Toshiba Satellite P505D-S8930

Instead of just a flat solid color, Toshiba used its Fusion Finish on the P505D with its sonic pattern in black onyx. It's a light pinstripe pattern on a glossy black background on the lid, with palm rests, and speaker surround above the keyboard. The speakers sound great by the way, far above the laptop's budget price tag. The keyboard is large and comfortable with a full number pad on the right end. The keys are flat like a chiclet style keyboard, but they float above the tray so you'll have to watch your cookie crumbs.

They're also somewhat slick, making it slightly unpleasant to type on. Due to the glossy nature of everything, the laptop collects a lot of fingerprints. Overall, Toshiba Satellite P505D is a nice looking package and is certainly what a majority of its cost went to. To the right of the keyboard is a set of backlit touch sensitive media controls, the power button, and an Eco mode key. This mode significantly cuts back on power usage by cutting back on display brightness and other nonessential features.

It also shows a line graph to prove the power savings. The 18.4 inch wide screen LCD display offers a 1.680x945 native resolution, which is not standard for a screen this size. In fact, we've never tested a system with this size screen carrying such a low resolution. More standard for this size are resolutions of 1.920x1.080 or 1.900x1.200. Despite the lower resolution, the screen is good for just about anything you'll do on it, with decent color performance, brightness, and dynamic range. If those are two things you're interested in, you'll want to search out a P500 series laptop that actually has them.

Features

• Toshiba Satellite P505D-S8930 : Average for category (desktop replacement)
• Video VGA : VGA and HDMI or DisplayPort
• Audio Stereo : speakers, headphone/microphone jacks Stereo speakers with subwoofer, headphone and microphone jacks
• Data : 3 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, eSATA/USB, multi-format card reader 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader
• Expansion : ExpressCard 54
• Networking : Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, modem Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Optical drive : DVD burner
  

Ports for the most part are what we expect to find on a system in this price range. Only the eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port is an anomaly, but it's a good one and has Toshiba's sleep and charge feature for charging devices even when the computer's sleeping. Also, though there are spots for HDMI and DisplayPort connections on the left side, they have been plugged up.

If those are two things you're interested in, you'll want to check out another version of the P500 series that actually has them. Toshiba Satellite P505D-S8930 is a retail only fixed configuration, so what you get is what you get. However, the memory and hard drive compartments are easily accessed through the bottom of the case. This model comes with 4GB of memory, but can be expanded to 8GB total.

Toshiba Satellite L305-S5955

Last year's Toshiba Satellite L305-S5875, which cost $675 and was housed in a nearly identical case, came with a 200GB hard drive, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, and a 1.86GHz Pentium Dual-Core T2390. Therein lies the difference : this year's L305 has a 160GB hard drive, only 2GB of RAM, and an inferior Celeron 900 processor for nearly half the cost. In essence, it has the guts of a Netbook in a 15.4 inch laptop's body (the earliest Netbooks actually used Celeron chips, before Intel release the Atom processor).

While this laptop is fine for basic e-mail, media viewing, music playing, and other simple tasks, we wouldn't recommend it for any sort of multitasking or serious mission critical computing. It's already more than a bit of a dinosaur in 2009, and it won't get any less outdated, making it a questionable investment on the other hand, Windows 7 should run fine on it (although most new Vista Basic systems are ineligible for a free upgrade), and this could be the sort of bargain a low expectations consumer is looking for.

Features

• Price as reviewed / Starting price : $349
• Processor : 2.2GHz Intel Celeron 900
• Memory : 2GB, DDR2 800MHz
• Hard drive : 160GB 5,400rpm
• Chipset : Mobile Intel GM45
• Graphics : Intel GMA 4500MHD
• Operating System : Windows Vista Home Basic SP1
• Dimensions (WD) : 14.3x10.6 inches
• Height : 1.5 inches
• Screen size (diagonal): 15.4 inches
• System weight / Weight with AC adapter : 5.92 / 6.78 pounds
• Category : Mainstream
  

The next question you may have is : "Why wouldn't I just buy a Netbook?" To that, we say: it depends on whether a larger screen and keyboard matter to you. Netbooks are considerably more portable, and an Atom processor doesn't make much of a computing difference compared with the Celeron 900 in Toshiba Satellite L305-S5955. However, many budget Netbooks have compromised keyboard sizes, and screens that might be too limiting for power users. Also, the L305-S5955 runs Vista as opposed to Windows XP. Take that as you will. We also find there's a sizable psychological factor : small Netbooks come with one set of expectations attached, while users expect larger laptops no matter how low powered or inexpensive to behave more or less like standard mainstream systems.

