Toshiba Satellite 5205-S503 Notebook (2.0-GHz Pentium 4-M, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive)

Product Description

The previous generation was a sell out. The new Satellite 5205-S503 is faster and even more flexible! It features fast Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor-M and nVIDIA GeForce4 460 Go graphics controller with 32MB 250MHz DDR video memory for processing speed. Toshiba's Personal Theatre 15" SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) high-resolution display provides a wide viewing angle for DVD movies or presentations. The Satellite 5205-S503 has Yamaha sound system featuring harman/kardon stereo speakers with sub-woofer to feel the experience! It also features integrated 10/100 Ethernet and V.92/56K modem for quick Internet or network connection. For flexibility, the new Toshiba Style Bay allows you to add a 2nd optical device, media reader, or slip in a 2nd battery for up to 5 hours of total battery time!

Amazon.com Product Description

Shopping for a feature-rich multimedia mobile computer offering a high-octane processor, supercharged graphics, stereo sound with built-in subwoofer, and a large high-resolution display? The Toshiba Satellite 5205-S503 notebook PC delivers all of this in an advanced, stylish design.

A 2 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor-M provides premium computing power across a broad range of productivity and multimedia software. The notebook's 512 MB of memory--expandable to 1 GB--and 512 KB of L2 cache smoothly run multiple applications simultaneously. A 40 GB hard drive offers abundant data and multimedia download storage.

A multifunction DVD/CD-RW drive lets you watch movies, and listen to and record music and back up data on CD. Sound from the notebook's built-in Harman Kardon stereo speakers with subwoofer is enhanced by 3-D sound support with HRTF 3-D positional audio, Direct 3-D sound, and hardware acceleration for DirectSound and DirectMusic.

The 5205-S503 includes a 15-inch SXGA+ active-matrix display that, coupled with an nVidia GeForce4 460 Go graphics controller and 32 MB of 250 MHz DDR external video memory, supports up to 16 million colors at 1,400 x 1,050 resolution.

The 7.1-pound, 12.9-by-11.6-by-1.8-inch 5205-S503 includes an integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet interface with RJ-45 LAN port and built-in 56K V.92 modem with RJ-11 connector. Other ports include three USB 2.0 interfaces, a TV-out interface, a FireWire interface, and a secure digital card slot. A 32-bit CardBus-ready PC Card slot supports one Type II card.

The notebook includes a Toshiba remote control device with power on/shutdown, CD/DVD/digital audio play control, volume control, keyboard emulation, task change, maximize window, and a TV button. The 5205-S503's keyboard includes 85 full-size keys with 12 function keys.

Installed software includes Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works, Intuit Quicken Basic 2001, InterVideo WinDVD, Norton AntiVirus 2002, and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Customer Reviews:

my workhorse..........2004-04-24

I bought this unit in 10/02/02, a couple of days before they actual "official release date". I DID NOT DO not even 1 seconds of research:), just went to the first electronics retail store near me and browsed the laptops they had in display...found a Toshiba but asked for a 2.0GHz processor and the salesperson told me that they've just received some.
Until now it showed the same reliability as my old Inspiron, never had a hiccup...
To refute some claims from others regarding this product:
1) It is PREWIRED for wireless mini-PCMCIA cards...I bought Dell Truemobile 1350 card. It installs like a RAM stick and VOILA! you have "wireless"...
2) Agreed that Toshiba saved some money with the MK4018GAS HDD...but I waited for the Hitachi super duper 7200rpm, 60GB drive to get a little cheaper and bought one. Works like a charm (OUT OF THE BOX, did it myself, no conectors, no settings...get out of the caddy the old HDD, put in the new one,..simple) and guess what, the old Toshiba HDD sits now in a tray in the Style BAY and I am the proud owner of a "100GB" laptop:)
3) The USB ports...I have plugged all kind of peripherals into them: printers, external TV tuners, mice, keyboards, digital photo and video cameras...they are plug and play...
This laptop is the champion of "customizing" ease: new 7200rpm HDD put in in less tha 5 min, cheap 2nd HDD(do it yoursef), StyleBay DVD-R/RW/RAM...Toshiba had a sale for them...2nd battery...etc, everything for very few compared to others (Amazon will not allow prices shown so I will not write one)

