Toshiba Satellite A305-S6839 15.4" Laptop (Intel Centrino 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium)

A solidly built laptop, this computer has a pleasing sturdy feel 2 it & very well-arranged controls. For day-to-day activities it has plenty of computational horsepower & the screen is quite bright. Harmon Kardon speakers give great sound & volume 4 their compact size. USB ports are conveniently located on the sides where you can access them--which also makes them easier 2 bump. We purchased the machine 2 be our primary home computer 2 pay bills, balance the books, surf the internet, etc. We also play an occasional game. We have found this 2 be an excellent & reliable machine & we recommend it without reservations. Last, the white lighting scheme on the keyboard is very cool & helps you get your bearings in low light conditions.

I have the Satellite A305-S6858. Overall the computer works nicely, but the touchpad is burning hot. I asked Toshiba if there's a particular temperature it should not exceed but they were not able 2 answer my question over the phone. They gave me an authorized dealer 2 go 2 which I will do next week. After looking on the Internet, apparently others experience the same thing. This happens whether or not it's plugged in or running on battery. I spend a lot of time on my computer & do not want 2 use an external mouse. I wonder if there's anything that can be done. Even using a chillpad doesn't make a difference.

I've had this computer 4 about 6months now & I'm pleased 2 say it was the best buy I could have ever imagined. The only issue I have had was with the OS & it is the same issue you'll find with anyone who owns Vista, driver compatibility. After doing the appropriate research & acquiring all the necessary software upgrades, this computer has really taken off.

So my suggestion 2 anyone out there with computer issues, look at the OS (in this case Vista) it's still very touchy. But 2 be honest, once you work the initial bugs out, update the software & drivers, everything seems great. The best places 4 software & driver updates are at the manufactures of the individual hardware components. Also, 4 software updates, try [...]. It's a freeware site that collects software updates directly from the manufactures. The site is clean & I've talked 2 quite a few computer goo-groos who swear by it.

Good Luck & I hope I've helped.

I bought my Toshiba Satellite less than 3 months ago. The damn piece of junk already broke 4 the third time w/ THE SAME issue - faulty hard drive that keeps crashing.
The first time I had 2 drive an hour & 1/2 2 the CSS repair center, the tech told me it was "unusual" 4 a new laptop 2 have such a problem. The hard drive was replaced & I got the lap top back in a week or so.

August 19, 2008 - the Laptop is received from repair & powered on.
August 23, 2008 - the Laptop breakes..AGAIN.

When I dish out a nice lump of money 4 a product, I expect it 2 last me LONGER than a month...anyone else?

I call the Toshiba support, they tell me 2 ship it 2 them, claiming their techs have better equipment & training & will fix the issue, no prob.
I send the thing & get it back in about a week or two. Finally, I power it on (this past Monday) & in a few days(on wed.)GUESS WHAT??! SAME PROBLEM!! They didn't fix SQUAT!
The hard drive croaked again!!
The system.dll is yet again "missing or corrupt", windows won't start, & the computer boots straight into a blank, black screen.

Called them, told them how it was, didn't hold any temper back, & got transferred 2 the Customer Relations Center where I spoke 2 Jose, the *&#()hole (pardon me). I asked Jose if I could be transferred 2 a supervisor, not 2 be a pain, I just wanted 2 speak 2 someone who would be the last option & get straight 2 the point. This piece of ^#*@ tells me (and I quote): "I won't let the issue escalate beyond me. So you will have 2 speak 2 me"...

Huh? But I don't want 2 speak 2 YOU...I want 2 speak 2 a supervisor. I want 2 explain this problem 2 someone who CAN do something about it. But Jose wouldn't have it.
When confronted with my assumption that it pretty improbable 4 a hard drive 2 be faulty, with dead spots THREE times in a row, Jose snobbishly stated:
"We don't expect our customers 2 know anything about proper functioning of hardware. Only our techs would know that."
aka. your too stupid 2 know anything about that .
When it came down 2 my options I got the good, 'ol run-around: "Mam', you have two options. You can either take your laptop 2 a repair center. Or you can send it in 2 our repair depot."
Hmmm..sounds familiar. OH WAIT! Because I already did that! And the problem was still not resolved!!!


Given the fact that this "customer relations manager" failed 2 assist, & plainly just told me 2 f -off, I decided 2 call back.
The results?
The customer support rep(which, despite the same bullcrap, was a bit more properly mannered) promised that everything will be taken care of...


..once I send the laptop in 4 repair..
...again...



Stating that he will write up a "full repot" on this case & make sure that the techs run all the proper test, Eric assured me that they will do everything in their power so that I "will never experience the same problem again".
Ok Eric. I got your word 4 it...and your employee ID.
So you better be right.
The laptop will ship out tomorrow & should be back 4 my evaluation in a week or so.

Before you buy this junk I highly recommend reading customer review & complaints posted all over internet.
Good luck.

Unless you are an Apple fan, this laptop is the best laptop out there. It has all the features you will ever want in a laptop & so much more!