Toshiba Satellite L305-S5955 will never be confused for a Netbook from the outside, however. At 1.5 inches thick, it's one of the beefier nongaming laptops on the market. The muted blue gray exterior is prone to fingerprint smears, but the plastic feeling lid is solid. There's a full size keyboard with tapered keys, and six physical media control buttons that aren't backlit. Volume control, like with the similar Toshiba L505D-S5965, is operated via a wheel at the front of the laptop, under the touch pad.

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210

Toshiba Mini NB205-N210's footprint (10.4 by 8.4 0.8 inches, HWD) would have been roughly the size of the Samsung N120 (12GBK) (10.7 by 7.4 by 1.2 inches, HWD) and Asus EeePC 1000HE (10.3 by 7.3 by 1.1 inches) had it not been for the extended battery that sticks out by about an inch (The other two have extended batteries that protrude downward from the base). It's as thin as the Acer D250-1165 (10.3 by 7.4 by 0.8 inches) and exactly the same size as the more expensive NB205.

The glossy black plastics aren't breaking any molds, design wise, and the design even has a name Fusion Edition which Toshiba uses to exaggerate a basic In mold process (plastics infused with patterns) used in netbooks like the HP Mini 110 (1030us) and Lenovo IdeaPad S12. The money you save buying Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 instead of Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 won't get you the choice of colors (Brown, Pink, and Blue) and textures that are available with the latter. The common 10 inch widescreen is another reason why Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 is more affordable than most netbooks (It's rumored that Intel charges extra for straying from this size).

Case in point
There's a price premium for 12 inch netbooks like the Lenovo Ideapad S12 and Samsung NC20 (21GBK). This size also means that the screen is limited to 1.024 by 600 resolution, like you'd find on other netbooks with 10 inch screens such as Toshiba Mini NB205-N210, Asus EeePC 1000HE, and HP Mini 110. There areexceptions, though the HP Mini 5101 has an option for a 1.366 by 768 resolution ($25), and the Sony VAIO VPC-W11XX comes standard with it, but at a cost ($500 for the entire netbook).

Paying slightly less for Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 than the NB205 also means a smaller keyboard. The 93% keyboard isn't terrible and brings back the classic look when every other netbook is trending to those that have isolated keys. My only gripes are that the Control, Alt, and Fn keys (I'm a big Windows shortcut guy) are half the size of the main ones (adding the tilda key to the same row caused this aberration), and it pales in comparison to full size typing experiences found on Toshiba Mini NB205-N210, Samsung N120 (12GBK), and Lenovo IdeaPad S12.

Both it and Toshiba Mini NB205-N210 have the best navigating experiences on a netbook. The 1.67GHz Intel Atom N280 processor is the natural progression for netbook makers that used Atom processors in earlier products, and 1GB of memory, 160GB, 5400rpm hard drive, and Intel GMA 950 graphics are nothing out of the ordinary. That said, performance scores video encoding and SYSMark 2007 Preview ones, specifically were in line with those of Toshiba Mini NB205-N210, Samsung N120, and Asus 1000HE. There's really no performance advantages here until netbook makers make 2GB of memory standard, or include Nvidia's Ion graphics platform (for better 3D graphics).

Toshiba U405D

Toshiba refers to the current Satellite design as a "Horizon" pattern in a "Fusion" finish, which basically means silver gray and black pinstripes that combine for a distinct metallic sheen. It's a smart look that will work in both casual and professional settings, but the lid is far too fingerprint prone, as are the glossy keyboard keys. We did, however, like that the touch pad is totally flush with the wrist rest using a different, matte surface material for the touch pad, so you can still easily discern the active area.

