Toshiba Satellite L650-BT2N23 Review

Gone are the days of what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSWYG) – nowadays the watchword is “customization.” When ordering a computer, you want to be sure it is the right fit for you. At resellers like Amazon.com and Office Depot, you can order from a menu, but an even better option may be to go straight to the manufacturer. Toshiba has a web store (Toshiba.direct.com) with a long list of features for you to select the hardware and software you prefer.  The question is: with so many options, how do you choose?

Start customizing now

To customize your laptop computer, you start by considering your wallet. At extremely attractive price tags across specifications, the 15.6 inch diagonal Toshiba Satellite L650-BT2N23 becomes a solid contender in the mid-range laptop market. It stands out from the rest because Toshiba has specifically committed to the customer service and technical support required to make this model “customizable.” You configure it the way you want it when you order. Toshiba has long been regarded as “the laptop expert” and as customers report, Toshiba delivers.

A base model ready to be upgraded

The base laptop comes with the first level of the newest Intel Core i3-370m processors, 4 GB of memory, a 320GB hard drive, and a 1366x768 native screen resolution. Like comparable laptops, it includes 802.11 wireless connection and integrated webcam. Some rivals leave off the all-important HDMI output, but you will find that plus 3 USB 2.0 ports so you can input all the files you want from digital media and output them via a HDMI cable (sold separately) to your high-def television or home theatre projector. With the LED backlit screen standard on this model, this laptop draws less power than others with LCD screens, giving this model longer battery life and reducing environmental impact. Literally hundreds of accessories are available from external monitors to docking stations to wireless range boosters to extreme backpacks.

Lots of free software

There is no extra charge for Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit or any of the Toshiba extras like Toshiba ReelTime™  which helps find your files with an innovative timeline or "reel,” Toshiba Bulletin Board which is like a customized mini homepage where you can drag and drop all your important files, notes, and links, and Toshiba Media Control which makes it easy to share videos, music and pictures from your PC’s media library with any compatible home entertainment network. Microsoft® Office® 2010 Starter comes preloaded (reduced functionality Word and Excel with advertising) — upgrades to the full version are available when you customize.

Upgrade or downgrade – the choice is yours

The fun comes when you start configuring your laptop to suit your tastes.  For a small fee, you can pick your favorite look:  the basic model comes with a Fusion® Finish in Helios Black with Standard Black keyboard, or you can choose White with White keyboard, Grey or Red or Brown with Glossy Black keyboard.

You can save money by downgrading memory just a bit to the 3GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM (2048MB+1024MB) or by selecting either 4GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM (2048MBx2) or the 6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM (4096MB+2048MB).  Or for a bit more, upgrade to an Intel® Core™ i5-460M Processor 2.53 GHz (2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology), 3MB L3 Cache or go for the top of the line with an Intel® Core™ i5-560M Processor 2.66 GHz (3.2 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology), 3MB L3 Cache.  Additionally, you can Upgrade to Windows 7 Professional for or go all out and order the 320 GB or even the 500 GB hard drive.

Extend your reach

Get more cord-free hours with an Extended Capacity Lithium-Ion Battery (6-cell, 61Wh) or  wirelessly connect with your Bluetooth devices by adding Broadcom Wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth® Version 2.1 +EDR, also at an additional but reasonable cost. Web surfers on a budget or in remote areas where no wireless connection is available will want to pay a little extra to get an integrated modem.

Conclusion

Whether you are computer-savvy or a shopper bewildered by the range of choices available on today’s market, check out the manufacturer’s website and reviews of computers that interest you before you buy. Find out how the lines and models differ: the Toshiba Satellite aims for the home and small business computing market where their Qosmio line aims at gamers and intense multimedia users, while the Tecra, Satellite Pro, and the ultra-thin Portege families of computers all serve business customers in different ways. Think about size and use – do you want a lightweight ‘Mini’ you can carry around or a large “film-friendly” display on a laptop that will replace your old desktop PC on your desk? Each line carries a variety of models to suit. currently on sale at amazon

Toshiba Satellite L635-S3030 for Kids

If there is a computer in the house, you can be sure your kid will want to play on it – and that’s probably a good thing. The 21st Century kid will need to be a master of the digital world. Getting children started on computers at an early age may be one of the wisest investments parents can make. But how can you as a parent protect important family files, keep kids away from unsuitable content, pack in enough educational software on your hard drive, or give the kids sufficient time to become fluent in computer-ease while still getting your own work done on the home computer? Toshiba has recognized parents’ concerns and come up with a laptop that is both kid-friendly and parent-pleasing.

