Toshiba SATELLITE M30 Will Not Disappoint! *UPDATED | Feb 4th*
Written: Jan 03 '04 (Updated Mar 30 '04)
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Pros: Sleek, long lasting battery, great for the mobile user, quality and performance backed by Toshiba.
Cons: At 1.4Ghz this machine is designed for the mobile user, not the hard-core gamer/or/graphics_designer.
The Bottom Line: The 1.4Ghz "Mobile" Intel Centrino, is designed to meet and exceed the needs of a demanding mobile_user. If you're looking for a Truly-Wireless-World, look no further than the Toshiba_Satellite_M30_Notebook Computer.
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| gta_support's Full Review: Toshiba Satellite M30-S309 (PSM30U-0QKJ18S) PC Not... |
----------- UPDATED Sections | FEB. 4, 2004 -----------
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The M30 is a wide-screen laptop (15.4'), featuring a 1.4 GHz Intel Centrino processor, 256MB of RAM and 40GB hard drive. My particular system was upgraded to 512MB of RAM and a larger 60GB hard-disk.
The M30 has a CD-RW & DVD all in one drive; but does not include a floppy. Personally I get by with my USB flash memory key, which is smaller than a Floppy disk and holds anywhere from 16 to 512MB of space depending on the model.
Because this is the Centrino CPU, it is designed for mobile computing, the WiFi antenna is already built in. In fact I set up a home network a few weeks back, and the wireless internet works great. (More information on my Wireless network can be found at: DLink 2.4Ghz Router). My connection is very fast and I experience no problems when I walk around the house & in the back-yard. And I authenticated my wireless access point, (using 64bit encryption) to keep any intruders out of my network.
The system came pre-installed with windows XP, which I formatted and installed Win 2000 instead. I have nothing against XP, it’s just that I needed a Server OS.
Other than that the Toshiba M30 laptop has a crisp screen and very good battery life. Up to 4 hours with conservative use. Did I mention its light-weight? Making it easy to carry from place to place.
My SPECIFICATIONS:
- Please note that these stats vary according to dealer, I bought my laptop from Staples.
* 1.4 Ghz Pentium Centrino
* 512MB of DDR-RAM (expandable up to 2GB)
* 32MB NVidia GeForce FX Go5200 (Mobile Video Card)
* 60GB Hard Disk capacity.
* Harman/Kardon speakers (Great sound coming out of very small speakers)
* LCD Display size: 15.4' Widescreen.
* Best Resolution: 1280 x 800 pixels
* Max Resolution: 2048 x 1536 pixels
* Lithium Ion Battery: Lasts 3-5hours.
* Ethernet 10/100 Network.
* Wireless Network card, 802.11b.
* Internal 56K Modem.
* Comes with WindowsXP.
Another feature worth mention is the S-Video Out component, allowing the user to watch DVD's on a Television screen. I tried this out myself, and it works great!
SIZE & STYLE:
Very compact laptop, looks very sleek, silver color. Wide screen is great for watching DVD movies and browsing the net. The unit warms up a bit during peak-use, but its nothing to worry about...In fact its great during the long Canadian winter season. :)
SPEED:
Not as fast as the 3.06 GHz laptops, but again keep in mind it is designed for mobility and great battery life. If you are looking for performance instead of mobility take a closer look at the Intel Pentium processor instead of the Intel Centrino. Also, please note: Intel Pentium based processors have been around the block for quite some time now, consequently they are much, MUCH Cheaper than the NEW Centrino based mobile processors.
PRICE:
This unit was a little expensive, around 2500 in US dollars. But it’s worth every penny. Great laptop for unsurpassed quality, Toshiba reliability and 21st century looks.
PRIMARY USE:
I use this Laptop to run an Oracle Server, not for real-world implementation, but instead for my students. (I am a part-time Oracle DBA | DB2 instructor). Other than that my laptop is used to run MS Office "2002" Applications (Including Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FrontPage, etc). But if i'm not teaching or typing up a Word document...I find my-self browsing the internet at a local cafe. In fact this laptop searches for an available internet access point every 10seconds or so. So if there is one available, you'll be sure to catch it with this machine.
LIMITATIONS:
This laptop is not meant to handle very demanding applications. This is a 1.4Ghz Centrion processor specifically designed for mobile application and increased battery life. For more demanding applications such as multiplayer games and/or graphics design I would recommend a 3.06 Ghz Intel Pentium laptop. Companies that I'd consider would be IBM & Toshiba. But keep in mind, the extra power will impact your mobile ability, in fact a 3.06 Ghz processor often lasts less than 2 hours when not hooked to an outlet...While as I mentioned a Centrino laptop can last upto 4 hours!!!
Why I bought it?
My previous IBM Thinkpads (Two of 'em to be exact) were leased by my employer, so technically I didn't own either one. As of November 03' I was laid off, but found a new position in early December. Point being, it was about time that I bought my own personal laptop. After extensive research I decided to buy a Centrino based machine for its mobility, and a Toshiba M30 after hearing many good things about it from my colleagues.
Overall & Final Impression:
This is a very nice product from Toshiba. As I've mentioned above, I used two IBM Thinkpads previous to my new M30, found the IBM machines to be reliable but lacked "style", such as a DVD player, S-Video out, and a very sleek but compact design.
The Toshiba M30 Satellite notepad is a strong performer and a clear cut winner, a 10/10 on my scale.
Thanks for reading!
Related Links:
DLink 2.4Ghz Wireless Router
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2500
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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gta_support
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Member: James Smith
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
"FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. It comes bundled with the software."
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