The most interesting feature is something called Sleep and Charge, which means you can plug in and charge USB devices (iPods, mobile phones, and so on) even if the laptop is in sleep or hibernate mode (and even if it is unplugged, though it will drain the battery). And you can power USB devices when the laptop is totally powered off, too, as long as it's plugged into an outlet. Most laptops provide power to USB ports only while they're turned on.

Note that this feature is turned off by default for some reason, and you'll have to hunt around to figure out how to turn it on, as it's buried in a series of submenus.

The 13 inch wide screen LCD offers a 1,280x800 pixel native resolution, which is standard for a screen this size and larger 14 and 15 inch models.

We generally prefer matte finishes on laptops screens, but didn't mind the glossy display on the U405, (or Toshiba's other Satellites) as it seemed more resistant to excessive glare than other glossy screens.

Specification

• Toshiba U405D-S2852 Average for category mainstream
• Video VGA-out VGA-out, S-Video
• Audio Stereo speakers, headphone or microphone jacks Stereo speakers, headphone and microphone jacks
• Data 2 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, SD card reader 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader
• Expansion ExpressCard/54, eSATA ExpressCard/54
• Networking Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN
• Optical drive DVD burner DVD burner
  

As on the previous U405 we looked at, there's a labeled spot for an HDMI output, but it's plugged shut, leaving only the VGA output for video. There's no Bluetooth, but at least there's an eSATA port for connecting an external hard drive and an ExpressCard slot. In all the systems we've looked at in our Holiday Retail Laptop Roundup, those with AMD CPUs have consistently underperformed Intel powered laptops in the same price range.

This was also true of the U405, which had a 2.1GHz GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core RM-72. It was noticeably slower than the Dell Studio S1535-143B and the Asus X83VB-X1, both of which have Intel's midrange 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 for roughly the same price.

Toshiba L355D

The Satellite L355D-S7825's lid is a glossy, solid indigo color (Toshiba calls it "onyx blue") and its interior is glossy black. The overall effect is subdued, but elegant the laptop looks far more expensive than its $699 price. Both the lid and the base feature rounded corners that help the laptop appear smaller than it is though its 7.1 pound weight places it in the mainstream category, the Satellite L355D-S7825 has a larger footprint than other mainstream laptops.

In exchange for taking up more space on your desk, the Satellite L355D-S7825 offers a broad, 17.1 inch wide screen display. With a 1.440x900 pixel native resolution, the screen is great for Web browsing and watching movies however, its glossy coating results in some distracting reflections when working in brightly lit environments. We like the keyboard on the Satellite L355D-S7825 it's roomy and provides a comfortable typing experience.

The laptop's broad case also provides space for a 10 key number pad, which can be useful for entering data or playing games. The touch pad is flush with the wrist rest but not so sensitive that you'll accidentally graze the pad while typing. Otherwise, the Satellite L355D-S7825's keyboard deck is an exercise in minimalism there's no fingerprint reader or application launch buttons, just a row of buttons across the top that control media playback and mute the sound. (Volume is adjusted with a handy wheel on the laptop's front edge.)

Specification

• Toshiba Satellite L355-S7825 Average for mainstream category
• Video VGA-out VGA-out, S-Video
• Audio Stereo speakers, headphone or microphone jacks Stereo speakers, headphone or microphone jacks
• Data Three USB 2.0, multiformat memory card reader Four USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, multiformat memory card reader
• Expansion ExpressCard PC Card
• Networking modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi modem, Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth
• Optical drive DVD burner with Labelflash DVD burner
  

The Satellite L355D-S7825 offers a rather basic feature set that's acceptable for a budget system. Toshiba does omit the mini FireWire and S-Video connectors we'd expect to see on a laptop of this size, but neither omission is glaring. However, we were disappointed in the laptop's stereo speakers, which emit just muddled sound headphones are pretty much required for enjoying music or movies on this system.

