Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I hate laptops. The idea of a computer you can misplace is anathema to me. When I had to buy a laptop, therefore, I essentially bought a desktop with a carrying case. That, in a nutshell, is the 18.4" Toshiba Satellite. It is far too heavy to really be considered "portable." It is big, powerful, has a gorgeous screen, and generally does a very nice job of trying to fool me into thinking I have a desktop computer.
The keyboard lights up, which is a very nice feature. The keys are full-sized and easy to press. The biggest drawback with the keyboard is the series of multimedia buttons on the side of the keyboard. They are FAR too easy to press accidentally, which means a stray finger can unintentionally mute your sound, change the volume, dim the screen, etc. Also, pressing one of those buttons results in a loud beep, even if the laptop is on mute.
One of those annoying buttons on the side of the keyboard is for "eco-mode." Despite the fact that the laptop has an 18" monitor which, at the time of my writing this, is the largest monitor for any laptop on the planet, Toshiba has somehow managed to earn an "Energy Star" rating for this behemoth. The eco-mode dims the monitor somewhat and stops the keyboard from lighting up. In bright sunlight, this mode is unacceptably dim. Otherwise, it worked fine. Even without eco-mode, however, this computer somehow manages to typically use less than 75 watts of power, which means it uses about the same energy as one incandescent light bulb. Quite remarkable, when you think about it.
Despite the "Energy Star" rating, the battery life on this laptop is pathetic. Coaxing even an hour without being plugged in is a stretch. DO NOT buy this laptop if you plan to use it routinely in places where plugs are scarce. As for heat, this laptop runs remarkably cool. Even after several hours of intensive use, it was cool enough to place on my bare legs.
The speakers are Harman/Kardon, which is shorthand for "much better than your typical laptop speakers." I used to plug my laptop into my stereo system at home, but I found that that was absolutely unnecessary. Even for hardcore gaming, the speakers did an adequate job by themselves.
The best feature of the monitor is its size. The picture is crisp, although it had trouble in direct sunlight. It renders at 780, not 1080. My understanding, however, is that to truly appreciate a 1080 resolution, you need a large monitor--like 37"+. I certainly never have had any complaints about picture quality, even when streaming movies from Netflix.
There are connectors all over the place, including an HDMI input, which means you can hook your laptop to your HD television and watch video from it. This is a nice feature; I use Netflix streaming video a lot, and it made it simple to watch the video on my larger TV set. Also, one of the USB ports has a neat feature that allows you to draw power from it even when the laptop is turned off. This means you don't need to turn on your laptop in order to recharge your phone.
The touchpad is large and easy to use. No complaints there. I am not a huge fan of touchpads (once again, my anti-laptop snobbery rears its ugly head), so I used a bluetooth mouse most of the time. The bluetooth functionality on this laptop is very good.
Toshiba sells this as a gaming computer. This is something of a misnomer. They have a true gaming laptop, the Qosmio. A quick glance at the specs of this computer makes it clear that it is really a high-performance computer, and not perfectly suited for gaming. The graphics card is decent but not great, and the hard drive is a little slow. That said, most games will play on it. I had no trouble with even some of the latest titles, such as Dragon Age: Origins. The biggest problem was that there would be a longer-than-appropriate pause when the game would load a saved game or enter a new area. Once the game actually started, the graphics were acceptably smooth. I did not test it on some of the real computer-killers like Crysis or Fallout, since I am not a first-person shooter kind of guy. I did play some online games like Guild Wars and World of Warcraft, and was pleased with both the wireless connection and the graphics.
To sum up...
PROS: Monitor, Backlit Keyboard, Powerful, Great Speakers
CONS: Multimedia Buttons, Battery Life
Is this the right laptop for you? It depends on your needs. If you want a portable computer that can be taken anywhere on a moments' notice, then you need to look elsewhere. If you are looking for a desktop replacement, or a high-performance computer with decent gaming capability, this may be your next computer.
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Toshiba Satellite P505D-S8000 TruBrite 18.4-Inch Laptop (Black/Silver)Toshiba Satellite P505D: Exceptional Power and Extra-Large 18.4-Inch ScreenWith exceptional power, features and room, the Toshiba Satellite P505D-S8000 is a portable alternative to a desktop computer with its extra-large 18.4-inch screen--giving you the freedom to work and create, plus super-size your music, 3D games, photos, movies and more. The bright 18.4-inch TruBrite LCD has an HD+ native resolution (1680 x 945) and the P505 is great for using as a media center with the touch-sensitive media keys placed above the keyboard.
Thanks to the built-in webcam and Toshiba Face Recognition software on this machine, you'll enjoy a more convenient way to communicate, log on or share your laptop among the family. Other high-tech features include a power-saving Eco Button to help reduce power consumption based on your needs, USB Sleep-and-Charge port, a hard drive impact sensor that protects your data, and a dual-layer DVD±RW drive that burns CDs and offers Labelflash print functionality. And it's sure to stand out in the crowd thanks to the stunning Fusion Finish with Sonic pattern in Black Onyx.
Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.
Key Features
18.4-inch high-definition, LED-backlit TruBrite display (1680 x 945) for amazing color depth and clarity
2.3 GHz AMD Turion II Dual-Core Mobile M520 processor with 1 MB L2 cache for excellent multi-tasking. And it's designed to handle simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing with no degradation in performance.
500 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) with an impact sensor that helps safeguard your data by "parking" the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement.
4 GB of RAM (800 MHz; upgradeable to 8 GB)
ATI Radeon HD 4200 graphics with up to 1918 MB of dynamically allocated shared graphics memory.
8x SuperMulti DVD drive with double layer support and Labelflash printing, which enables you to personalize your discs and keep them looking attractive and organized with direct-to-disc laser printing.
Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for greater speed and range.
1.3 megapixel webcam with Face Recognition capabilities for added security. And if you're using one laptop for several users--say for the whole family or for a small business--Toshiba Face Recognition lets you switch profiles with one simple look.
Harman Kardon stereo speakers bring an added dimension to music, movies and gaming with rich, immersive virtual surround sound.
Dolby Sound Room combines a suite of technologies to deliver truly stunning virtual surround listening from your two laptop speakers, or on headphones for a more immersive private performance. You'll savor super-realistic dialogue and explosions, along with deeper, fatter bass and brighter treble tones.
Fast Ethernet (10/100)
5-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Multi Media Card, xD Picture Card
ExpressCard (34/54) slot lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features.
Four total USB ports with 1 eSATA/USB combo port that also features Sleep and Charge capabilities, allowing you to charge your mobile phone and other devices even when the notebook is asleep or off.
VGA video output
Enjoy proactive PC health--without the worry. For your peace mind, this laptop comes with an innovative PC Health Monitor that constantly keeps tabs on things like your machine's power usage, temperature and hard drive--so you won't have to.
Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
Pre-loaded software includes Microsoft Works SE 9.0 for word processing and spreadsheet work. Enjoy a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007.
6-cell (4000 mAh) battery
Weight: 8.7 pounds
Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.6 x 1.63 inches (WxDxH)
Warranty: One-year limited hardware warranty
Energy Star 5.0 certified
Gold EPEAT designation for meeting standards to help reduce its environmental impact.
RoHS compliant effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances
What's in the Box This package contains the Toshiba Satellite P505D-S8000 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.
It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2010 (30-day trial), Toshiba PC Health Monitor, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Edition (60-day trial), Windows Media Player, Google Toolbar, WildTangent Orb Game Console
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