Amazon.com Product Description

Some users simply don't need the power of a high-end portable computer.Nor do they want to pay the price such cutting-edge technology demands. Forthem, Toshiba's Satellite 1005-S157 notebook may be just the ticket. Although itwon't effectively run today's most demanding programs, the 1005-S157 willcapably support applications such as word processing, client and sales contactmanagement, e-mail, and Internet surfing, all at a price that won't break thebank.

It won't break your back either. The ultra-affordable 1005-S157 is alsoultraportable at just 10.6 by 12.2 by 1.4 inches in diameter and a mere 6.17pounds. At the heart of the system is Intel's 1.06 GHz Celeron processor, acost-effective chip that handles most basic tasks in a timely manner and sports256 KB of Level 2 cache for improved data speed. Toshiba has paired thisprocessor with 256 MB of SDRAM (expandable to 512 MB), an adequate amount formost any mobile application.

At 15 GB, the 1005-S157's hard drive will suffice nicely for most uses but isnot intended to handle a flock of space-hogging programs or files. The unit'ssingle modular bay will support a recordable CD-RW drive yet is thoughtfullyconfigured by default with a DVD player, through which you can enjoy yourfavorite movies on those long cross-country trips. A 3.5-inch floppy disk driveis ready to run older and smaller programs or provide quick data backup.

To help you better experience your multimedia goodies, the system features anefficient two-way, end-mounted speaker system and a 14.1-inch TFT active-matrixdisplay capable of 1,024 x 768 resolution. Die-hard gamers should note that theintegrated 8 MB Intel 830MG video controller is adequate for most applicationsbut not powerful enough for the latest and greatest 3-D games or animationpackages.

Although it is substantially less expensive than Toshiba's top-of-the-lineSatellite notebook, the 1005-S157 nevertheless offers a similarly attractivemetallic blue-silver color scheme and futuristic design. Under the hood, you'llfind a keyboard section featuring 85 full-size keys, 12 additional functionkeys, a TouchPad pointing device, and scroll function. Expandability is somewhatlimited, yet the unit is equipped with two all-purpose PC card slots, three USBports for plug-and-play peripherals, a parallel printer port, and a 56K modemfor basic Internet connectivity.

To help get you started, Toshiba has preconfigured the 1005-S157 with a numberof useful software products, including Microsoft's Windows XP operating system,Lotus SmartSuite Millennium Edition, and Intuit Quicken Basic 2001. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

You can't go wrong with this solid laptop.
This laptop is exactly what I was looking for. It's extremely well-built, and I haven't had any problems at all with mine after four months use. The 14.1 inch active-matrix display is bright and the colors are vivid. It comes with plenty of ram and a decent-sized hard drive too. While this isn't a top-of-the-line laptop, it doesn't cost three times as much either. And while it won't run the latest 3D games, it will do everything else just fine. Well actually, come to think of it, I did load "Trainz", an excellent recent 3D model railroading simulator on it. I was stunned that it ran at all, but was really surprised that it ran at 30+ frames per second at 800 x 600 resolution (by the way, the default and maximum resolution for the computer is 1024 x 768). Now I can design and run my model trains wherever I go (a bonus is that Trainz does not require the CD to run the program). It's got just 8 megs video ram, but I'm amazed at how well it runs some older Windows games too. What initially sold me on the Toshiba brand was how nice the keyboard felt to use and how well the touchpad worked. Nonetheless, I do highly recommend getting one of the small optical USB mice that are available (mine's a Belkin and I like it). Touchpads are okay, but a real mouse is much much easier to use, and if you get an optical mouse, you can use your leg or any other surface to mouse on with no problems. The 1005-S157 comes loaded with Windows XP home edition. It was my first exposure to XP and I must say I love it. It's a very stable operating system, and when put together with this very stable and solid notebook, it's a wonderful combination. Battery life is on the short side however, but at about 2 hours of normal use, it is just fine for me. All-around an extremely nice value.

Great Price but....
...I'm sorry if it's out of stock for you.

I was really looking for a notebook around Xmas 2001 but I had been putting off that purchase for a while and relying on my work computer. Then with recent economic turmoil, I knew I had to go out & find a new computer (in the event my company takes my work computer away!!!)

This computer is amazing! I was initially worried with the Lotus Smartsuite software being incompatible with Microsoft software, but it is compatible with MS Office products. The DVD Rom works fine. Boot up time is fine. It's lightweight and the price is virtually the same as a good quality TV.

Drawbacks would include a missing serial port (but you can buy a simple parallel to serial converter). Gaming might be a problem, but I'm not planning to play Madden 2002 on it. ....As far as a 15GB hard drive, I need to find out where the TOshiba CD-R/W drives are at to do some hardcore backups of data...

PS: Grab that Canon S300 inkjet printer with the Toshiba rebate money. You won't regret it!!

I love this Notebook!
I got this notebook for my 13th birthday and I love it. It is reliable(I have not had 1 crash!), fast (at least on dvd, Windows Media Player, the Office Suite, and on older games), and VERY cool looking. My favorite feature is its built in DVD drive. I have to have used it 4 times more than anything else on the notebook. The battery life isnt that great, but I gut it used, so a new one would probably be fine. All in all I like it a lot.

Good price, piss-poor quality
I will never buy another Toshiba notebook again. I had always heard they did not run the smoothest, but made up for it in durability. In my experience, Windows XP constantly crashed, mysterious errors appeared constantly, and it often overheated and turned itself off. However, the durability was even more degrading. The battery and the AC adapter both fried within about a year and a half of purchase. Then the screen kicked out shortly thereafter, all conveniently after the warranty expired.

Horrible computer and customer service
Please read all of these reviews. Notice they are all from people who recently acquired the computer. Thus, the reviews are positive because they haven't given the computer time to break down which it will probably do. I bought this computer 1 year ago and have had to return it 4 times to Toshiba for repairs. Each time the repair has taken over 2 weeks, and the customer service has been awful. Please be very wary of buying this computer, and from Toshiba in general. It randomly shuts down, the LCD malfunctions, and if you check the Toshiba website forums you will see that other customers have had this problem with satellite computers. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

It seems like it would be hard to go wrong with a system like Toshiba'sSatellite 3005-S304. Some of its more appealing features are a 1 GHz Pentium IIIprocessor, a combination CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, 256 MB of RAM (expandable to 512MB), and a 20 GB hard disk. Also housed in its 7-pound, 1.8-inch-high case are a56K modem, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC, and a 14.1-inch, active-matrix displaywith 1,024 x 768 resolution. The system comes with Windows XP, Microsoft'snewest operating system, and the Lotus SmartSuite productivity suite pre- installed.

