Toshiba Laptops and Netbooks
Last Modified: 04/02/2010
Toshiba have become a big maker of great, reliable mainstream notebooks and netbooks, as well as a popular line of business notebooks. Of all the major laptop manufacturers, Toshiba models were found to have the second-lowest rate of malfunction within three years at just 15.7%, only 0.1% lower than Asus, the top brand--that's a finding worth bragging about. Most Toshiba models come highly recommended from LaptopAdvisor, whether they're for personal computing or business use. They're not the sexiest computers out there, but they work well and rarely break. Double check the reviews on specific models before purchasing, of course, but in general, you can feel confident going with this brand. Here are some highlights among their current lineup.
Toshiba A505-S6980
from $899.00 Toshiba Satellite: Something For Any Casual User
A classic low-cost, mainstream notebook, the Toshiba Satellite is perfect for people who don't want to fuss with all sorts of crazy features and settings they'd never use. If you want to do the basics--word processing, web browsing, email, decent video, and even some light gaming--on a decent sized screen then this is all you need. Try the Satellite A505-S6980--you'll get a respectable 2.2 GHz Dual Core processor, 4 GB RAM, 15-inch screen, 500 GB hard drive, and pretty decent speakers and battery life for $600. That's a good deal.
Toshiba Tecra A11-S3530
from $1,128.99 Toshiba Tecra: Durable Business Notebooks
Built to take a beating, Toshiba's Tecra laptops are designed for high-intensity business users, who'll be lugging their notebook around with them all day, on the train or on a plane, in the office and out. The latest iteration is the A11 series. The $879 base model features a 15.6 inch LED-backlit screen that folds backward 180 degrees, a full numeric keypad, Intel Core i3 processor, a solid NVIDIA graphics card, 2 GB RAM, and a 250 GB hard drive. A solid option for business uses.
Toshiba Mini NB305-N410BN
from $367.95 Toshiba mini: More Than Just Another Netbook
Netbooks are a dime a dozen. Most run on the now-classic Intel Atom processor setup, which allows for decent performance and long battery life. The Toshiba mini NB305 is one of them (currently running on the newest Pine Trail iteration of Atom), but it has that certain je ne sais quoi, a certain something in the solid design that makes it seem more appealing than the average 10-inch ultraportable. Extras include a built-in webcam, mic, and multi-touch pad. As with any netbook, it does not include a DVD drive. The battery is said to last up to 11 hours on the NB305, making this a great option for netbooks. Available in four colors.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
LapTop Buying Tips
There are a lot of notebook buying guides designed to help an inexperienced user to buy the right notebook for his\her self. Most of these guides are good, some of them are not. Here is a notebook buying guide I like the most because it’s written on people’s language and not designed to sell you anything. This guide explains the difference between a budget notebook, a mainstream notebook and a gaming notebook and what you should expect from your laptop.
Here’s another helpful laptop buying guide.
From myself I would like to add some hardware related details you should think of before you buy a notebook computer.
Laptop AC Adapter:
Make sure to check the size of the AC adapter before you buy a laptop. Usually, you do not see the AC adapter before you buy the laptop and open the box at home. You’ll be very surprised to see that your AC adapter is half-size of your computer. I did this mistake when I bought Sony Vaio PCG-FRV26. The AC adapter wasn’t designed for a portable computer at all.
Volume Control:
If you like listen music a lot then you have to choose a laptop with some kind of a hardware sound volume control (sound volume buttons or sound volume wheel located on the laptop). I prefer a volume wheel like on most Toshiba laptops. The volume wheel gives you almost instant access to the sound level. If you do not have a hardware control, then the only way to change the sound volume is through the software settings; it takes some time.
Sound System:
This is again for music lovers. Make sure to find a laptop with a good sound system. In my opinion, Harman/Kardon system is one of the best. I have Harman/Kardon speakers on my HP Pavilion zv5430us and the sound is awesome. Sound on my Sony Vaio laptop sucks!