Sparked with good looks starting at six pounds, the 15.4-inch diagonal widescreen Satellite A305-S6839 laptop is well suited 4 your ambitious multitasking efforts. The latest Intel Core 2 Duo Processor & desktop-like capabilities of an ExpressCard slot & expanded USB ports, backed by larger hard drives 4 high end workloads, increases the systems overall functionality while providing optimal storage capacity. A six CD/DVD control media keypad, & a DVD SuperMulti drive start you off on a multimedia adventure. Make the connections that you want 2 make the most of with the Satellite A305-S6839 affordable laptop with wireless 802.11A/B/G/N. 15.4 diagonal WXGA (1280 x 800) TruBrite TFT LCD display Built-in Webcam & Microphone ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 with 256MB DDR dedicated Graphics Memory Harman/Kardon Stereo Speakers Labelflash DVD+-R/RW Super Multi Drive with Double Layer Intel PRO/Wireless 4965 802.11A/B/G/N 10/100 Ethernet LAN 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter - MMC, SD, MS, MS Pro, xD ExpressCard 54/34 Slot 4 x USB 2.0, Headphone out; Microphone-in, VGA, TV-Out (S-Video), IEEE-1394, RJ-11 (Modem), RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 14.3 (W) x 10.5 (D) x 1.52 (H) Approximate Unit Weight - 6.0 pounds

Designed 2 meet the demands of a multimedia-hungry family, students on the go, & small businesses with demanding computing needs, the Toshiba Satellite A305-S6839 offers a versatile base 4 all your needs. It includes a generous 15.4-inch widescreen TruBrite high-def display 4 amazing color depth & clarity, plus room 2 multitask & work with spreadsheets. And video is powered by the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470, which provides 1023 MB of total available graphics memory 4 watching HD movies & TV as well as excellent 3D gaming. And you'll enjoy crisp audio from the Harman Kardon stereo speakers. A built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam (with integrated microphone) lets you join in on video conferences as well as make long-distance VoIP calls using Skype.

It's powered by the 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which offers a super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed & extra-large 3 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel's 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts speed, reduces power requirements, & saves on battery life. The Core 2 Duo processor provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture 4 improved gaming & multitasking performance. It also 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. Other features include an enormous 320 GB hard drive, 3 GB of installed RAM (4 GB max), dual-layer DVD±RW burner (with Labelflash disc printing), ExpressCard 34 slot, & a 5-in-1 memory card adapter.

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: Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, & amazing battery life with the 45nm Penryn series Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which has a 2.10 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), & a large 3 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 new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. And you'll be able 2 encode video on-the-go & watch HD movies with Intel HD Boost.

  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 gigantic 320 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) provides one of the largest capacities you'll currently find in a laptop (and unlike other notebooks of similar capacity, the total is not split between two separate hard drives). You'll enjoy the space 4 storing your entire music collection as well as your DVDs & downloaded TV shows & movies. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin 2 Firewire & USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 3 GB of installed RAM (PC5300, 1 x 2 GB, 2 x 1 GB) helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. This notebook has a 4 GB maximum RAM capacity (2 x 2 GB). To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity & clockspeed.

• DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer Labelflash DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW & DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, & dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up 2 8.5 GB of data--great 4 backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL, 8x 4 both single-layer DVD+R/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, & 24x/16x 4 CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x & CD-ROMs at 24x.

  With the Labelflash functionality, you can burn high-resolution, high-contrast pictures on the label side of DVD discs using the same laser used 4 data recording. Enjoy transparency & high-quality not found in traditional printable media. All you need is a Labelflash DVD disc 2 start labeling without a printer.

• 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 ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470, which provides 256 MB of discrete graphics memory as well as up 2 767 MB of shared memory (for 1023 MB of total available graphics memory). ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series graphics processors have breakthrough efficiency, with phenomenal performance-per-watt & energy-saving features. Advance 2 the power of discrete graphics 4 HD gaming with best-in-class performance, amazing effects, & lifelike worlds & characters delivering a compelling gaming experience.

The built-in microphone & Skype-certified webcam (with face-recognition software) makes it easy 2 video chat as well as use the Skype VoIP service--a convenient, affordable alternative 2 long distance calling. This notebook also features an integrated audio card & two Harman Kardon stereo speakers.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready 4 the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated quad-mode Intel Wireless 4965AGN 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).

With USB Sleep-and-Charge support, you can use your Satellite A305 2 charge your favorite portable electronic devices, even when the laptop is asleep. If you use a smartphone, you can just plug it in, power up & go without having 2 worry that you've got enough charge. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (though no PCMCIA card slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, & lighter expansion cards 4 even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, & security features. Here's the full list of connection 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 ExpressCard 54/34 slot
• Video out: VGA & S-Video
• Microphone/line-in & stereo headphones/speakers/line-out
• S/PDIF digital audio output (shared with headphone)
• RJ-45 port 4 10/100 Ethernet connection
• 56K modem port (V.90)
• 5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit version) 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 9.0, Google Desktop & Picasa, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5, Norton 360 All-in-One Security (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 A305-S6839 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, & operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.