... Read more

Reviews (9)

Excellent value for money
I have had this Laptop with the XP pro version on it since Nov,
I knew the specs of it before i bought it. I also knew that i could not get a comparable Laptop for the same price anywhere else..The graphics card is the icing on the cake. It runs superbly, does everything you could ask without fault. I know people complain about the ticking of the hard drive, but its not something that is likely to make you not buy it, although i am surprised that Toshiba still use such a low speed Hard Drive 4200 rpm, nevertheless its still quick.. I reccomend it wholeheartedly.

Great graphics chip
After much research, I chose this machine because of its combination of features, weight, and price. What I didn't expect was the excellent graphics chip on this. The machine comes with a Nvidia GeForce2Go with a 166Mhz DDR bus and a 16Mb DDR video memory. This is in contrast with many laptops that use slower graphics chip or use onboard graphics that share memory with the main RAM. The range of graphics modes supported is quite impressive. Of course the 14" TFT screen only supports 1024x768, but I have it configured now to simultaneously drive an external monitor at a total of 2048x768! That's right, I have a horizontally spanning virtual display where I can mouse from my TFT to my 19" analog monitor. Having the dual displays is fantastic! Works great in WinXP and you get so much more screen real estate. Alternately, you can choose to drive your external display exclusively at high resolutions like 1600x1200 or 1920x1440.

Note: on this machine there are 3 USB ports, but no PS/2 ports for an external keyboard or mouse. You will need a USB keyboard or mouse if you want to use an external one or get a USB-PS/2 adapter.

Great price, great features!
This notebook has pretty much everything you could want in a notebook! It's a very nice package with a great balance of features, size, and battery life. The price is right too. It suspends and resumes in under 5 seconds each, is very stable (no crashes yet!), and solidly built. Having everything you need such as Firewire and 10/100 Ethernet built in saves you the cost of adding these feature and carrying around additional components. The DVD/CD-RW combo is nice as well.

The only thing I would have liked to have seen is scroll buttons to accompany the touchpad like some other notebooks have. Regarding the users complaining about the drive clicking, it is completely normal! ALL drives make some noise when they access the disk, some are louder than others. The drive in this notebook is probably not the quietest drive around, but it's not the loudest I've heard either. They may be complaining simply out of lack of experience with many hard drives, or not used to a notebook where you're closer to it than a desktop and the louder fans may drown out the drive sounds.

very pleased and to address the noise issue IMO
i own this laptop and am very pleased. for the price you get a good package. it is more than i will ever need. i just wanted to address the complaints about the HD noise. YES, the HD does make a click-klack noise when it is in use. However, this noise is just the normal noise of drive heads repostitioning. Out of curiousity I have dB analyzed HDs outside of there metal casings and this noise is common and normal and not a sign of damage or soon-to-lose-data errors. A few websites have wave files are in agreement. Many drive manufacturers have done great in dampening this noise. I am assuming that toshiba didn't. So eventhough this is a noisy laptop HD, i don't think it is malfunctioning. Also, has anyone noticed that their CD-RW can burn at 8x?

Beware is right
I wish I had read his review (and the first review) before I bought one. This is the PERFECT machine - except for that lousy hard drive. Made that click every time it accessed the disk. Drove me crazy. The system lasted only 15 minutes before I took it back. Checked the demo in a retail store and it did it too. If you care about noise at all, stay AWAY from this computer. Broke my heart to return it. Can't find a thing with similar specs. If only Compaq would put 16MB of video ram into their 1720 instead of 8MB, that would do it. Or if Toshiba put a Intel-M instead of a regular Intel into the 5005. Oh, well. Guess I'll wait for the next wave of laptops... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Shopping for a feature-rich multimedia mobile computer offering a high-octane processor, supercharged graphics, stereo sound with built-in subwoofer, and a large high-resolution display? The Toshiba Satellite 5205-S503 notebook PC delivers all of this in an advanced, stylish design.

A 2 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor-M provides premium computing power 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 40 GB hard drive offers abundant 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 Harman Kardon stereo speakers with subwoofer 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 5205-S503 includes a 15-inch SXGA+ active-matrix display that, coupled with an nVidia GeForce4 460 Go graphics controller and 32 MB of 250 MHz DDR external video memory, supports up to 16 million colors at 1,400 x 1,050 resolution.

The 7.1-pound, 12.9-by-11.6-by-1.8-inch 5205-S503 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 2.0 interfaces, a TV-out interface, a FireWire interface, and a secure digital card slot. A 32-bit CardBus-ready PC Card slot supports one Type II card.

The notebook includes a Toshiba remote control device with power on/shutdown, CD/DVD/digital audio play control, volume control, keyboard emulation, task change, maximize window, and a TV button. The 5205-S503’s keyboard includes 85 full-size keys with 12 function keys.

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 (17)

All in one mutli-media laptop
This is a very impressive little bit of engineering... I'm typing this review on the S503 and have put it through it's paces. First this is the only laptop I've ever seen with an integrated subwoofer, what's not to love about that. Second you have USB 2.0 and Firewire, so plug in those cam-corders and make your own on-site edits. The processor packs some power but it lags a little in online applications, patience is a virtue. However you wont feel that typical 'I'm on a laptop' lack of power. The remote is a nice add-on, didn't know what I'd use it for untill I saw that this computer plugs right into an RCA on your TV, not just video etc, but the FULL screen all the time. This leads to Divx movies with friends or DVD's where you might not have one. The screen is so bright and vivid you may just want to watch movies on the built in 15" screen. There's an SPDIF output regular stereo and allegedly digital optical enabling dts if your reciever allows. The lid is made of a soft plastic and scratches much to easy, take good care of this one. I've heard that Toshiba has one of the best customer service satisfaction ratings above dell and gateway. Overall I'm very pleased to be leaving my 2 compaqs in the dust, they never lived up to their potential, Toshiba has consistantly blown away my expectations.

Pretty package but not THAT great!
No question, this baby's a real looker, but:

1. For some reason my HDD keeps needing to be defragmented, about once every 10 days. It's only 4500 RPM instead of 5400 RPM, which slows things down considerably despite the 2.0 GHz processor and 512MB of DDR.

2. Could've used: a floppy drive to transfer data to older PCs that don't have USB, CD-ROM (burning individual docs to a CD just to transfer them is a pain anyway), or Ethernet connections. So simple, so cheap, why not...?

3. A parallel port for hooking up to older printers that don't have USB plugs.

4. Some way of locking the power-off, because mine keeps turning on during transit!

5. The touchpad is an annoyingly useless POS; having a dual stick-pointer like the Dell would be much better.

6. Remember that this laptop is more of a DESKTOP REPLACEMENT, not a true portable notebook! I mean, it's huge (most laptop cases are too small for it) and fairly heavy ... and really not designed to be lugged around.

That said, I don't entirely regret buying it. It's relatively fast for a laptop, does have very good multimedia, and a beautiful screen. ...

my workhorse...
I bought this unit in 10/02/02, a couple of days before they actual "official release date". I DID NOT DO not even 1 seconds of research:), just went to the first electronics retail store near me and browsed the laptops they had in display...found a Toshiba but asked for a 2.0GHz processor and the salesperson told me that they've just received some.
Until now it showed the same reliability as my old Inspiron, never had a hiccup...
To refute some claims from others regarding this product:
1) It is PREWIRED for wireless mini-PCMCIA cards...I bought Dell Truemobile 1350 card. It installs like a RAM stick and VOILA! you have "wireless"...
2) Agreed that Toshiba saved some money with the MK4018GAS HDD...but I waited for the Hitachi super duper 7200rpm, 60GB drive to get a little cheaper and bought one. Works like a charm (OUT OF THE BOX, did it myself, no conectors, no settings...get out of the caddy the old HDD, put in the new one,..simple) and guess what, the old Toshiba HDD sits now in a tray in the Style BAY and I am the proud owner of a "100GB" laptop:)
3) The USB ports...I have plugged all kind of peripherals into them: printers, external TV tuners, mice, keyboards, digital photo and video cameras...they are plug and play...
This laptop is the champion of "customizing" ease: new 7200rpm HDD put in in less tha 5 min, cheap 2nd HDD(do it yoursef), StyleBay DVD-R/RW/RAM...Toshiba had a sale for them...2nd battery...etc, everything for very few compared to others (Amazon will not allow prices shown so I will not write one)

THE ONLY GRIPE: runs very hot...but this is when playing a 2004 flight sim for more than 4-5 hours:)

Excellent notebook!
I've purchased this notebook after doing some extensive market research. My first obvious choice was Dell but I found their comparable models to be overprized. I was also concerned with overall Dell's build quality, which seems to have been sliding down lately. The only concern I had about this model was 4500 RPM HD. If that is a real big issue for you, go with 5205-S507 model, which has 60 Gb HD. That 60 Gb HD is still 5400 RPM but higher HD disks density makes for a bit faster HD. The 5205-S507 model also comes with nicer screen but I couldn't justify the price difference.

I've had this notebook for about two months now and I am extremely happy with it. It runs fast all applications, handles latest games nicely, and looks great. As another reviewer pointed out, this is not a small laptop so finding a case for it is a challenge. I'd suggest checking Targus CK55 laptop case sold at BestBuy.

Great Laptop
I bought this laptop as a desk top replacement. It is much too heavy for a lug it around on airplanes laptop.

It has great features and will meet 90% of any super users requirements.

On little nit: the keyboard and touch pad are awkward (I am used to the IBM keyboard and the pencil eraser "mouse") and I always seem to be moving the pointer when I don't want to. The touch pad is very sensitive even after resetting it.

Buy it. it's a great machine. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Best tech purchase I have ever made
Pros: Screen is huge and bright, like a high-end LCD. Wireless keyboard and Mouse really increase comfort. Powerful machine, with pretty much everything you will need. Toshiba quality.

Cons: Lack of USB 2.0, speakers don't perform as well as they look. Lotus Smart Suite? What gives? 40G is great for laptop but still small compared to desktop. I will need to get a firewire ext. hardrive for video editing and music collection.

I have had this machine for over a week and I am quite satisfied and impressed. For once I do not feel like I am sacrificing with a notebook. It was purchased as a desktop replacement, and I now I have so much more room in my desk and around it. Everything is working fine so far, only one crash. I use this machine for media editing, games, and normal stuff. I have a real small sony for when I hit the road. Since I do move around, I won't have to lug so much technology.

This is the baddest laptop out today.. Nevertheless, I could have wished for DVD-RW, 100+GB HD with 7200rpm, video-in, and built in wireless networking. I am sure that is what we can buy next year!

Great portable desktop
I do cart this beast to and from work each day. Screen size and power are wonderful. The detachable keyboard and wireless mouse are fantastic features. I have only owned laptop's and this is by far the best laptop owned yet. If you really do use a laptop most frequently on your lap, this isn't the machine for you. Screen brightness is great as well.

Cons: Gets hot. Uncomfortable and heavy (10lbs) on your lap. Finger distance between keyboard and touchpad a stretch (when keyboard inserted). Mouse batteries die every 3 weeks. Should have come standard w/802.11. I haven't found a laptop case yet that it will fit in. Batteries do not last overnight with OS in standby. Since room within this beast is not a problem, the speaker quality should have been better. Only a 1 year warranty.

Unbelievably poor customer service
The company I work for bought several of these machines, along with a "next day on-site service" plan. I was happy with mine until the fan started making this horrible noise. Then the machine started shutting down spontaneously (system board got too hot, I think). I called Toshiba for the next day service we had paid for. To make a long story short, it's been two weeks, the fan has been on back order, and my repair date has been pushed back five times. It's still not fixed, and they keep stringing me along, "I'm sorry, the fan is on back order, it will be here in a couple of days." Do yourself a favor, buy from a company that cares about its customers (not Toshiba).

Questions unanswered
I am looking for a notebook suitable for international travel use. Can anyone tell me if Toshiba's warranty is worldwide? Can the DVD be used worldwide or is it set up only for Region 1 which is to say North America? Can the ac adapter run on 220 volts as used in most of the world or only 110 volts?

A True Desktop Replacement
I shopped around for 6 months for the perfect desktop replacements, and settled for the 1955-S801. If you think of it as a "luggable" with a huge "readable" screen then you won't be disappointed. I've owned four laptops - from the svelte Portege to the Thinkpad series, and must say this notebook gives you the most bang for the buck. Although ....does not promote this series as their multimedia notebook, it really is their most capable of all. The huge, beautiful 16" LCD screen is this notebooks most clearly defining characteristic. It is bright, and has plenty of contrast - right up there with my T22 IBM Thinkpad's 14.1" monitor. The image is consistent from edge to edge with very little shimmering (like a satin sheet). I didn't notice any more heat coming from this laptop than my IBM Thinkpad which has a P3 1.2Ghz mobile CPU, However, the fan is louder, but that's it. At ($$$) this notebook is a five star, any higher and it's a four star b/c ....really needs to address some of the most commons concerns - like the impossible to find eject button.