Laptop Memory Location:
The system board is one of the most important and most expensive parts of a notebook computer and you will get an advantage if you know what kind of the system board installed into the laptop. Some modern notebooks have memory integrated on the system board and offer only one extra memory slot to expand the memory size in the future. If onboard memory goes bad, you have to replace the entire system board. It’s OK if your laptop is still under warranty, but what if you have to pay cash for the repair? Also you cannot upgrade onboard memory. Other type of system boards do not have onboard memory, instead offer to you two memory slots on the system board. You will have to replace only the memory stick if it goes bad. System board with 2 memory slots usually can accept up to 2 GB of memory (1GB memory stick in each slot). So, if you plat to upgrade your laptop in the future, make sure that your laptop has both memory slots available for upgrade. Ask a sales person for details.
USB Port Location:
Check how USB ports are located on the laptop. If you plan to use USB devices like a wireless mouse, a flash drive or an external USB hard drive, then it would be nice to have couple USB ports on the side of your laptop not only on the back. Some laptops do not have USB ports on sides and to connect an USB device you have to turn the laptop.
Make sure that USB ports are not located too close to each other. Some older USB devices are big and when you plug it into one USB port, the second USB port becomes unusable.
Keyboard:
If you are a network administrator or have a job related to networking, then probably you use Windows run box a lot. To access the run box in Windows you use a shortcut (Windowd Key + R button). On some keyboards the Windows Key is located in the lower left corner, so you can use one hand to start it. On some keyboards the Windows Key is located in the upper right corner and to start the run box you have to use both hands. Choose the right keyboard for you. For some people it’s not a problem at all, but what if you use this shortcut hundreds times a day?
Parallel Port:
Very often this option is overlooked. If you plan to connect a printer to your laptop via a parallel port then you have to find a laptop with this option. Many modern laptops are designed for modern USB printers and they do not have the parallel port at all.
Laptop Warranty:
If you think that notebook computers do not fail or they fail only during the first year of exploitation, think again. In my opinion, an extended 3or 4 years warranty is a must for any notebook computer. For example I’ll give you approximate prices for some Toshiba Satellite A75 laptop parts if you decide to repair it in Toshiba Repair Center.
System board – from $400
LCD screen – from $550
Pentium CPU – from$300
CPU cooling fan – from $80
Keyboard- from $70
Do not forget to add labor charges -� from $60/hour
Laptop hardware is very specific and you cannot just buy it in any computer store. I am a laptop repair technician and I have 2 laptops at home. I bought an extended warranty for both my computers.
I would prefer to buy $800 laptop and pay $300 for extra 3 years warranty than to buy $1100 laptop with a standard 1 year warranty. Think about it.
Here’s another helpful laptop buying guide.
From myself I would like to add some hardware related details you should think of before you buy a notebook computer.
Laptop AC Adapter:
Make sure to check the size of the AC adapter before you buy a laptop. Usually, you do not see the AC adapter before you buy the laptop and open the box at home. You’ll be very surprised to see that your AC adapter is half-size of your computer. I did this mistake when I bought Sony Vaio PCG-FRV26. The AC adapter wasn’t designed for a portable computer at all.
Volume Control:
If you like listen music a lot then you have to choose a laptop with some kind of a hardware sound volume control (sound volume buttons or sound volume wheel located on the laptop). I prefer a volume wheel like on most Toshiba laptops. The volume wheel gives you almost instant access to the sound level. If you do not have a hardware control, then the only way to change the sound volume is through the software settings; it takes some time.
Sound System:
This is again for music lovers. Make sure to find a laptop with a good sound system. In my opinion, Harman/Kardon system is one of the best. I have Harman/Kardon speakers on my HP Pavilion zv5430us and the sound is awesome. Sound on my Sony Vaio laptop sucks!
Laptop Memory Location:
The system board is one of the most important and most expensive parts of a notebook computer and you will get an advantage if you know what kind of the system board installed into the laptop. Some modern notebooks have memory integrated on the system board and offer only one extra memory slot to expand the memory size in the future. If onboard memory goes bad, you have to replace the entire system board. It’s OK if your laptop is still under warranty, but what if you have to pay cash for the repair? Also you cannot upgrade onboard memory. Other type of system boards do not have onboard memory, instead offer to you two memory slots on the system board. You will have to replace only the memory stick if it goes bad. System board with 2 memory slots usually can accept up to 2 GB of memory (1GB memory stick in each slot). So, if you plat to upgrade your laptop in the future, make sure that your laptop has both memory slots available for upgrade. Ask a sales person for details.