Toshiba A305-S6872

The Satellite A305-S6872 features Toshiba's "Horizon" case pattern in a "Fusion" finish, which basically means silver gray with pinstripes that resemble an optical illusion. The finish is almost mirror like, and even light handling will leave major fingerprints all over it. The case's rounded corners resemble the HP Pavilion dv6915nr, and the two systems are nearly identical in size.

At 6.4 pounds with the included nine cell battery, the Satellite A305-S6872 is a reasonable weight to carry on occasional trips but too heavy to carry every day. The stripes continue inside the case, both along the sides of the keyboard and on the wrist rest (even the touch pad has a subtle striped design). The keys are made of very glossy plastic that fits the aesthetic but is so shiny, it can be distracting.

Fortunately, the keyboard is comfortable; with your eyes closed it feels like any other nearly full size board. The touch pad is likewise roomy, though we were annoyed by the glowing white stripe across the top of the pad, which seems to be just decoration (we thought maybe it would change colors if the touch pad were disabled, but no dice).

We took some consolation in the fact that it along with other distractingly illuminated case elements, a Satellite logo in the bottom left hand corner and a row of touch sensitive media controls above the keyboard can be turned off using Toshiba's HWSetup utility.

The 15.4 inch wide screen LCD display offers a 1,280x800 native resolution, which is standard for a screen this size. The display's glossy finish produces rich colors and contrast we found it minimally distracting while surfing the Web and typing email, but quite enjoyable for movie watching. A Webcam above the display lets users conduct video chats.

Other Features

• Video VGA out, Webcam VGA out, S-Video
• Audio Stereo speakers, headphone or microphone jacks Stereo speakers, headphone or microphone jacks
• Data 3 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, mulitformat memory card reader, eSATA port 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader
• Expansion ExpressCard/54 ExpressCard
• Networking modem, Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN
• Optical drive DVD burner DVD burner

Toshiba Qosmio G55-Q802

Instead, the $1,549 Qosmio G55 adds a handful of genuinely unique extras, which run from gimmicky to useful under certain, limited circumstances. The 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 is joined by a second Cell processor (just like the chip powering the PlayStation 3). Toshiba calls this combo "Quad Core HD," and uses the extra horsepower to power both a Webcam based gesture control system and accelerated video encoding (as long as you're using the prescribed software).

Neither addition is going to be of much use to casual consumers, but we can see limited circumstances where specific tasks encoding lots of HD video to DVD would make the G55 worth a look, and note that the non Blu-ray versions of Acer's and HP's 18 inch laptops cost around the same, even without the extra processing power.

Specification

• Price as reviewed / Starting price $1,549
• Processor 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 (plus 1.5GHz Cell processor)
• Memory 4GB, 800MHz DDR2
• Hard drive 250GB 5,400rpm (x2)
• Chipset Mobile Intel P45 Express Chipset
• Graphics 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT
• Operating system Windows Vista Premium (64 bit)
• Dimensions (WDH) 17.8x12.2x1.9 inches
• Screen size (diagonal) 18.4 inches
• System weight or Weight with AC adapter 10.7/12.1 pounds
• Category Desktop replacement
  

Easily the biggest and bulkiest of the current crop of 18 inch laptops at nearly 2 inches thick and almost 11 pounds, the G55 dwarfs the (relatively) smaller HP HDX18 and Sony Vaio AW170.

The system's glossy (and fingerprint prone), pinstriped design resembles the recently revamped Satellite line, but the chassis itself has the same clamshell look, with the edges of the lid curling in slightly, as on the 17 inch Qosmio X305-Q701.

It's not for those without ample desktop space, but the G55 also feels solid as a rock. The full keyboard and separate number pad are typical for Toshiba which is to say very glossy.

The keys themselves are comfortable and easy to use, but there's a bit too much flex around the middle of the keyboard. A row of standard touch sensitive media control buttons sit above the keyboard, but we're much more excited about the small volume control jogwheel that's on the lower left side of the keyboard tray. We always find jogwheels easier to use and more responsive than volume up and down buttons, or touch sensitive volume sliders (which never respond fast enough for our tastes).