THE ONLY GRIPE: runs very hot...but this is when playing a 2004 flight sim for more than 4-5 hours:)

Excellent notebook!.......2003-04-14

I've purchased this notebook after doing some extensive market research. My first obvious choice was Dell but I found their comparable models to be overprized. I was also concerned with overall Dell's build quality, which seems to have been sliding down lately. The only concern I had about this model was 4500 RPM HD. If that is a real big issue for you, go with 5205-S507 model, which has 60 Gb HD. That 60 Gb HD is still 5400 RPM but higher HD disks density makes for a bit faster HD. The 5205-S507 model also comes with nicer screen but I couldn't justify the price difference.

I've had this notebook for about two months now and I am extremely happy with it. It runs fast all applications, handles latest games nicely, and looks great. As another reviewer pointed out, this is not a small laptop so finding a case for it is a challenge. I'd suggest checking Targus CK55 laptop case sold at BestBuy.

Great Laptop.......2003-04-11

I bought this laptop as a desk top replacement. It is much too heavy for a lug it around on airplanes laptop.

It has great features and will meet 90% of any super users requirements.

On little nit: the keyboard and touch pad are awkward (I am used to the IBM keyboard and the pencil eraser "mouse") and I always seem to be moving the pointer when I don't want to. The touch pad is very sensitive even after resetting it.

Buy it. it's a great machine.

Excellent all around.......2003-04-11

Ok, the pros this thing is one excellent laptop. I have the earlier version (the 5105-S501), but they are essentially the same aside from the processer speed. The Pros are:
Value--(other similar systems of the same price only give you 256 meg of memory).
Well built--I must admit the cd drive seems a little weak, but I've given it good use and it hasn't broke. Also, while Hp and Compaq may have nice features and look pretty, they don't stand up to this thing's reliabilty.
They keyboard is comfortable (I like it more than a desktop keyboard!!!)
It has 3 USB ports. In this day in age USB is phasing out those serial ports.
Its got some sweet harman/kardon speakers
It's very DVD frienly (with a remote and controls in the front).
It's pretty
Tech Support is very good

There are a lot more good things about this, but a few cons are:
No serial port for your older hardware
No trackstick (other companies have the touchpad and trackstick).
External Floppy--I don't use the floppy so it doesn't make a difference
The biggest grip--It doesn't come with the Windows XP disc, only a thing of recovery CDs. I had to buy windows XP when it crashed (it has only done this once).
Overall, I'd say this is the way to go.

Pretty package but not THAT great!.......2003-03-06

No question, this baby's a real looker, but:

1. For some reason my HDD keeps needing to be defragmented, about once every 10 days. It's only 4500 RPM instead of 5400 RPM, which slows things down considerably despite the 2.0 GHz processor and 512MB of DDR.

2. Could've used: a floppy drive to transfer data to older PCs that don't have USB, CD-ROM (burning individual docs to a CD just to transfer them is a pain anyway), or Ethernet connections. So simple, so cheap, why not...?

3. A parallel port for hooking up to older printers that don't have USB plugs.

4. Some way of locking the power-off, because mine keeps turning on during transit!

5. The touchpad is an annoyingly useless POS; having a dual stick-pointer like the Dell would be much better.

6. Remember that this laptop is more of a DESKTOP REPLACEMENT, not a true portable notebook! I mean, it's huge (most laptop cases are too small for it) and fairly heavy ... and really not designed to be lugged around.

That said, I don't entirely regret buying it. It's relatively fast for a laptop, does have very good multimedia, and a beautiful screen. ...

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