Toshiba Satellite 1955-S803 Notebook (2.50-GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive)

Amazon.com Product Description

If you're looking for the ultimate desktop replacement in a mobile computer, the Toshiba Satellite 1955-S803 notebook PC's sheer processing firepower, its large futuristic display, and its advanced detachable input components place it atop the pyramid.

The 1955-S803's 2.5 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor defines high-power computing 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 60 GB hard drive offers voluminous 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 stereo speakers 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 1955-S803 includes a 16-inch ASV (advanced super view) active-matrix display that, coupled with an nVidia GeForce4 460 Go graphics controller and 64 MB of 250 MHz DDR external video memory, supports up to 16 million colors at 1,280 x 1,040 resolution.

The 9.6-pound, 13.6-by-12.9-by-2.2-inch 1955-S803 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 interfaces, a TV-out interface, a FireWire interface, a parallel port, and an RGB monitor port. A 32-bit CardBus-ready PC Card slot supports two Type II cards or one Type III card.

The notebook includes a wireless mouse and wireless, detachable 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys. The 1955-S803 also offers a touchpad pointing device and a full complement of hardware-based CD control functions.

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

Product Description

Like to take it with you? Toshiba fastest offering, the Satellite 1955-S803 has an Intel Pentium 4 processor 2.50GHz, nVIDIA GeForce4 440 Go graphics controller with 64MB DDR video memory and a huge 60GB hard drive. No sacrifice on comfort either. The system comes standard with a 16" SXGA (1280 x 1040) display, wireless detachable keyboard and mouse! Integrated Wireless LAN (802.11b), 10/100 Ethernet and V.92/56K modem keeps you connected at desk or in meetings. The Satellite 1955-S803 offers the best balance of features and value at an affordable price!

Customer Reviews:

Great all around machine.......2007-04-01

I bought this laptop the beginning of 2003 and have been impressed ever since. I took it to Iraq for 15 months, used it, abused it, and played it hard. I have NEVER owned a computer that gave me no problems...until this one. I have had it for 4 years now and still have had no hardware or software issues with it. I love the wireless keyboard and mouse as well as the wifi. I have used the IR port on ocassion as well. I like the 16" LCD, I use it for gaming on a regular basis and experience no lag of anysort. I have a compaq desktop comperable hardware wise, but it cannot compete with this machine. It was a little pricy when I bought it, but I think it was worth it. This is a great desktop replacement, if you travel alot, this is NOT for you...it is too big and heavy, but on the other hand, it is an outstanding performer. The ONLY complaint that I have and the only reason that I did not rate a 5 is because the mounting for the monitor has broken. The LCD is fine, but I cannot open or close it, the attachment broke. Now i'm trying to find a replacement "shell" for the monitor. I REALLY do not want to have to replace the best computer i have ever owned over a stupid monitor problem. In the meantime, I purchased an LCD monitor until I can find a new shell for the laptop. Once again, hands down, the best computer I have ever owned! My next computer will be a Toshiba.

Road warriors be aware!.......2005-06-28

Let me be fair, this is a top machine with above average performance.
Be aware however, if you intend to use it to play DVDs from different regions. (DVD region 1,2,3,4,4,5,6)
The 1955-s803 will lock the DVD-rom in one single area, once you try to alter the regions a couple of times. (It says so in the manual, so it is not hidden.)
For those presentations on the road… try to carry a region-free DVD player along.
You will find good offers at Amazon.com

Better Than Most Notebooks.......2005-02-22

I bought this three years ago and it has finally broken down. The quality of this PC isn't so good. Now since I have gotten a new Toshiba notebook this one is in the past. When I got it, it was one of the most expensive laptops on the market. Now notebooks are supposed to last for 5 years at least while just three years ago you'd be lucky if you got 4. 2.49GHz is really fast and it even has a Pentium 4. I don't care if it doesn't have a "Mobile" Pentium 4 processor because if you buy this laptop you know that it's a desktop replacement and you aren't really going to travel with it. This still has Wi-Fi technology which means you can have a router and have wireless internet. 512 MB RAM was very large capacity back then but now it's standard on most notebook computers. 60 GB hard drive is pretty small but for a laptop it's really nice. The DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive is okay but I wish this came with a DVD+/-RW Drive to burn DVD's. I wouldn't recommend this for you because now it's very old and you should look at other Toshiba computers instead.

Very Good Laptop.......2004-04-07

This laptop is very good. Pentium 4, 2.49GHz is awesome power for a laptop. The weight is the huge issue with this system. Over 10lbs with AC Adapter. Even though of that default it is very well desgined. The graphics gard is 64MB, my desktop computer has 64MB graphics card also! 60GB is the second largest hard drive you can get on a laptop still. 512 MB Ram you might think is normal but most laptops have 256 MB Ram which just isn't enough. The Toshiba Satellite 1955-S803 is a high recomended laptop but for business use. The weight is just too much, but the power and preformance of this machine will surpass the weight.

Waste of time, waste of money.......2004-01-15

Do not buy this machine. I got my 1955-S803 for graphics and travel and have regretted it ever since. Although the screen is large, the resolution is less than many 15" screens. The keyboard feels nice, but it simply quit working after about 4 months of lower-than-average use. In addition, wireless networking died. When I took the machine to a Toshiba-authorized repair center, they replaced the motherboard and keyboard, but put the (previously working) mousepad in upside down and never got it to work again. After three weeks, I demanded my computer back. Three weeks after that, the keyboard died again. I took the machine to a different repair shop. They replaced the motherboard again, but the machine only lasted another couple of weeks before the keyboard went again. This time, I wiped the hard drive to eliminate any unseen driver conflicts. Unfortunately, the repair disks that Toshiba sent me were bad and, after 1/2 hour of babysitting a system install, I discovered the machine wouldn't boot at all. Toshiba made me pay $10 for another set of boot disks, then shipped them to the wrong address. Two weeks later, I got them and reinstalled the system, took the machine back to the repairshop, and had the keyboard itself replaced. At least this time, they figured out the mouse pad. After just a week now, the keyboard is again dead. (I'm writing this on a Mac.) Do not buy this machine. I'm looking at four repair tickets on a machine that frankly gets light use. And did I mention that Toshiba support is chiefly stonewalling? Two months of non-productivity from a machine I bought for work. The 1955 a lemon. Shame on Toshiba for deceiving consumers with it. Shame on magazine reviewers for blindly reciting specs without noting the many, many unhapy user reports like this one.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics