Toshiba Satellite 1905-S301 Notebook (2.0-GHz Pentium 4, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive)

Product Description

For outstanding functionality at a truly affordable price, look no further than Toshiba's Satellite series portable PCs. These portable PCs are built to deliver impressive specification together with exceptional value-for-money: an unbeatable price/performance combination that ensures the world's most advanced mobile technology is accessible to every portable computer user.Providing the benefits of a desktop system without the size and bulk, the Satellite 1905 Series moves computer users into the notebook world without sacrificing power, performance and perks. Students and small-to-medium sized business can experience the freedom mobile computing delivers without taking a hit on their bank account or productivity levels.

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed to offer a good balance of performance, portability, and price, Toshiba's Satellite 1905-S301 notebook is one more reason why the Satellite series is such a mainstay of Toshiba's extensive notebook lineup.

The 1905-S301 is a powerful computer, but not so powerful that you're forced to pay extra for state-of-the-art components. Driven by a fast 2 GHz Pentium 4 processor, with 256 MB of SDRAM (expandable to 1,024 MB), a fast front-side bus speed of 400 MHz, and a 16 MB ATI M6-P graphics chip, the unit will efficiently handle anything but the most technologically advanced 3-D rendering applications and games. Its large 40 GB hard drive offers plenty of storage space, and its combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive allows you to archive vast quantities of data, play and burn audio CDs, and enjoy the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Toshiba has even included an internal 3.5-inch floppy disk drive for older applications and smaller backup requirements.

Featuring a positional 3-D sound card, an integrated set of stereo speakers, and a generous 15-inch XGA TFT active-matrix display capable of 1,024 x 768 resolution and 16 million colors, the 1905-S301 looks and sounds as good as it runs. The unit is not particularly small at 13.2 by 11.7 by 2 inches and 8.7 pounds, nor is it so cumbersome that you won't want to take it with you across town or across the country.

Wherever you go, the 1905-S301 makes it easy to stay in touch. The system features a wealth of input and output options, including an integrated 56K modem for on-the-road Internet and e-mail access, a 10/100 Ethernet LAN for network connectivity and high-speed surfing, an IEEE 1394 port for super-fast uploads and downloads from DV-based camcorders and other video devices, three USB ports for plug-and-play peripherals, a headphone and microphone jack, and a PC Card slot. The system's control center features an 85-key keyboard, convenient two-button touch pad, a scroll pad, and hot keys.

Toshiba has equipped the 1905-S301 with a bevy of applications, including the Home Edition of Windows XP, Lotus SmartSuite Millennium Edition, Intuit Quicken Basic 2001, and Norton AntiVirus 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent computer for a good price.......2004-10-08

Two years use, no problems.

R. Aguirre

Toshiba Sucks!.......2004-09-29

There are numerous complaints against Toshiba concerning this and other laptops that suddenly and unexpectedly cut off...for no reason. Although Toshiba is aware of the issue they are doing nothing to correct it. I've already been stuck with one of these "duds"...protect yourself and buy a HP or Compaq instead!

Just a few drawbacks.......2004-08-31

A year and a half of use and it is stable, the display is fine, the battery life is nothing special.

If you need to record audio, you'll be surprised: the only input is MONO!

This computer spends more time in hourglass mode or stuck with the hard drive spinning than I'd like. But if you watch your Task Manager, you may find, as I did, that it's usually because certain program combinations cause one to start grabbing handles without stopping. Before I figured this out, I was ready to kill it. I guess a lot of XP machines have had trouble with such hiccups, so you be the judge.

Yes the fan is noticable, but pleasant for a fan, I suppose. The only overheating problem I've had was when it was hot out, and I accidentally nudged the machine beside something on the desk that partially blocked the vent. You can manage the fan intensity through the software. No doubt this affects battery life, as do the other energy settings such as screen brightness. ***If you put a spacer of some kind under the back of the laptop, it cools better.*** I'll bet a lot of people who've had trouble would benefit from that trick. I only do it because I can feel how hot the desk gets under the vent area. Anything about the depth of a little dental floss box will do.

The keyboard is fine for fast typists, good action for a laptop.

It's a budget machine, don't expect sleek and light. The touch pad is ok, nothing special. There's no numeric keypad, of course.

Get a USB hub, it has only two USB ports. Yes, it has wireless. Does well with a USB connection, but wouldn't interface with the Qwest LAN modem, so I was stuck using a shorter USB line it fortunately had.

If I had it to do over, I'd have gotten a desktop with more RAM and speed, but if you need a laptop, the price/value ratio is not bad. I have several programs up at once and am mostly happy when I do.

A Decent Laptop.......2004-05-31

I received this computer as an early graduation present in early 2003, and have been fairly happy with it. The processor is a 2ghz P4, and handles anything you could want to do on a laptop very easily and efficiently. I also love the 15" display, which is actually very good for watching DVDs full screen.

One suggestion is that you also purchase a ram upgrade when buying this computer. The 256mb it comes with will probably due if you only intend to use MS Office and other similar applications, but if you're like me and burn CDs regularly with it an upgrade to 512mb would do you a lot of justice.

The video card can also be an issue if you plan on serious gaming with this laptop. With 16mb I can play HalfLife and its mods and Diablo II comfortably, but anything along the lines of EverQuest or UT will be a waste of your effort. It's not upgradable, so you might want to think twice before you buy with intentions to game.

Overall, for the price, I would definitely suggest this laptop. It is a bit heavy and clunky, but with a nice carrying bag it is still very portable, and works very well wireless.

On a related note, I have never had any issues with overheating in this laptop. It's been a year since I got it, and the only time it ever really overheats is when I run a lot of memory hog applications like KaZaa Lite. I regularly leave it on for days during large downloads and experience no trouble.

Good features for the price.......2004-02-24

I purchased this system a little over a year ago and have found it to be an excellent computer for my needs (student). I also bought it to serve as a movie computer that I keep connected to my TV (works great and even goes full screen on the TV automatically). My biggest praise for the system is the fact that it has been knocked off my TV twice, falling at least 4 feet to a hard spanish tile floor without any damage whatsoever (not even a scratch!). Even better, it was in the middle of playing a movie (reading it from the hard drive) and did not skip a beat when it fell.

As for problems, I have noticed a couple that can be annoying. First, the touchpad is kinda sensitive and takes just a little touch to register (which kinda sucks when you are typing away at 80 WPM and the cursor suddenly moves to another part of the document). Second, there is a heat issue that can cause the laptop to shut down in the middle of whatever it is doing, but only seems to happen when dust builds up in the fan or the fan is otherwise blocked. This can be alleviated by blowing the dust out every month or two with a can of air (reversing the air flow). Lastly, if you are looking to play games on this system as well, think again; the graphics card only has 16MB and is non-upgradeable. This is good for simple games like Civilization 3, but Unreal and others are a no-go.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics