Toshiba Satellite A205-S7468 15.4-inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5250, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)

I purshased this item in July of 2008. This was my first computer purchase, so I don't have a lot 2 compare it too. Despite my limited experience, I am thoroughly pleased with this laptop. It is very easy 2 use & has satisfied all of my needs as a college student. On a side note, I really like is the size of the keyboard. I recommend this computer 4 anyone who is looking 4 an easy-to-use computer that can meet any basic need with fair speed & processing capabilities.

Seems fast enough, even with Vista. THe only thing I don't like so far are the status indicator lights on the lip below where your wrists rest....they are WAY TOO BRIGHT. IN a dim room, it is very distracting. I wish there was a way 2 turn them off or dim them...

first of all, i didn't have any problems with anything in my order.
i purchased it few days before i travel so i needed 2 get it on the right time that i chose. it came in the estimate date.

second of all, it came perfectly.. exactly the one that i picked with its manual, dvd with the back up of the windows vista & the other things 2 use in case of need 2 restore the computer.
i'm using it now! a really good computer! i'm architecture student & i use a lot of heavy programs & it's working really good!
that's it! & i think this store is reliable!

I purchased this computer because my Vaio 1G FS 660 tended 2 be a bit slow when having Itunes, word, & Photo
shop running at the same time, so I thought this Core Duo 2 with 2 G would fly, but it is darn slow, & I am very likely 2 delet Vista & install XP

I purchased this laptop right before I traveled overseas 2 Taiwan. I was looking 4 something compact, reliable, & easy 2 use. I couldn't have asked 4 anything better.

This is my first experience with a notebook, & 4 the price (maybe 40% more than a comparable desktop?), it's been wonderful. The dual core processor & 2GB of RAM make it easy 2 run multiple applications. I was a little worried about the reliability of Windows Vista, but 4 the most part it's been fine. The automated online updates sometimes cause a few glitches, but they're usually easy 2 remedy.

I've become an avid fan of Toshiba products & would reccomend this 2 any price-conscious buyer who's looking 4 something reliable & quality-built.

Stylishly accented with an onyx blue metallic LCD cover, the Toshiba Satellite A205-S7468 notebook PC is a great blend of multitasking productivity, multimedia prowess, & efficiently powered portability. It features a large, bright 15.4-inch XGA-resolution LCD (1280 x 800)--perfect 4 viewing multiple application screens or watching widescreen movies on DVD. It's also great 4 using as a media center, with Toshiba's unique Express Media Player enabling you 2 bypass the system & access CDs & DVDs with a touch of button. This notebook also incorporates an HD DVD drive that's compatible with the new high-definition DVD disc format. Enjoy amazingly crisp & vibrantly colorful imagery from this new format. You'll also be able 2 burn a wide range of disc formats with the integrated DVD/CD burner.

This notebook is powered by the 1.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, which offers a 20 percent performance boost over its predecessor while using 28 percent less power--so you get the benefit of a powerful dual-core PC plus all the benefits of mobility. It includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect 2 draft 802.11n routers & offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. It also includes a 200 GB hard drive, 2 GB of RAM, Intel GMA X3100 video card with up 2 358 MB of shared video RAM, webcam integrated onto the bezel 4 video conferencing, & four USB ports 4 easy connections 2 all your peripherals.

This PC also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities 4 turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition 2 easily playing your DVD movies & managing your digital audio library, you'll be able 2 record & watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, & offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor has a 1.5 GHz processor speed, fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), & large 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; & a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU & RAM, & a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized 4 multitasking & is ready 2 support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth 2 provide data 2 the processor when & where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed 4 instructions used widely in multimedia & graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology & idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core 2 help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data 2 system memory during periods of inactivity 2 lower CPU voltage.

• Hard Drive: The 200 GB Serial ATA hard drive provides more than enough capacity 4 storing a large audio & video library, as well as extra space required 4 video editing. However its 4200 RPM speed is a bit slower than current standard hard drives. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin 2 FireWire & USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1 GB DDR2, PC5300) is an excellent start, but you'll want 2 add more RAM 2 handle today's demanding multimedia & productivity suites. It provides two DIMM slots & has a large 4 GB maximum RAM capacity. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed.

• DVD/CD Drive: This Satellite notebook offers the next generation of DVD entertainment with the HD DVD ROM optical drive, which provides the superior image & sound quality of high-definition images & multichannel surround sound as well as backward compatibility with standard DVD movie discs & content burned onto DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM. It also incorporates a multi-format DVD/CD burner, which is compatible with dual-layer (DL) discs that can hold up 2 8.5 GB of data. It features the following speeds: 2.4x DVD+R DL, 2x DVD-R DL, 4x 4 both single-layer DVD+R/-R, 4x DVD+RW, 4x DVD-RW, 3x DVD-RAM, & 24x/10x 4 CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x & CD-ROMs at 24x.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard & electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers CD/DVD media player & control buttons (play, stop, next, previous) as well as a volume control dial.

Screen, Video & Audio
This notebook has a 15.4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (native 720p 4 high-definition viewing). It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter & more vivid thanks 2 its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which uses shared video memory (up 2 358 MB allocated from the system memory) & provides Windows Vista Aero interface support & enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, & customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready 4 the next platform in wireless connectivity with this notebook's integrated quad-mode Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up 2 five times the performance & twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers & Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great 4 closed office environments). It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (though no standard PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, & lighter expansion cards 4 even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, & security features. You get a good offering of connectivity options:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports 4 connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras 2 MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port 4 connecting digital video camcorders & other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video port 4 connecting 2 a TV
• 1 ExpressCard 54/34
• Stereo headphones/speakers/line-out; microphone/line-in

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) & an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection 2 networks & DSL/cable modems).

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system 4 users with advanced computer needs, & it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities 4 turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center 4 watching DVD movies & accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center 2 record & watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) & 2 access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium & an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you 2 access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever 2 share files between other PCs in your household & 2 manage your laptop computer settings 2 more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools & technologies 2 help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting 2 a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you 2 manage & monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, & other activities.

Preloaded Software
Microsoft Works 8.5, InterVideo WinDVD 8, Google Desktop & Picasa, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5, McAfee Internet Security Suite (30-day trial), & Microsoft Office 2007 Home & Student Edition (60-day trial).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.3 x 10.5 x 1.55 inches (WxDxH, & it weighs 6 pounds.

Power
It comes with a 4000 mAH lithium-ion battery pack 4 extra-long battery life.

What's in the Box
This package contains the A205-S7468 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, & operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.