A grownup ‘toy’

The Toshiba Satellite L635-S3030 for Kids is a budget laptop but still pricey for a child’s toy. With an Intel Celeron P4600 Processor inside and a 250 GB hard drive (5400 RPM), with a respectable 2GB DDR3 “RAM” memory running at a fast 1066 mHz, this is a powerful grownup laptop that can turn out your teen and college student’s essays and math assignments and keep the family budget up-to-date. But it’s the little ones who will go for this computer – and the Toshiba designers have given careful thought to kids’ interests and needs – with strong parental controls.

Safe for little fingers

Stylish corner bumpers in a bright apple green are the first clue that this laptop is a bit different. The textured finish resists sticky fingers and a wipeable keyboard – a Toshiba innovation – cleans up easily. A light 4.8 lbs. means it can be carried around the house and its ‘mini’ dimensions lets it slip into a backpack to take to school.

This model has a sturdy rubberized external shell in Neo-X textured gray with colored accents and comes equipped with a Hard Drive Impact Sensor to protect the laptop if it takes a spill. Hard drive recovery disk and other software help prevent loss of important data. Toshiba's PC Health Monitor alerts you to issues by constantly monitoring temperature, power usage, and shocks.

Little hands will have less risk of injury when they use the TouchPad with Multi-touch. A simple brush of fingers over the pad lets them scroll through images or websites. The full-sized keyboard has large brightly labeled keys that are spaced widely for accurate typing and easy cleanup.

Entertainment starts right out of the box

The kid-friendly entertainment starts right out of the box with the action-packed game, ‘Lego Batman,’  pre-downloaded. Just a click will take them to Disney’s “Princess and the Frog” animated movie or you can approve access to thousands of movies on demand from CinemaNow. “Kidzui,” the kids’ internet browser, serves up hours of entertainment and games galore. Specially designed and constantly updated, “Kidzui” takes your child to some 2.5 million monitored websites that kids love.

Pre-loaded with the Satellite L635-S3030, it also blocks access to other sites, even Yahoo.com, unless you approve. Education and homework help are a priority. On the “Kidzui” menu, your child will find thousands of games and lessons organized by grade level. Click on the desktop button to open Toshiba’s “BookPlace” for access to thousands of popular books for children. The laptop features built-in wireless WiFi networking (802.11b/g/n) which gives instant access to the web and to a home network so the laptop can be moved to any room in the house.

‘Net Nanny’ minds the kids for you

You can’t always be monitoring your child’s internet experience but “Net Nanny” can. A powerful filtering tool, it allows parents to decide which sites are appropriate. An award-winning program from industry leader ContentWatch, “Net Nanny” has an innovative, user-friendly interface that allows you to manage and get reports remotely – so you can be at the office or traveling and still know exactly what the kids are doing at home. Using Dynamic Contextual Analysis (DCA) smart technology, “Net Nanny” has  the ability to monitor interactions on social networking sites, block games, and approve or restrict access to inappropriate websites.  With facial recognition to log on to the computer and websites, you will know who is using the computer at all times.

Full-featured connections

Other features that you and your child will appreciate include the webcam and microphone built into the bezel that lets your child talk face-to-face over the internet with you while you are away or they can video conference with classmates and other kids around the world. With the built-in Memory Card Reader, files transfer easily from digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players or smart phones. Two USB 2.0 ports enable plug-n-play of most digital devices while a third eSATA / USB combo port facilitates backups and storage to external hard drives.

Cinematic audio and video

All your child’s DVD movies will run on the DVD-SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) optical drive which comes with LabelFlash to let you laser-burn labels on DVDs you create. Films and TV shows look sharp and clear on the 13.3 inch screen playing at film-friendly 16:9 resolution, with bright colors and smooth transitions coming out of the Mobile Intel HD Graphics engine and 64MB-763MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory.  Dolby® Advanced Audio™ serves to upgrade the audio capabilities of the built-in laptop speakers for a more natural sound.

Eco-friendly technology

Toshiba ‘goes green’  with 93% of Toshiba laptops, netbooks and Tablet PCs meeting the ENERGY STAR 4.0 standard since it was established in 2007. With the Eco Utility installed on this and other Satellite models, with just a click, you adjust the settings and power usage of your laptop. The rechargeable 6-Cell Li-ion Battery Pack keeps the laptop running at top speed for an estimated 4.5 hours while the LED Backlit Display is designed to last longer, use less power, and warm up quicker. The Satellite L635-S3030 has been awarded EPEAT™ Gold Compliant, the highest possible ranking of the acclaimed Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool which tests products across 51 different dimensions.