The Good
Huge "readable" 16" LCD (1280x1024) - The Best!
1GB RAM Capable (I installed Kingston Value memory)
P4 2.2Ghz "Desktop" CPU (yes, desktop - this is a desktop replacement)

The Bad
* Hard-to-find CD-ROM eject button (you will have to look for it)
* Loud fan which kicks on and off
* WiFi "Ready" which means it has a built-in antennae, but you need to buy an impossible-to-find ($$$) mini-PCI card option to work. Good luck finding it or get the latest 1955-S803 notebook. I'm using a Cisco 350 Aironet PCMCIA card which works flawlessly.
* Keyboard layout not as nice as it could be - especially considering the real estate that the engineers had to work with e.g. short space bar which is hard to reach with your left thumb. I would rather have had a larger, better layed-out keyboard then have it be wireless. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Toshiba refers to its 2430 series of Satellite notebooks as "the best desktop replacement at a value price," yet the Satellite 2435-S255 is seemingly too compact to be typecast as a desktop replacement. Measuring 13 by 11 by 1.7 inches and weighing just 7.7 pounds, the unit is in fact not as cumbersome as many typical portables. Regardless, the Satellite 2435-S255 is a solid and affordable notebook suitable for most any situation.

Driven by a powerful 2.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM, and a speedy 533 MHz system bus, the Satellite 2435-S255 is a fast machine designed to efficiently operate most current and future applications. Hard-core gamers should note the unit is equipped with a 32 MB nVidia GeForce4 420 Go graphics controller, which provides more than enough video processing power for most general tasks but isn't ideal for the latest crop of 3-D games.

The Satellite 2435-S255 features two data-handling options--an average-sized 40 GB hard drive for your programs and frequently accessed files, and a DVD/CD-RW drive for loading applications, archiving information, playing movies, and burning audio CDs. In its stock configuration, the unit will not allow you to burn DVDs.

To help you better enjoy your multimedia experience, the Satellite 2435-S255 offers a generous 15-inch, active-matrix display capable of 1,024 x 768 resolution, an integrated set of Harman Kardon speakers, a set of independent CD controls that don't require system boot-up, and a one-touch switch to instantly flip from internal display to TV screen. Other desirable perks include three high-speed USB 2.0 ports for external peripherals, one IEEE 1394 port for fast interaction with devices such as digital camcorders, an S-Video out for TV hookups, and a full size 85-key keyboard with 12 one-touch function keys and scroll function. An integrated 56K modem and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network interface ensure connectivity in any situation. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Toshiba Satellite
Read reviews of the Satellite 5100 series. There are more of them and they are relevant to this machine.

I chose the 2435 over the 5105 because it is faster. The lower resolution screen is not a problem. I need prescription lenses to see my other computers and this one works with my usual bifocals. With the right drivers, the screen is very sharp. Not having the Mobile Pentium is not a problem since the battery life is as claimed and the computer runs cool.

The touchpad is awful. The buttons have terrible action and are in the wrong place and will stress your forearm. I ordered a mouse. I have repetitive stress injury and this toucpad hurts. But a touchpad is not a reason to reject a computer.

The parallel, USB, line in, earphone out, PCMCIA, network, and modem connections all work with a wide range of my stuff. I use a USB/SCSI adapter for my legacy SCSI stuff (Scanner, ZIP, Jaz). I can't tell you about the other holes since I have nothing to plug in them.

The speakers are ok but laptop quality. The CD and CDRW work fine. I haven't used the DVD yet and may not use it ever.

The keyboard is good for me. The keys have a medium travel, soft action, definite snap, and crisp feel. I'm a key banger so the clack of the keys is just about right for me.

I installed Win2k immediately. I downloaded the drivers from the Toshiba website and did the full install without hitch. One critical USB driver was missing. I attached the device, asked for a remote driver install, and the right driver was found on the Microsoft site. I wish Toshiba had included this driver. Installation of Win2k and other stuff takes a day and needs a guru.

The battery life is as billed. The power software seems to work. Hibernate and switchoff work, but I have not got standby to work yet. The computer goes into standby ok. When the button is pushed to bring it out, it comes on then switches off. Switchon again then leads to a new boot.

As a laptop some help is needed. Two fans on the bottom suck air in but are plugged with the computer on a lap. I cut a small board to hold the machine on my lap. Before the board, I ran it for a couple weeks and the case stays cool, but I am not a trusting sole and Toshiba put those fans there for a reason. Both fans are quieter than the one on my previous laptop and run less frequently.

Carry weight is critical in a laptop. With everything loaded to go (including the board) this is the lightest laptop I have owned. Certainly it is much lighter than my daughter's Dell 8200 which also is a great machine. However, the 2435 is an all-in-one and that means it is not the lightest laptop around. Most superlight folks I know carry so many extras they are heavier than I am when loaded.

The 2435 worked right out of the box. Win2k went on flawlessly. It is the fastest machine I currently use. I expect it will go about 5 years, just like my previous three laptops. One was carried all over the world for a year. And the 2435 is the second Toshiba I've owned. I have owned the T1100, a generic, and a Compaq Presario 1236. All three were used until they died from my use ... about 5 years each. They all received a huge amount of travel and wear.

I like this machine. I recommend it.

Fantastic
I got this model 2 weeks ago and I've had absoutely no problems -- everything works perfectly. I've had a very different experience from the previous reviewer -- the internal modem not only works, but when I plugged the ethernet cable from my cable modem into the computer, it worked flawlessly without any setup required, which I thought was odd because I thought I'd have to run a configuration CD. But no, it worked from the second I plugged the cable in. The DVD player is great, the CDR-W works flawlessly, the screen is amazing (it's true that in some settings the text can be fuzzy, but if you play with the settings you can get quite a shart picture; also, I haven't had any problems with dead pixels, which is another complaint I've heard), the sound quality is unbelievable for a laptop, and everything runs smoothly and incredibly quickly. The only problem I had -- that webpages with pop-up ads would briefly "hang" the computer when trying to load -- was quickly fixed by a call to the Toshiba service center, which talked me through the problem. (It turns out some of the software utilities Toshiba includes in the standard boot are not very useful; one thing I recommend is to turn off these drivers as soon as you get your system. There's lots of info on this in the Toshiba service message boards.) All in all I'm amazed by what I can do on this machine, and how it's like night and day compared to my old one (a PIII w/128mb of RAM). Highly recommended -- the machine just feels so solid and the performance is awesome.

