidia GeForce4 460 Go graphics controller and 64 MB of 250 MHz DDR external video memory, supports up to 16 million colors at 1,280 x 1,040 resolution.

The 9.6-pound, 13.6-by-12.9-by-2.2-inch 1955-S803 includes an integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet interface with RJ-45 LAN port and built-in 56K V.92 modem with RJ-11 connector. Other ports include three USB interfaces, a TV-out interface, a FireWire interface, a parallel port, and an RGB monitor port. A 32-bit CardBus-ready PC Card slot supports two Type II cards or one Type III card.

The notebook includes a wireless mouse and wireless, detachable 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys. The 1955-S803 also offers a touchpad pointing device and a full complement of hardware-based CD control functions.

Installed software includes Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works, Intuit Quicken Basic 2001, InterVideo WinDVD, Norton AntiVirus 2002, and Adobe Acrobat Reader. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Very Good Laptop
This laptop is very good. Pentium 4, 2.49GHz is awesome power for a laptop. The weight is the huge issue with this system. Over 10lbs with AC Adapter. Even though of that default it is very well desgined. The graphics gard is 64MB, my desktop computer has 64MB graphics card also! 60GB is the second largest hard drive you can get on a laptop still. 512 MB Ram you might think is normal but most laptops have 256 MB Ram which just isn't enough. The Toshiba Satellite 1955-S803 is a high recomended laptop but for business use. The weight is just too much, but the power and preformance of this machine will surpass the weight.

Waste of time, waste of money
Do not buy this machine. I got my 1955-S803 for graphics and travel and have regretted it ever since. Although the screen is large, the resolution is less than many 15" screens. The keyboard feels nice, but it simply quit working after about 4 months of lower-than-average use. In addition, wireless networking died. When I took the machine to a Toshiba-authorized repair center, they replaced the motherboard and keyboard, but put the (previously working) mousepad in upside down and never got it to work again. After three weeks, I demanded my computer back. Three weeks after that, the keyboard died again. I took the machine to a different repair shop. They replaced the motherboard again, but the machine only lasted another couple of weeks before the keyboard went again. This time, I wiped the hard drive to eliminate any unseen driver conflicts. Unfortunately, the repair disks that Toshiba sent me were bad and, after 1/2 hour of babysitting a system install, I discovered the machine wouldn't boot at all. Toshiba made me pay $10 for another set of boot disks, then shipped them to the wrong address. Two weeks later, I got them and reinstalled the system, took the machine back to the repairshop, and had the keyboard itself replaced. At least this time, they figured out the mouse pad. After just a week now, the keyboard is again dead. (I'm writing this on a Mac.) Do not buy this machine. I'm looking at four repair tickets on a machine that frankly gets light use. And did I mention that Toshiba support is chiefly stonewalling? Two months of non-productivity from a machine I bought for work. The 1955 a lemon. Shame on Toshiba for deceiving consumers with it. Shame on magazine reviewers for blindly reciting specs without noting the many, many unhapy user reports like this one.

Mobile desktop functionality
I am a student, and I use this notebook at school. I don't mind the weight (over 10 lbs with AC adapter), and I enjoy the desktop performance and the large screen. I wouldn't recommend this laptop for business travelers or others who feel that weight is an issue.

Good idea
Well, you won't see this laptop on Toshiba's website anymore. When I bought this over a month ago (January 2003) Toshiba's website had all the specs. If you peruse Toshiba's website now, you won't find a single laptop that has a detachable keyboard, mouse or 16" screen, much less any 1900 model.

This leads me to ask if Toshiba creates laptops based on available parts or if this concept was not a good marketing decision. It's probably a mix of the two. I don't expect to see many laptop companies inventing removable keyboards soon... my opinion.

The removable keyboard really isn't necessary. It's very thin and flimsy. I'd just assume it remain on the main body. The keyboard, however, does has a very nice feel. The cordless mouse is quite welcome.

The screen is clear and crisp. Although the PC comes with 512Mb of RAM, it consists of 2 256Mb simms. ...

I like this laptop, but in retrospect I think I could have spent a lot less for something slower than 2.5Ghz and still could have received similar performance. One thing to note, the hard drive is 4200rpm's. Most desktop PCs have 7200 rpm hard drives. The difference is dramatic. My point here is that Toshiba is marketing this as a desktop replacement. With those HD speeds, it isn't.

I am currently using this laptop for software development. I have it hooked-up to a 21" monitor and a USB keyboard. It is a good desktop replacment considering the caveats that I've mentioned previously.

I would first look at the 5xxx series of Toshibas. Since they don't have any more 16" display laptops on the market, it makes you wonder what their committment to the concept may have been.

I rated this 3 stars because of the $$$ value issue. If the memory came with one 512Mb simm and was priced $... cheaper I'd give this five stars.