USB Port Location:
Check how USB ports are located on the laptop. If you plan to use USB devices like a wireless mouse, a flash drive or an external USB hard drive, then it would be nice to have couple USB ports on the side of your laptop not only on the back. Some laptops do not have USB ports on sides and to connect an USB device you have to turn the laptop.
Make sure that USB ports are not located too close to each other. Some older USB devices are big and when you plug it into one USB port, the second USB port becomes unusable.
Keyboard:
If you are a network administrator or have a job related to networking, then probably you use Windows run box a lot. To access the run box in Windows you use a shortcut (Windowd Key + R button). On some keyboards the Windows Key is located in the lower left corner, so you can use one hand to start it. On some keyboards the Windows Key is located in the upper right corner and to start the run box you have to use both hands. Choose the right keyboard for you. For some people it’s not a problem at all, but what if you use this shortcut hundreds times a day?
Parallel Port:
Very often this option is overlooked. If you plan to connect a printer to your laptop via a parallel port then you have to find a laptop with this option. Many modern laptops are designed for modern USB printers and they do not have the parallel port at all.
Laptop Warranty:
If you think that notebook computers do not fail or they fail only during the first year of exploitation, think again. In my opinion, an extended 3or 4 years warranty is a must for any notebook computer. For example I’ll give you approximate prices for some Toshiba Satellite A75 laptop parts if you decide to repair it in Toshiba Repair Center.
System board – from $400
LCD screen – from $550
Pentium CPU – from$300
CPU cooling fan – from $80
Keyboard- from $70
Do not forget to add labor charges -� from $60/hour
Laptop hardware is very specific and you cannot just buy it in any computer store. I am a laptop repair technician and I have 2 laptops at home. I bought an extended warranty for both my computers.
I would prefer to buy $800 laptop and pay $300 for extra 3 years warranty than to buy $1100 laptop with a standard 1 year warranty. Think about it.
Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse
The Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse is a unique technology which Toshiba offering to its customers. It is a Blue Track technology that works on every place like carpet, table made of wood, granite computers and even on a rough, unfinished park bench. It provides a satisfactory and relaxation work during the work.
The specialty of blue track technology:
The special thing is that in mini mouse there is Blur track technology which works on more surfaces as compared to the optical and laser mice.
Working of Mini Mouse:
It is very easy to work with mini mouse because it can work on any surface and anywhere where is your notebook PC. With Blue Track technology, you can work more place than ever before like on granite computer, unfurnished table or bench, living room etc.
Design and ergonomic comfort:
The design of min in mouse is sophisticated and has a smart look. The glowing blue light effects and comfortable curved surface set you mouse anywhere. The blue lights effects are part of Explorer mini mouse which give noticeable look. In the mini mouse there is transceiver is a combination transmitter/receiver in a single package and snap in the transceiver to turn off the mouse, saves the battery life.
GHZ 30ft. wireless range:
You can control you computer from anywhere you want. There is no range restriction. You can use your computer with long-range wireless freedom .
4-Way Scrolling:
You can scroll the mouse 4 ways with great efficiency and easiness through Tilt Wheel technology . Scroll up and down—and side to side—more smoothly, efficiently, and easily with the innovative tilt wheel. It's simply a more efficient way to navigate documents, spreadsheets, and Web pages.
My point of View:
This versatility should come as a relief for jet-setters who don't want to lug around a mouse pad around with their hardware--now you can mouse on a variety of tabletops, carpets, and other rough or reflective textures. While these surfaces present a problem for traditional mice, the Explorer Mini scrolls beautifully across all of them.
The specialty of blue track technology:
The special thing is that in mini mouse there is Blur track technology which works on more surfaces as compared to the optical and laser mice.
Working of Mini Mouse:
It is very easy to work with mini mouse because it can work on any surface and anywhere where is your notebook PC. With Blue Track technology, you can work more place than ever before like on granite computer, unfurnished table or bench, living room etc.
Design and ergonomic comfort:
The design of min in mouse is sophisticated and has a smart look. The glowing blue light effects and comfortable curved surface set you mouse anywhere. The blue lights effects are part of Explorer mini mouse which give noticeable look. In the mini mouse there is transceiver is a combination transmitter/receiver in a single package and snap in the transceiver to turn off the mouse, saves the battery life.
GHZ 30ft. wireless range:
You can control you computer from anywhere you want. There is no range restriction. You can use your computer with long-range wireless freedom .
4-Way Scrolling:
You can scroll the mouse 4 ways with great efficiency and easiness through Tilt Wheel technology . Scroll up and down—and side to side—more smoothly, efficiently, and easily with the innovative tilt wheel. It's simply a more efficient way to navigate documents, spreadsheets, and Web pages.
My point of View:
This versatility should come as a relief for jet-setters who don't want to lug around a mouse pad around with their hardware--now you can mouse on a variety of tabletops, carpets, and other rough or reflective textures. While these surfaces present a problem for traditional mice, the Explorer Mini scrolls beautifully across all of them.
Qosmio X505-Q870
Performance
- Processor*
Intel® Core™ i7-720QM processor
- Operating System*
- Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
- Graphics Engine*
- NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 360M
- Graphics Memory*
- 2298MB total: 1GB GDDR5 discrete memory + up to 1274MB shared memory w/NVIDIA® TurboCache™ technology
Memory and Storage
- Memory*
- 4GB DDR3 1066MHz memory
- Hard Drive*
- 500GB HDD (7200rpm)
- Optical Drive*
- Blu-ray Disc™ ROM and DVD SuperMulti drive with Labelflash®
Audio and Video
- Display Size*
- 18.4" widescreen
- Display Type*
- HD+ TruBrite® TFT LCD display
- Display Resolution*
- Supports 720p content, 16:9 aspect ratio, 1680x945 (HD+)
- Audio
- Microphone jack (mono), Built-in microphone, Headphone jack (stereo), harman/kardon® stereo speakers, S/P DIF output port (shared with headphone port)
Communication
- Webcam
- Webcam and microphone built into LCD bezel
- Wireless LAN*
- Wi-Fi® Wireless networking (802.11b/g/n)
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth® V2.1 + EDR
- Modem
- No Modem port
- LAN
- 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN
Power
- AC Adapter
- 180W (19V x 9.5A) 100-240V AC Adapter
- Battery
- High Capacity Li-Ion (8000mAh, 12-Cell)
Expansion
- PC Express Slot
- 1-ExpressCard™ Slot
- Media
- S/P DIF output port (shared with headphone port), Memory Card Reader
- USB Ports*
- 3-USB (2.0), 1-eSATA/USB (2.0) combo port with Sleep and Charge
- iLINK
- i.LINK™ IEEE-1394
- HDMI
- HDMI-CEC (Regza Link™)
Software, Support and Security
- Security and Protection
- Security Cable Lock Slot
- Software*
- TOSHIBA ReelTime™, Microsoft® Windows Live Essentials including Photo Gallery, Messenger, Mail and Writer., Dolby® Home Theater®, Microsoft® Silverlight™ , Corel® DVD MovieFactory® for TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA PC Health Monitor, TOSHIBA ConfigFree®, WildTangent® Orb™ Games Console, TOSHIBA Hard Drive Impact Sensor (3D sensor), Hard disc (HDD) recovery, TOSHIBA Face Recognition, TOSHIBA Disc Creator, Microsoft® Works Version 9.0, TOSHIBA DVD Player, Norton Internet Security™ 2010 (30-day trial), Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 Edition (60-day trial), TOSHIBA Recovery Media Creator
- Standards*
- EPEAT™ Gold, RoHS Compliant, Energy Star Qualified
- Standard Limited Warranty*
- 1-Yr Parts and Labor, 1-Year Battery
Physical Description
- Inputs and Controls
- CD/DVD Buttons (Play/Pause, Stop, Prev Track, Next Track), Premium US LED backlit keyboard with 10-Key Pad (Black), TOSHIBA eco utility™ (Energy-saving mode), TouchPad™ pointing device with multi touch control, Media button, Mute button
- Weight*
- Starting at 9.70 lbs.
- Color
- Fusion® Finish in Omega Black
Qosmio X505-Q870 Laptop Features
- Quad-core Processor
- Experience unflinching performance when playing intense 3D games, creating and editing digital video, music and photos, and more.
- Resolution+™
- Upconverts your standard-def DVD content into sharper and more vibrant pictures that look and feel more like HD.
- Blu-ray™
- It's your ticket to brilliant HD movies on the go or splashed across a home theater with your laptop's advanced A/V connections.
- Webcam and Mic
- Built-in webcams and microphones let you chat face-to-face, collaborate with classmates, videoconference, and generally improve the way you interact with the world around you.
- LED Backlit Keyboard
- When the room's dim or the lights go down, you can keep right on typing thanks to these energy efficient keyboards.
- USB Sleep-and-Charge
- Power up your smart phone and other favorite portable electronic devices, even when your Toshiba is asleep or off.
- Face Recognition
- Experience a more convenient way to communicate, log on or share your laptop among the family.
- Bluetooth®
- Synch your smart phone and other portables, or expand your laptop entertainment potential with external speakers, headphones and more... all without cords.
- S/P DIF Digital Audio Port
- Tap into a home theater system to take advantage of big multi-speaker sound.
- 7200 RPM Hard Drive
- High-speed 7200RPM SATA hard drives give you quicker access to your files and multimedia, so you'll spend less time waiting and more time enjoying.
- Memory Card Reader
- Transfer files easily from our your digital camera, camcorder, MP3 player or smart phone, sharing home movies and playlists with SD cards, Memory Sticks and more.
- Numeric 10-key Pad
- Enjoy faster typing, smoother data entry and more convenient gaming commands with a full-size keyboard and a handy numeric 10-key pad.
- TouchPad with Multi-touch
- Enjoy the ability to pinch, swipe, rotate or scroll through images on the display screen with a simple brush of your fingers.
- eSATA USB Combo Port
- Experience faster data transfers when using an external hard drive. It's the ideal solution for smarter back-ups, or storing your growing media collection.
- Dolby Surround Sound Audio
- Experience full 5.1 surround sound on a home theater, or enjoy immersive virtual surround sound through headphones or the built-in laptop speakers.
- harman/kardon® speakers
- harman kardon stereo speakers bring an added dimension to music, movies and gaming with rich, immersive audio. Enjoy deeper, richer lows, crisper highs, and more lifelike conversations.
- Hard Drive Impact Sensor
- Safeguard your data by 'parking' the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement.
- Eco Utility
- Quickly adjust the settings and power plan of your laptop and monitor your ongoing power usage with just a click.
- Energy Star Compliant
- Engineered with respect to our planet, 93% of Toshiba laptops, netbooks and Tablet PCs have met the ENERGY STAR 4.0 standard since it was established in 2007.
- EPEAT™ Gold Compliant
- EPEAT™ Gold is the highest possible ranking of the acclaimed Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool which measures products across 51 different dimensions.
- 1GB Ethernet
- Plug right in and get access to the Web or other networks to work, communicate and enjoy yourself.
- Advanced/Discrete Graphics
- Dedicated graphics enliven and enhance the way you view movies, photos and games, all without robbing the performance you need to get other things done.
- PC Health Monitor
- Toshiba's PC Health Monitor alerts you to issues before they become problems, constantly gauging your machine's temperature and power usage, while checking the hard drive to help protect against shocks.
- 12-Cell Li-ion Battery Pack
- This rechargeable 12-Cell battery allows you to stay connected much longer while on the go.
- HDMI port
- Scale up your gaming, movies and music on a home theater - with full 1080p high-definition video, and amazingly immersive surround sound.
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