Another Great Value by Toshiba
Written: Apr 27 '04 (Updated Apr 28 '04)
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Pros: Quality build, decent performance, affordable, loaded with options.
Cons: Screen could be a bit brighter, ATI or Nvidia graphics chipset would be nice!
The Bottom Line: An incredible value offering great features for the first timer or someone in need of an upgrade on a budget. A solid, well-built notebook offering a little bit for everyone.
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| JKiss's Full Review: Toshiba A45-S250 PC Notebook |
I had been using my 3 year old Fujitsu laptop trying to meet a deadline for a big project at work. Although it was a decent performer for its time, the need to work in several Excel spreadsheets, surf the web and convert documents to PDF format at the same time was a little too much for it to handle as it constantly revealed the hourglass and gave me a 15 minute break.
Problem was I didn't have the time for the break. I knew something had to be done so it was time to put it to pasture and look for an upgrade. I needed mobility so a desktop was not an option. The biggest hurdle was that my budget was under $1300 and my minimum specs in my mind were a P4 2.4GHz> 512MB DDR> 40GB HD> 4 USB 2.0 Ports, DVD+/-RW and Firewire.
I looked around and found several machines that fit the bill but was not comfortable with the manufacturers based on personal experience. After further review I decided it was another Fujitsu, a Sony Vaio K Series or a Toshiba A45 Series. I really liked the A45-250 but it was slightly out of budget at $1499. The Fujitsu quickly fell to the side as I realized it was Friday and I could not afford to go much longer without a better performing notebook. On Sunday morning, my decision was made for me as I opened the paper and saw a $100 price reduction and a $200 rebate on the A45-S250.
After finishing the 3rd cup of coffee I was off to the store and back before noon. By 1PM, I had set it up, applied any updates from Toshiba and Microsoft and was transferring my work files and settings from my Fujitsu.
The Basics:
Performance: The notebook performs fairly well and is able to handle a number of tasks at the same time. Although I still fell suspect to the hourglass at times, the machine completed its task in under a couple of minutes and I was back to work. At times, I run 2 or more open Excel spreadsheets of considerable size, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, the normal system utilities that reside in the system tray and convert documents to PDF with Acrobat. The ability to keep up was a pleasant surprise at this pricepoint.
Features: The feature set is one of the key reasons to take a look at this notebook. The machine comes stock w/ a P4 2.8GHz, 512MB DDR266 upg to 2GB, 60GB HD, Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics (32MB up to 64MB), 802.11g Wireless, 10/100, 56K V.92, 4 USB 2.0 Ports, 4 Pin Firewire, 15" XGA Display, DVD -RW, SD Card Reader, Type II Card Slot, Parallel, VGA and Video Out Ports.
The software package is acceptable with a few nice bonuses: Windows XP Home, Microsoft Works 7.0, Microsoft One Note (an enjoyable program for those in need of managing projects, tasks, to do lists, etc.), InterVideo WinDVD for DVD playback, B's Clip for DVD/CD burning, Showbiz for DVD creation and a host of Toshiba utilities offering easy wireless configuration, text-to-speech and speech recognition capabilities, an interesting touchpad configuration tool that adds enhanced functionality and the usual diagnostics.
Other Notables:
Wireless: The wireless connection and included configuration software worked flawlessly. Literally within 10 seconds of turning on the integrated wireless I was on the net and surfing. In fact, it appears to work a little too well as I also had the ability to jump on 3 neighbors' networks, one as far as 600ft away. After a little exploring, I made a quick note in OneNote to inform the neighbors of their open access points at a later date.
Video: The video as powered by the Intel solution is somewhat better than I expected. It is able to render 3d screensavers and play a quick game of Quake II. It won't satisfy the intense gamer but will allow the average user to enjoy some extras.
DVD Playback: Playback was smooth and the overall sound quality enjoyable. Although it won't replace your main TV anytime soon, it is suitable for a quick movie during a trip.
Battery Life: Although the testing has been informal, on average the notebook gets 3.5 to 4 hours before needing a charge. Not yet tested but I assume it can handle an average DVD with some time to spare at full charge.
Weight/Dimensions: About 7 lbs. Not terrible for a short trip but wouldn't want to have to carry it for long periods. Overall the machine is large compared to todays ever slimmer and lighter systems with similar size screens.
Display: The display is adequate and displays text and graphics crisply. Not quite as bright as I had hoped in comparison to other machines in the same price bracket. The resolution is a bare minimum 1024 x 768.
Overall Build: The overall quality of the notebook is excellent. It has a very well constructed feel and the keyboard is firm, well-spaced and has good travel. The only minor complaint is the size of the spacebar which takes a little adjustment. Other nice touches are a solid DVD/CD tray ejection and good tactile response of all the buttons, switches and touchpad.
Design: Besides a pleasing blue lid, the Toshiba is unassuming and has an overall angular feel appearing somewhat wedge-like. It is not going to win any beauty contests but will not be a wallflower either.
Who SHOULD buy it?
Anyone looking for a good value to performance ratio. People on a tight budget who want a solid notebook with a good list of features.
WARNING:
If purchased, please apply most recent Windows and Toshiba updates. A number of updates address known stability issues.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1199
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: 15 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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Epinions.com ID:
JKiss
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Location: NJ
Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Family, art, technology, and work... not necessarily always in that order.
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