The 18.4 inch wide screen LCD display offers a 1,680x945 pixel native resolution, which is a bit of a mystery. Every other 18 inch laptop we've seen has a 1,920x1080 pixel resolution, which is a natural match with the 16:9 aspect ratio and 1080p HD content. The G55 also lacks the Blu-ray drive that the other 18 inch laptops we've reviewed all carry as standard equipment. However, since Toshiba laptops were saddled with HD DVD drives for long past that format's useful life, we can call this progress, of a sort.

Other Features

• Video VGA out, HDMI VGA out, S-Video, HDMI
• Audio Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks, S/PDIF jack Stereo speakers with subwoofer, headphone/microphone jacks.
• Data 4 USB 2.0, mini FireWire, multiformat memory card reader, eSATA 4 USB 2.0, mini FireWire, SD card reader
• Expansion ExpressCard/54 ExpressCard/54
• Networking modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth
• Optical drive DVD burner DVD burner or Blu-Ray
  

The G55's two most interesting features are its gesture controls and its extra processing power for video editing and encoding. Both features make use of what Toshiba calls "Quad Core HD," which means the standard Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 working with a second processing chip. That chip, essentially the same Cell processor found in the PlayStation 3 (and originally co-developed by IBM, Sony, and Toshiba), has a clock frequency of 1.5GHz.

Toshiba Satellite Pro U400-S1001X

The Satellite Pro U400-S1001X will fit into any business environment, with its dull silver lid and keyboard deck, black screen bezel, and black keyboard. It uses the same chassis as the consumer oriented Satellite U405, but removes the multimedia control keys above the keyboard and the glossy Fusion finish. Branding is kept to a minimum, with a simple Toshiba logo on the center of the lid, another smaller Toshiba logo below the screen, and a tiny Satellite Pro logo on the front left corner. Despite its lack of dedicated multimedia control keys, an always appreciated volume dial resides along the front edge between a media card slot and Wi-Fi power switch.

Specification

• Price as reviewed / Starting price $1,049
• Processor 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100
• Memory 1GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz
• Hard drive 160GB, 5400rpm
• Chipset Mobile Intel 965GM Express
• Graphics Intel GMA X3100
• Operating system Windows XP Pro
• Dimensions (width by depth) 12.4x9.0 inches
• Thickness 1.2 to 1.4 inches
• Screen size (diagonal) 13.3 inches
• System weight and weight with AC adapter 4.6 / 5.5 pounds
• Category Thin and light
  

Like the first Satellite Pro laptop we reviewed, the 15-inch A210, the 13 inch U400 feels very solid, from the two sturdy hinges that anchor the display to the firm keyboard deck. The keys themselves offer good travel, and even a heavy handed typist like myself didn't feel much flex when banging away on the keys. I'm also known to be driven slightly insane by a laptop's loud mouse buttons (I'm looking at you Sony Vaio NR498), so I experienced something akin to what might be described as euphoria when I first encountered the U400's mouse buttons.

OK, euphoria might be overstating it a bit, but the fact remains that the mouse keys offer excellent feel with just the right amount of travel and a barely audible click when fully pressed. Between the two mouse buttons is a fingerprint scanner. The touch pad is a compact 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches and, sadly, it lacks the vertical scroll function that many have come to rely on, including myself.

The 13.3 inch display offers a 1,280x800 pixel native resolution, which is standard for a screen this size. We were surprised to find the same glossy screen coating as found on its consumer cousin, the Satellite U405. For business use working under bright fluorescent lights or in a sun filled airport gate we generally prefer a screen with a matte finish, which reduces glare and reflections.

Above the display sits a 1.3 megapixel Webcam and mic for easy video conferencing. We generally have low expectations for laptop speakers and lower those for the audio output of business laptops. Yet, the Satellite Pro U400 fell short of our meager expectations, with the tinniest and weakest audio output. For both music and movies, you'll want to make use of the laptop's headphone jack.

The Toshiba Satellite Pro U400-S1001X serves up a standard collection of ports and connections similar to what we saw on the Satellite U405 but minus an eSATA port. There's a placeholder on the left edge for an HDMI port, but it sits empty on this business machine; your only video out option is the analog VGA port.