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.

Good Laptop
I like this notebook computer! It works really good. I had it for 3 months now. I only had 1 minor problem with it freezing.
The cd player/cd burner/dvd player works good. If you are looking for a good laptop, get this!

Pretty darn solid
Since I'm going back to College this fall, I decided to get a new laptop. Since I'm a geek, I decided it had to be a good laptop. I had originally focused on the Dell Insprion 8500 with its 15.4" wide screen but after reading several complaints on DellTalk about the quality of the keyboard I decided to keep looking. I then focused on a Toshiba 2455-S305 ... The keyboard is 2nd only to IBM Thinkpad keyboards which IMO are the best period. Don't be fooled by the translucent keyboard. You might think it is a little cheap looking but it is actually quite solid. The keys have good travel and the chassis is rock solid (unlike the Inspiron 8500). I'm a big guy (6'2" 200lbs) but this keyboard was no problem for my larger hands. My wife (5'3" 117lbs) felt the keyboard wasn't a bad size but she of course would like a smaller one. The touchpad isn't bad but I feel they should clearly mark the scroll bars on the bottom and right of the pad. HP puts a small ridge on their Touchpad so you can feel the boarders of the pointer area. That, IMO, is the standard to judge all others. Still, a small laptop mouse is the way to go with all laptops IMO.

Audio and video are somewhat of a mixed bag but are very acceptable. Audio features Harman/Kardon speakers which are the best I've heard on any laptop to date. I listen to a lot of Jazz and I have to credit this laptop for allowing me to hear Harry Connick Jr with the best quality you can get from such small speakers. On the other hand the video could be better. Don't get me wrong, the Nvidia 420 card is excellent and is even handling Ghost Recon pretty well but I would have perferred a higher resolution than 1024x768. That should be the low end resolution on a laptop with a 15" screen. However, I compensated a little by using smaller icon and 8 point fonts. I have 20/15 vision thanks to LASIK so smaller is just fine for me.

There is a wealth of odds and ends on this laptop that would make any Dell green with envy. The Dell 5100 and 1100 laptops don't even have parallel ports. The big pluses for the S255 are the SD card slot, THREE USB 2.0 ports, and a 4 wire IEEE1394 connector. Remember, a 4 wire 1394 port doesn't supply power to anything you connect to it, so devices you buy for this must have their own external power supply. This isn't a biggie since most people are connecting video or digital cameras which have their own power anyways. I only wish they had a Serial port because I need one to work on my router and firewall on occasion. This too isn't a biggie since I purchased a USB to Serial adapter.

All in all I rate this an excellent laptop. It's a good solid buy ... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Outwardly, Toshiba's Satellite 5005-S507 notebook bears a strikingresemblance to the company's top-of-the-line mobile computer, the 5105-S607.Both units are packaged in a relatively large but extremely attractive metallicblue-gray casing that offers plenty of room for the many high-end perks you'llfind inside. Both are designed for the demanding user and ready to record, play,and display virtually any form of multimedia. There are, however, two importantdistinctions. Whereas the 5105-S607 features a screamingly fast Pentium 4processor and a price to match, the 5005-S507 sports a proficient but moderatelyless speedy Pentium III and a far more affordable MSRP. For all but the mostpower-hungry users, the 5005-S607 should be quite satisfactory.

Considering its above-average, 11.6-by-13-by-1.8-inch dimensions, the 5005-S507would best fit the description of a desktop replacement, and certainly its richfeature set would seem to bear that out. Heading the list is Intel's 1.1 GHzPentium III processor, a proven chip that in this case is paired with a massive512 MB of SDRAM memory. The true star of the show, however, is nVidia's newGeForce4 440 Go video card.

Packed with 32 MB of DDR video RAM, the 440 Go is one of the finest mobile videoboards currently on the market and as such will make short work of virtually anymultimedia source, including the 3-D games and movies you'll want to load andplay through the system's DVD/CD-RW drive. This convenient combination drivealso supports audio CD burning and CD data backup. The unit's subwoofer-enhancedHarman Kardon speaker system capably broadcasts music and audio effects, and itsjumbo 15-inch Toshiba Personal Theatre UXGA active-matrix display delivers clear1,600 x 1,200 images.

The 5005-S507 keyboard section is second to none, featuring 85 full-size keys,12 one-touch Internet and multimedia buttons, and a monochrome LCD cPad touchpad that graphically displays important functions and houses several convenientsecondary applications of its own. The roster of ports includes two multipurposePC card slots, three USB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, a FireWire portfor high-speed data transfer, infrared and NTSC/PAL ports, and a handy headphonejack. A 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network connection and integrated 56K modem ensureconnectivity in any situation.

Toshiba has equipped the 5005-S507 with an accommodating 40 GB hard drive and abevy of applications, including the Windows XP operating system, LotusSmartSuite Millennium Edition, Intuit Quicken Basic 2001, and Norton AntiVirus2002. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

nice notebook but...
At first let me tell: I don't buy from Amazon.com.
3 months ago I bought one this. Trust me, this notebook is the most beautiful I have see. In the firts 2 weeks I play Medal Of Honor at maximun settings without problems, the sound is a master as the display. Everething was great and then...
The graphics start to become slooow. The 3Dmark drop from 3700(new) to 1800(hot). I contact Toshiba and they tell me to upgrade to the new Bios over the Toshiba site. I did it, but the graphics still slooow. Slower than 3005 S307. And a big surprise:
The new Bios down the CPU speed about 25% when CPU become HOT.
I bought this notebook as a Pentium 1.1mhz not as 800mhz, but this is the speed that you can reach when you most need, because Toshiba put a desktop CPU. The 3005 S304/S307 have mobile CPU.
If you want a serios notebook don't buy 5005 S507 or any other notebook with desktop CPU.
I am changing to 5105 S607(mobile CPU)
At final analysis this is a good notebook but if you want a notebook to play, this is not the best.

There's a reason this Notebook was discontinued
I was just about to buy a very nice Dell Inspiron when I came across an ad for the new S507, the first Notebook to sport the nVidia GeForcemx440Go. I had been having problems with ATI video cards in my desktops (ATI had a history of driver problems), so I suddenly changed horses in midstream and purchased the S507 on impulse.