Conclusion

Toshiba taps into the next generation market by helping parents get kids started early on computing with a powerful computer designed for ages 7 to 12 years. Adults may want to use it too for the Windows 7, Windows Live Essentials, Microsoft Office and the variety of Toshiba designed software that come pre-installed. Parents will appreciate the many parental controls which help monitor and protect children as well as the safety features designed to keep the laptop running even under rough use. currently on sale

Toshiba Portege R600-S4213 Laptop

R705-P41

What makes a laptop worth spending $3,500 USD? In an era when the cost of a fast, durable, even stylish computer can be below $500, what can you get if you can afford the best that money can buy? In this review, we take a look at a notebook that executives could love, the Portégé  R600-S4213, one of the most expensive models made by Toshiba.

A showcase for Toshiba

The Portégé® line is a showcase for the latest design innovations by the giant Japanese electronics firm which spends billions on R&D. Portégés are backed by an exceptional three-year international warranty so the 2009 and 2010 R600 models and components will still be around for awhile, though the line is being phased out in favor of the R700 and R800 which offer tablet PC  and touch screen technologies at about half the price.

Ultrathin, ultraportable

Fierce competition reigns among brands with size, weight, speed, storage capacity, overall performance, and security as key issues. This model is one of the smallest laptops on the market (11.1x8.5x1 inches) and ultrathin at only about 0.8 inches thick. It is ultraportable at 2.4 pounds. It qualifies as a ‘mini’ with its 12.1 inch screen, as a netbook for its high quality connectivity, and as a high end executive notebook with the power and performance to be a desktop replacement.

Inside its slim shell, it manages to tuck in a lot of power including an ultraslim multi-format DVD burner. Some of the other amenities include an LED backlit display and a 6-cell long-life battery giving an estimated 7.5 hours before recharge  (though testers report closer to 4 to 6 hours of use). A built-in fingerprint scanner replaces passwords with a finger swipe to provide added security. These eco-conscious laptops are Energy Star Compliant and received the coveted EPEAT Gold™ status. Toshiba's exclusive EasyGuard® Technology and the Hard Drive Impact Sensor add a suite of safeguards against shocks, spills and drops.

A revolutionary solid state drive

May 2009 marked the advent of the 512GB solid state drive (SSD) in Toshiba’s showcase R600 series. Along with greater capacity, the hard drive gives much faster access to data and much more storage than other laptops. This is where price jumps up because the technology does not come cheaply. Solid state means no moving parts, therefore the laptop is less susceptible to damage from shock or vibration. This so-called ‘second-generation’ SSD features SATA standard and multilevel cell (MLC) NAND flash memory technology which helps increase the density, thus allowing more storage. 3GB RAM comes installed but can be upgraded to 5GB of DDR2 SDRAM (800 MHz). In comparison with a Macbook Pro (with a 320GB, 7200 RPM hard drive), tests showed the R600 performed file copying in 8 seconds while the Mac took a leisurely 35 seconds.

Thoughtfully designed, inside and out

Like its R500 predecessor, the stylish silhouette on the R600 is painted matte silver with a black screen surround. It has a plastic shell designed to be smudge-proof, part of a "shock absorbing design" complete with a full-sized spill resistant keyboard. Some users complain about the flexion of the lid and body as well as the feel of the plastic shell but Toshiba claims it bends rather than breaks in drop tests. Open it up and there is an aluminum-alloy chassis inside into which is slotted the 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 processor on an 800MHz frontside bus, linked to 3GB of DDR2 memory. From back to front there are multiple slots and ports for power, VGA, combo USB 2.0/eSATA and USB 2.0 , 3.5mm audio ports and a volume wheel on the left side. The right side houses a Gigabit Ethernet socket, a third USB port, wireless on/off switch, an ExpressCard 54 bay and an SDHC card slot. Networking and wireless connections are provided via integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi and network-unlocked 7.2Mb/s HSDPA 3G module. Unlike many ‘minis,’ it has Bluetooth built in. You can also plug in smart phones and other portable electronic devices to recharge as the USB Sleep-and-Charge operates even when the laptop is turned off.

Indoor / outdoor transreflective display

The display differs from most other laptops as well. Take it outdoors or work near a window -- a click of a button switches over to the unique ‘transreflective’ mode that effectively uses sunlight to enhance the picture with the added benefit of drawing less energy from the battery. Indoors, the widescreen WXGA LED Sidelight display with High Brightness gives rich color and clarity though some claim the screen seems a bit dim and angle of view is limited. Utilizing Intel’s Mobile Graphics Media Accelerator and Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0, the display resolution is 1280x800 with 128MB – 1024MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory driven by Intel's latest integrated graphics core, the GMA 4500MHD, part of the GS45 chipset. While generally application processing was graded fast, testers report on both 3DMark06 and PCMark05's graphics tests, 3D imagery ran slower than might be expected so this is not the machine for gamers – for that look to the comparably priced Qosmio line.

Conclusion

A number of reviewers expressed gratitude for the pioneering of new technologies showcased by Toshiba in the Portégé line. The R600  competes well against other high-end ultraportable PCs like the Dell Adamo, the Sony TT, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X301, and Macbook Air, but is lighter and as fast or faster than almost all of them.

With its steep price tag, the Portégé R600 is a showcase model for Toshiba offering near state-of-the-art technologies for the executive who needs an ultrathin, ultraportable, ultra-capable laptop. It is even more costly than some of the branded lines like the Acer Ferrari 1100, though it costs less than the status-conscious Rock Extreme SL8 at $5000 or the Ego for Bentley selling for $20,000 which emulates a high fashion purse design and is made to match a Bentley car. The world record for the most expensive computer of 2010 goes to the Luvaglio ‘One Million Dollar Laptop’ which can be customized for you for a cool million.currently on sale at amazon

Toshiba Satellite A665-S6055 LED Review

A long-time industry leader, the Toshiba Satellite series offers the consumer hundreds of options to pick and choose from so you can assemble exactly the computer you want. The Toshiba model A665-S6055 laptop is a family-friendly computer with an extra large 16-inch screen and more than enough features to please all ages.

Something for everyone in the family

The laptop looks sleek and professional for mom or dad’s home office, with a glossy Fusion X2 finish designed to resist little fingerprints. It comes with  high performance Turbo Boost technology to speed through multiple office applications. With multimedia connections, internet usage is a breeze.  Audiophiles will enjoy the superior audio quality from the built-in Harmon-Kardon speakers and movie buffs will be delighted by the clarity of the video. The real test of a high performance computer is how well it runs the newest games and gamers will find this laptop passes with flying colors.

Handsome on the outside, powerful on the inside

As handsome as the A665-S6055 looks on the surface, things get even better inside. The 2.40 GHz Intel Core i5-450M dual-core processor makes it one of the speediest laptops on the market. With Turbo Boost technology in the range of 2.66 GHz, expandable 4GB DDR3 RAM memory, and a 320 GB SATA hard drive, the laptop handles multiple applications with ease while playing your favorite songs.

Organize and connect with the latest software

All the newest Toshiba Satellites come bundled with Windows 7 pre-installed which provides new and easier ways to find files, jump from one application to another, and give you greater stability and reliability than ever before. Windows 7 makes it easy to set up a home network to connect all the computers and printers in the house. Pre-loaded software has been carefully designed by Toshiba to simplify setup. Toshiba’s Bulletin Board lets you organize your desktop just the way you want it, and Toshiba Media Controller makes it easy to share media with a single click of a button.

Extreme video for gamers

With so many ways to use the laptop, games may have to go to the backburner. With this computer, you can switch back and forth between applications. Dedicated gamers will be impressed by the speed pictures show up thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics card with NVIDIA Optimus Technology 512 MB of dedicated DDR3 video memory and 2267 MB of graphics RAM. Video graphics for games, movies, and photos will look crystal clear on the HD TruBrite 16 inch LED screen with backlit display. A comfortable full-sized keyboard and touchpad with multi-touch control emulates the best of desktops. The built-in dual-layer DVD±RW drive burns CDs and offers Labelflash print functionality.

Peripherals speed connectivity

To network, connect, or expand your laptop, there are multiple connectors including a microphone input port with Sleep and Music functionality plus headphone output, a multi-format memory card reader, an ExpressCard (34/54) slot that lets you use the newer extra-slim expansion cards, Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) for networking, and both a VGA video output and an HDMI high-def audio / video output that enables transmission of uncompressed high-def video to digital TVs, projectors, or an external monitor.

This model adds a fourth eSATA / USB combo port to the usual 3 USB ports found on other laptops in the same class.  The combo port features both Sleep and Charge capabilities and lets you transfer multimedia files with external hard drives up to 5 times faster than standard USB ports.

One Step Docking

Toshiba also offers the Dynadock V universal USB docking station which connects your external monitor and PC-related devices to your laptop with one simple USB cable. No need to plug and unplug multiple cables every time you want to take your laptop to another location.

Conclusion

The whole family will find something to enjoy in Toshiba A665-S6055.  At just under 6 pounds, it weighs a little more than most laptops and the 4 hours of battery power may not be enough for some travelers. But there are far more pluses than minuses to this stylish and powerful laptop. It may ending up sitting on a desk at home as everyone in the house will want to use it. This is one desktop PC replacement that heralds the end of the desktop age and the start of something new.currently on sale at amazon