Laptop for those who need a moveable desktop
First things first. This laptop is not for everyone. If you spend 6 days a week on the road, or need a computer on those long cross-country flights, this is not the machine for you (Heavy, battery life can be a problem).

However, if you are like me, and typically just move large files and computing power from point A to point B and back again and don't want to press out a new DVD or FTP every day to move information from one computer to another, this is the machine for you.

You can't find a cheaper laptop with this much memory, processing speed and hard drive space (thanks to savings from the desktop processor). The large screen means you really don't need to worry about hooking up the machine to a larger monitor even when you are working for long hours (though the resolution is an issue).

While the detachable keyboard and wireless mouse may seem like a novelty, they are notable for one reason. They essentially allow you to create a docking station without the docking station. Pop out the keyboard, set-up the mouse and essential turn the rest of the laptop into a monitor. Presto, a desktop-style working situation that has the advantage of being easily moved to any location.

I would not recommend for people who need traditional laptops. But for anyone who needs a mobile desktop, definately worth a hard look. ... Read more

Amazon Product Description

The Basics
As the midlevel model in Toshiba's powerful, multimedia-friendly A75 roster of portable computers, the Satellite A75-S226 notebook provides a good compromise between price and performance. Featuring a 15.4-inch widescreen display perfect for DVD viewing, an extremely potent Intel Pentium 4 processor, and all the connectivity you'll need for the latest digital camcorders and cameras, the Satellite A75-S226 is a fast machine ready for most any home or remote application.

The A75-S209 features a 15.4" Wide-screen XGA Display with TruBrite Technology.

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 CPUs on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, though these machines are usually noticeably larger and more power-hungry than their less powerful counterparts. For the Satellite A75-S226, Toshiba has selected a super-fast 3.06 GHz Pentium 4 532. This CPU is part of the new second generation of Intel's potent Pentium 4 series, offering improved power efficiency, extra Level 2 cache for quicker access to recently viewed data, and hyperthreading (a technology that allows a single-CPU system to behave at times like a double-CPU system). Running at 3.02 GHz, this is a very powerful CPU that'll handle virtually anything you can throw its way. Memory Computers typically store information on their hard drives, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in random access memory (RAM). More RAM means faster computing, superior multitasking, and less strain on your hard drive. The Satellite A75-S226 includes 512 MB of RAM, an allotment that's considered quite adequate even for a lot of multitasking. The system also allows you to expand to a whopping 1.5 GB, more than enough for any situation you'll ever encounter.

Video
CPUs are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). This system's graphics controller is an ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 IGP with 128 MB of shared video memory. Though dedicated video memory would be ideal, the truth is that 128 MB is an impressive amount, even when shared. As such, the Satellite A75-S226 will smoothly and accurately display all 2-D and most 3-D applications. You may need to upgrade the video controller if you plan to operate super-high-end games and 3-D animation packages, but the system is otherwise a video powerhouse.

Display
At 15.4 inches and featuring a widescreen format suitable for playing movies on DVD, the unit's WXGA TFT active-matrix display is great for multimedia enthusiasts. The screen's highest supported resolution of 1,280 by 800 pixels is superior to the genre's average 1,024 by 768, delivering crisp images and lots of fine detail.

Audio
The system features an integrated audio processor that mimics the spatial awareness of surround sound through its two stereo speakers.

Keyboard and Controls
You'll control your notebook via an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys and a TouchPad pointing device. CD control functions include play/pause, stop/eject, previous, and skip/next.

Connectivity and Expansion
The Satellite A75-S226 offers a wide variety of ways to keep in touch, including a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and e-mail access, an RJ-45 Ethernet port for high-speed wired networking and Internet, and an 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 three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast interaction with plug-and-play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, and an IEEE 1394 FireWire port, commonly used for quick uploads from digital camcorders.

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 pounds or more, 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 "ultraportables," super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two pounds and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The Satellite A75-S226 is considered quite slim by today's standards, at just 1.1 inches thick. Otherwise, it is of average size at 14.4 by 10.8 inches and 7.7 pounds.

Power
The system is equipped with a 12-cell lithium-ion battery. Though you won't experience the long battery life of today's ultralight notebooks (often powered by super-efficient but less powerful Intel "Pentium M" processors), the Satellite A75-S226 will deliver in excess of 2 hours between charges, an impressive duration considering its level of power. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I love it!!
So far so good. I have had this computer for about 1 week and is making me really happy.

My first Satellite
This is my first Toshiba notebook, I have a Dell Inspiron 5000 that has seen better days, and my work notebook is a D600 (which I truly enjoy). I wanted a fast processor, nice size screen for dvd's and decent disk space. Dell has always been my first choice but now that it is my money and not my compani