As always, my impulses were lousy. First off, the positive: the Harmon-Kardon speakers are GREAT for a laptop. Not great for anything else, but they absolutely blow away the sound of any other laptop I've heard. Sadly, they are connected to a none-too-great Yamaha sound card instead of a Creative Labs Soundblaster product with EAX or strong audio accelleration.

That's the beginning of the bad. I soon found out that the MX440 is not a REAL GeForce4. It is in fact a "souped up" GeForce2 -- two generations old -- and the 32mb of video memory were quickly surpassed in the marketplace by 64mb laptop cards. Meanwhile the ATI Radeon mobility that I shunned has proven to be a champ.

Then there's the CPU issue. I didn't know until I read these reviews that there was a desktop CPU stuck in this thing, all I knew was that when the machine got hot, the performance PLUMMETTED. There are frequent sudden shutdowns, and games (only games, so perhaps the GeForce card is also a culprit -- I don't know because Toshiba tech support refused to help me) often won't run... they start to open, then minimize to the taskbar, teasing me with the audio while I can do nothing to get them to open back up from the taskbar. At those times, Task Manager shows that my CPU is running at 99% load.

I mentioned Tech Support -- there is none. I sent in a tech support request and two weeks later got a snide email from Toshiba stating that they can't reasonably be expected to test their product with every piece of software on the market, perhaps I should file a tech support request with the software maker. This ignored the fact that it happened with every game I ever tried to play on it.

In short, this was a waste of money, and it will take a lot to ever get me to try a Toshiba computer product again. My next laptop will be a Dell.

Worse Than Paper and Pencil
Whatever you do... do not purchase this machine. You are spending [money] on a doorstop that gets less work done than paper and pencil. I have to say that this is absolutely the worst purchase I have ever made. The computer has a desktop processor which overheats and thus causes it to shut down unexpectedly. Even better is the fact that Toshiba released a patch which throttles the cpu to lower than 50%. So basically you are paying for a laptop that runs at 500 mhz and shuts down on you periodically. Toshiba will not refund your money and will only tell you to send it into their service depot for which they do not have a fix.

Glad to have it.
I get Toshiba 5005-S507 couple months ago.
I just want to say I am very glad to have it!
Batery life can be better.
The rest I just love it. Hey! noone perfect.This laptop,yes it is.

First notebook
This is the first (and probably last) notebook I've bought...with it, I've learned a few things: I don't need a notebook, notebooks are expensive, you can't upgrade a notebook; that being said, let me say that I truly love this computer; it is by far the most beautiful computer I've ever seen; it sounds great; the video/graphics are fantastic.

After buying this comp, I've re-discovered my artistic side; I've been using it teaching myself MAYA PLE as well as painting and texturing. It's pretty good for gaming, but I don't really use it for that much (yet; when I get the 802.11b set-up, that'll change)...they say this is a 'desktop replacement'..I disagree entirely; it's good to use in-place of a desktop, but since I build my own 'desktop' computers, I'd never replace one with a notebook; but if you are looking for a computer or a 2nd computer, this is definately worthy of the role: it has ample room for storage, plenty of usb connection points, the ability to use 2 monitors or just a separate one, the cdrw/dvd drive is wonderful (I never knew you could have both!) I think overall, this is a wonderful computer. In retrospect, I sort of wish I'd waited a bit to get the next version (s607) but at this time, I don't think the extra cost is worth it...this one works just fine for me and after a month of use, I've had no problems whatsoever. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you’re shopping for an industrial-strength mobile computer to serve as a desktop replacement, the Toshiba Satellite 1905-S303 notebook PC is the kind of heavy-duty, no-compromises performer that can fill just about any shoes, no matter how big.

The 1905-S303’s 2.4 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor-M provides gale-force computing power 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. The notebook’s 40 GB hard drive offers substantial 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 1905-S303 includes a 15-inch XGA active-matrix display that, coupled with an ATI M6-P graphics controller and 32 MB of 250 MHz DDR external video memory, supports up to 16 million colors at 1,024 X 768 resolution.

The 8.3-pound, 13-by-10.9-by-2-inch 1905-S303 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 two 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’s keyboard includes 85 full-size keys with 12 function keys. The 1905-S303 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

Amazon.com Product Description

At 13.2 by 11.7 by 2 inches, the Toshiba Satellite 1905-S277 is not thesmallest notebook on the market. Nor is it exactly a featherweight at 8.3pounds. Nevertheless, if you can handle a little extra size, you'll like itswinning combination of affordability and performance.

Driven by a powerful 1.6 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with a 400 MHz bus and256 KB of Level 2 cache for speedy data retrieval and movement, the 1905-S277 isan exceedingly fast machine. It's efficient too, with lots of temporary datastorage space (256 MB of SDRAM memory, upgradeable to 512 MB), an adequate 30 GBhard drive, and a combination DVD/CD-RW drive that lets you record music anddata CDs and play your favorite tunes or movies. Toshiba has even added a3.5-inch floppy disk drive for all your smaller, older applications or quickbackup needs. Hard-core gamers should note that the unit is equipped with a 16MB ATI Mobility Radeon AGP video card, which provides more than enough graphicprocessing power for most general applications but probably not enough forhigh-end, 3-D games.

Although it may be somewhat larger than Toshiba's top-of-the-line Satellitenotebook, the exceptional 5105-S607, the 1905-S277 offers the same futuristicblue-gray metallic casing and a slick, curvy design. Both units also featureseveral exterior one-touch multimedia controls, a number of convenient interiorhot keys, and a wealth of ports, including two multipurpose PC card slots, threeUSB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, a parallel printer port, and an S-videoout. A 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network connection and integrated 56K modem ensureconnectivity in any situation.

To better help you enjoy your multimedia applications, the 1905-S277 offers abig 15-inch, active-matrix viewing screen capable of 1,024 x 768 resolution, andan integrated set of stereo speakers. Toshiba has equipped the unit with a bevyof applications, including the Home Edition of Windows XP, Lotus SmartSuiteMillennium Edition, Intuit Quicken Basic 2001, and Norton AntiVirus 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

LOUD COOLING FAN
I'm really frustrated with the loudness of the cooling fan. I leave my laptop on all the time. In the eveing, the cooling fan is so loud that it is hard to cope with when I am going to sleep. It turns itself on every five minutes and whirrs like tiny blowdryer. Really annoying. I heard that it is a problem with toshiba laptops.

Be prepared for a nightmare!,
I would recommend investing your money in a case of dead fish before purchasing this item. Having experienced multiple problems from the mouse not functioning to constant disk lock up, Moreover, Toshiba tech support is rude, ill-informed, and is more than willing to keep consumers on hold for lengthy periods of time. Never again will I put a penny into Toshiba .

major overheat problem
I had four laptop computers before this one. It is the most noisiest one I own. The cooling fan will go on and off every 15 seconds. Usually, I have it on 8 hours per day. It is too annoying and the weight of this laptop also too heavy to carry around. Over price and not a lot of softwares.

how about an iBook?
I checked out the customer reviews for this Toshiba after reading the ones for the Apple iBook and was struck by how much more positive folks were about the iBook, including Windows users switching to the Mac. Plus, the iBook reviews were written before Apple upgraded the iBook line-up May 20 -- while keeping prices the same -- and now it's an even nicer machine. So folks might want to check out the new iBooks to see if they might make more sense than a PC notebook. (I have an "old" iBook and love it -- 5 stars! -- but Apple is tempting me again!).

A laptop with a desktop CPU.
Toshiba and other laptop vendors are using desktop P4s in many of their notebook computers and this has led to some misunderstandings (Amazon should be more upfront about this). This particular model uses an older "Willamette" P4 that was designed for desktop use. There is also some bad information in some of the reviews that have been posted. Hopefully this may help:

There are two families of P4s. One is the older, larger (.18 micron) "Willamette" core, which has 256K of L2 cache and is designed to be used in desktops. The newer "Northwood" core (.13 micron) has 512K of L2 cache and comes in two sub-types: desktop and mobile. If the frequency is equal then the Northwood will be about 10% faster than the Willamette. In other words if a 2GHz Willamette takes 10 minutes to do something a 2GHz Northwood will (on average) do it in 9 minutes. Some applications will see as much as a 30% improvement thanks to the larger cache an other enhancements in the .13 Northwood core.

If a laptop has a mobile P4, the CPU should be identified as a P4M. The P4M is *only* built on the .13 micron "Northwood" core and so will *always* have 512K of L2 cache. If you aren't sure check the web site of the manufacturer (a good idea anyway to see how their web support looks).

A P4M cost more than a desktop P4. The main reasons are the packaging is more expensive (to dissipate heat better) and the voltage of the CPU is lower to save power and reduce heat (low voltage parts must meet stricter manufacturing standards).

Toshiba is using the desktop P4 in notebooks so they can sell a fast laptop for less money (saves around $200). The plus is you save money too. The down side is your battery life is shorter and the laptop will be larger and heavier to support the extra cooling requirements.

Myth: The desktop part may "burn up".
Fact: Impossible. The P4 and P4M are the ONLY CPUs on the market that will reduce their clocks speed before they overheat (called "clock throttling") and speed back up when they cool down. Even if your heat sink fell off the P4 or P4M will still function. If this happened to a PIII it will stop and require a reboot and an Athlon will catch fire.
(Go to http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/01q3/010917/index.html for more info on over-heating CPUs and see a video of an Athlon catching fire! Fun stuff!)

Myth: The PIII is "more reliable" than the P4.
Fact: The P4 was built to the stricter reliability rules than the PIII (or Athlon). New methods were used to eliminate the risk of electro-migration and hot electron failures. No other consumer CPU has been built any where near this standard. The down side is the P4 cost more. The PIII also has fewer transistors and therefore uses less power. You should balance your choice with that in mind.

Myth: Wait for the P4 Xeon this fall.
Fact: The P4 Xeon is a server part that will never go in laptop (it uses a larger package for starters). The P4 Xeon has been shipping for a year so if you wait for this fall you might feel a little foolish. :>)

I have even seen reviewers say future P4s will support a GPS. Um, the CPU has nothing to do with having a GPS. A GPS is an add-on part just like a modem or a hard drive; any CPU will support one. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com Product Description

In many respects 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-S409 Notebook PC is a good solution for power-hungry business and personal users who can’t financially justify top-of-the-line gear.

Those who can’t live without the benefits of a full-featured stationary PC will find plenty to like in the Satellite P15-S409 Notebook. For starters, Toshiba has fitted the unit with a sizeable 15.4-inch widescreen display screen capable of dazzling 1280 by 800 resolutions. It has added a spacious 60 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.

Moreover, the unit is blazingly fast. Driving the Satellite P15-S409 Notebook 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 a full 2048 MB) and an NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5100 graphics chipset with 32 MB of dedicated video memory. Thusly, the system will handle most anything you can throw at it, including many 3-D games.

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, 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. Unlike some of today’s super-efficient ultra-lightweight notebooks, the Satellite P15-S409 Notebook features just 2.28 hours maximum battery life. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Great desktop replacement machine
I recently bought the Satellite P15-S409 and I'm very happy with it so far. The system configuration is excellent, the screen size and picture definition are very good, and the price beats most competing brands offering the same features. I considered buying the Dell 8600 which is a great machine too but the Toshiba P15 offered the 2.8GHz Pentium IV processor with HT, a SD memory card slot, and an extra USB2 port which is always useful.
There are only 3 issues with the P15 that if corrected would make of this a kick ass laptop: Replace XP Home with the Pro version, improve the sound system, and make it a little less bulky.
Other than that, the Toshiba P15 is a great buy and will most likely satisfy the needs of demanding users like myself.

Incredible
I purchased this laptop 3weeks ago. All I can say is--- it is absolutely a quality machine. Being a gateway customer for my previous computers, I was concerned about trying another brand. Well, NO LONGER.

The laptop is extremely quick (@ 2.8 HT p4) and the full-size keyboard is nice for long typing sessions. I can't possibly do the 15.4" widescreen justice with a description----you have to simply check it out at your local store! UNBELIEVEABLE! The look of the toshiba is sophisticated with a modern sleek look. The wireless 802.11g is backward compatible with b and worked easily with my d-links b router. The DVD player is as good as most home systems and the widescreen adds the extra flair of being in a theatre. You can't beat the rare front-loading DVD/CD RW-----finally someone figured it out! The DVD writer is essential, and being able to burn DVDs for back-up (wink, wink)is awesome. A 800mhz system front bus speed,60g HD, 512 MB memory,p4 hyper-threading and the numerous USB, s-video, etc... outputs makes this little man a portable media center. I have been plesantly surprised at the temp the laptop runs over long periods of time-----with a laptop table (a must to prevent overheating and to preserve your computer) it has yet to be uncomfortable

Yes, the battery life is short, but hey you're pushing quite a system here----buy an extra battery and "ta-da." The system is a little heavier than say a centrino system, but what is a pound or 2 when considering the ability of this machine. Tech support for questions about applications and specific info has been normal----call-in and on hold for 15mins, however, trouble shooting on-line is quicker.A warning to hard-core gamers the stock video card is not adequate for the ultra memory,video intense games. But then again, no hard-core gamer is looking at this type of system configuration! See alien-ware or sager.

Overall, I'm super surprised and satisfied with the p15. This is the total package. You must consider this before purchasing a laptop!

STRAIGHT TO THE FACT REVIEW ON THE P15-S409
I have had this laptop for over 6 months now. Here's my review:

PROs:
- Good lookin!
- Nice wide screen
- P4/ 2.8 GHZ/ 60GB HDD is great
- Love the DVD/CD burner

CONs:
- It comes with XP Home. It SHOULD have XP Pro. I had to upgrade mine, but you have to take care to upgrade it before you install SP1. This was a big issue for me.
- Battery life is about an hour. With P4 and all the applications, this is expected I guess.
- No INFRARED port!! I was disgusted when I found this out recently.
- Toshiba Support is NOT good. They do not even have a decent user forum on their site!!!

EVERYTHING else is fine. I love this laptop, despite its 3 shortcomings above.

Taking a chance from Argentina
It took me a long time to decide which Toshiba notebook model to chose. I had an old model Toshiba notebook that rendered excellent service through four years and I never thought of replacing it with any other brand notebook.
The P15-S409 has been an excellent choice. It is a very good combination of a relatively lower price with every service needed.
Wireless, DVD burner, an excellent 15.4" widescreen, an incredibly fast start up and downloading. There is practically no time delay in the printing process.
I use it for my business replacing my previous desk PC with
excellent results because it has a very easy to handle keyboard.
I took a big chance being from Argentina as I had the Toshiba sent by air freight. But a good packaging brought me a perfect working unit. As a matter of fact, Toshiba has a good service unit in my country. This is a highly recommendable notebook.

Istanbul Turkey Support + Bad DVD/CD Burner NOW at depot
I sincerely wish I had read the reviews HERE before I bought my Toshiba P15-S409 notebook PC.
Almost immediately after purchase on 2/4/04, the DVD Multi Drive failed, and unfortunately I was just over the 14-day Best Buy return period. Faced with getting it fixed, I was PROMISED by support (in Istanbul Turkey)that with "Depot" repair -- PROMISED that I would have it back, fixed, within 5 DAYS. As of today, 12 days, later, it sits in depot repair and the web status report says the repair is "ON HOLD" waiting for a backordered replacement DVD/CD drive. Complaints to their service people (also in Turkey) yield "canned" replies on the phone, polite, but completely unable to "escalate" to a US-based supervisor. They absolutely refuse to replace this BRAND-NEW MACHINE with another one.
Upon repair, I will put this machine up on E-bay and chalk it up as a bad mistake. Never again, will I ever, I repeat, ever buy a Toshiba product EVER again. Why don't these companies have a clue? Not only do they remove jobs from the US but they get really negative customer feelings, from poor support. My next letter will be to PC World "on your side". ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

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 highest level of performance. This model, the decidedly upscale Satellite P25-S670, is one of the most capable and exciting mobile computers ever manufactured and an ideal solution for those who tend to use their notebook in a limited number of locations.

At 16.4 by 11.5 by 1.8 inches and 9.9 pounds, the system is considerably bulkier than today's newest ultra-lightweight notebooks. Yet it is also much more proficient. A true multimedia powerhouse, the Satellite P25-S670 features such luxuries as a mammoth 17-inch widescreen 16:9 DVD-friendly display capable of dazzling 1440 by 900 resolutions. Toshiba 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.

If raw power is what you crave, the Satellite P25-S670 delivers with a top-of-the-line 3.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor (featuring Hyper-Threading Technology and a scorching 800 MHz system bus for more efficient CPU usage) and a 512 MB alloent of DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to a whopping 2048 MB). Though the rated speed of the RAM memory is only average, there's so much of it that you can multitask to your heart's content.

Toshiba has geared the Satellite P25-S670 to keep you upgrade-free for some time. To ensure you have enough storage space for all your files and a full multimedia or music library, the system includes a huge 80 GB hard disk. To keep you connected far into the future, it sports 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, two infrared ports for cord-free interaction with peripherals such as wireless PDAs, and two Type II and Type III PC Card slots. Communication facilities include 802.11a/g wireless networking for those times when you can't plug in, high-speed 10/100 Ethernet LAN and an integrated 56K modem.

The bundled software package features Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft's Works productivity suite, and a variety of multimedia utilities. Battery life expectancy is not particularly strong at 2.0 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.

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Amazon.com Product Description

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 highest level of performance. This model, the Satellite P25-S520, is just a step below the spectacular top-of-the-line Satellite P25-S670. For those who demand power and tend to use their notebook in a limited number of locations, it is an ideal solution.

At 16.4 by 11.5 by 1.8 inches and 9.9 pounds, the Satellite P25-S520 is considerably bulkier than today's newest ultra-lightweight notebooks. Yet it is also much more proficient. A true multimedia powerhouse, the system features such luxuries as a mammoth 17-inch widescreen 16:9 DVD-friendly display capable of dazzling 1440 by 900 resolutions. Toshiba 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.

If raw power is what you crave, the Satellite P25-S520 delivers with a scorching 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor (featuring Hyper-Threading Technology and an 800 MHz system bus for more efficient CPU usage) and a 512 MB alloent of DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to a whopping 2048 MB). Though the rated speed of the RAM memory is only average, there's so much of it that you can multitask to your heart's content.

Toshiba has geared the unit to keep you upgrade-free for some time. To ensure you have enough storage space for all your files and a full multimedia or music library, it includes a huge 80 GB hard disk. To keep you connected far into the future, it sports 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, two infrared ports for cord-free interaction with peripherals such as wireless PDAs, and two Type II and Type III PC Card slots. Communication facilities include 802.11g wireless networking for those times when you can't plug in, high-speed 10/100 Ethernet LAN and an integrated 56K modem.

The bundled software package features Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Microsoft's Works productivity suite, and a variety of multimedia utilities. Battery life expectancy is not particularly strong at 2.0 hours from the standard Lithium Ion cell. ... Read more