Editorial Review
Easily mobile at just 6 pounds, the Toshiba Satellite A135-S2376 makes it easy to get your work done with a large, bright 15.4-inch screen. The XGA-resolution screen (1280 x 800) permits side-by-side viewing of documents for increased productivity, and is also great for watching DVD movies when you need a break. This affordable notebook PC also features a battery sipping 1.6 GHz Intel Celeron M 520 processor with Intel 64 architecture, an 100 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), dual-layer/multi-format DVD drive that also burns CDs, integrated 54g wireless connectivity, and ATI Radeon XPress 200M video card with up to 128 MB of shared video RAM.
This laptop also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, which delivers a safer, more reliable, and more productive computing environment. It integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.
The Basics
- Processor: The Intel Celeron M Processor 520 is designed specifically for mobile computing, offering a balanced level of mobile-optimized processor technology, good mobile performance, and exceptional value. Its Intel 64 architecture is also ready for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, and offers enhanced performance through improved virtual memory. The 1.6 GHz speed is complemented by a speedy 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and a 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
- Hard Drive: The 100 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) is becoming the average size for business notebook PCs. It provides good capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
- Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (PC4200, DDR2 SDRAM) is a bit low compared to other business notebooks, but it's a workable start and it offers a decently fast 533 MHz speed. It has two memory slots, enabling you to add up to 2 GB of RAM for worry-free handling graphics-intensive presentations and multiple open business productivity applications. To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.
- DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data--great for backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL, 8x for both single-layer DVD+R/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, and 24x/16x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.
- Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers a launch button for the Express CD/DVD media player and control buttons (play, stop, next, previous) as well as a volume control dial.
Screen, Video & Audio This notebook has a 15.4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the ATI Radeon XPress 200M integrated video/graphics card, which provides good, though not high-end, 3-D graphics. It delivers up to 128 MB of dynamically allocated video RAM shared with the system RAM. ATI's HyperMemory technology allows the chipset to run in either Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) mode or with dedicated frame buffer memory to enhance graphics performance. It also features an integrated audio card with headphone and microphone jacks.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This Toshiba Satellite has an integrated Atheros 802.11b/g wireless-LAN that enables you to easily connect at wireless hotspots wherever you roam. You get a decent offering of connectivity options (though no FireWire):
- 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
- 1 VGA monitor port
- 1 S-Video out
- 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type II, PCMCIA R2.01, PC Card16, CardBus)
- 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.92) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Fast Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).
Operating System
Windows Vista Home Basic is the operating system for users with basic computing needs, such as surfing the Internet, corresponding with friends and family using e-mail, or performing basic document creation and editing tasks. Additionally, Windows Vista Home Basic integrates new search tools throughout the operating system to help you quickly find the precise file or program you need.
Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.
Preloaded Software
Toshiba software includes Disc Creator, Recovery Disc Creator, and Speech System. Third-party software titles include Microsoft Works 8.5, InterVideo WinDVD 8 SD, Google Desktop and Toolbar, McAfee Internet Security Suite (with 30-day trial), and Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60-day trial).
Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.2 x 10.5 x 1.45 (WxDxH) and weighs 6 pounds.
Power
It's powered by a 4000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 2.5 hours (depending on usage). It has a 4.5-hour full charging time.
What's in the Box
This package contains the A135-S2376 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.
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Customer Reviews
an okay computer.....i wish i payed this price for it 
2007-05-28
I just unboxed Toshiba's Satellite A135-S2376. I already have an older Gateway desktop and a laptop that I bought back in November. I had to see what Windows Vista was like (and since my laptop has Windows XP Media Center edition 2005 on it) here I am. This computer comes with Windows Vista Basic, so some of the best features of the new operating environment are excluded. That means no Aero interface, no flip screens or live thumbnails. The look of Vista (basic) is a minor improvement over XP and there are a few cool new things (like Sidebar and gadgets). The search feature has been integrating into the start menu, making it more convenient to use with better response times. The new filing system icons (i.e. music, documents and pictures) are also aesthetically pleasing. It is also easier to edit photos. The software (as part of Vista) has basic editing features that XP lacked.
The computer itself.....
The Toshiba Satellite series varies in price range and features. Mine, the Satellite A135-S2376 is on the lower end of the spectrum. As previously stated it comes with the most basic edition of Windows. It also sports an Intel Celeron M processor with a not too impressive 1.60 GHz clock speed. Its 512 MB of RAM barely runs Vista Basic so an upgrade will require at least another half gig of RAM (but it should be 1 gig just to air on the safe side). I don't think the graphics card is Vista premium ready either (a major flaw).
The system is barebones, only shipping with essential software. This includes: A 60 day trail of Office 2007 (I thankfully still had 1 license left on my Office 2007 Home & Student), a suite of trail video games from Toshiba, basic software for the optical drive and a few solicitations. I usually buy computers for the hardware itself, but Toshiba could have included a few more programs.
More about the Hardware...
Toshiba has a form factor for its Satellites that is quite nice. The casing is sturdy and practical. The media control buttons are a nice touch. The display is bright with a 15.4 inch widescreen that is good for viewing web content. It also has 4 USB connections (on the right/left sides and the back). Another major thing it lacks is a media card reader. That's right, this computer does not have any type of reader that supports SD Cards (or any of its competitors). It does have a PC card slot (which I will never use). And flash drives can hold roughly the same amount of information as any media card. But even with flash drives, being media card reader-less puts this system at a major disadvantage.
This leaves the included 100 GB hard drive and DVD writer as the best features. I have not test ran the DVD writer yet but I have managed to slip about 30 GB onto the hard drive (it always baffles me how hard drive memory gets away so fast). I use my other laptop (with an external hard drive) as my media base (music, movies, games) so I should have at least 50 GB on this system for quite a while. I have put about 5 GB worth of albums on this computer and I have downloaded a few software programs from the Internet (like ITunes, Acid Music studio and Limewire).
Summation....
The Toshiba Satellite A135-S2376 could be a much better computer. But for its price range of $600-$800 (although I paid $1000 for mine :( ), it could be much worse. It does lack a few important features that are standard on computers these days, but that said, this is still a decent product from a company with a reputation for making very good laptops.
If choices are slim....pick the A135-S2376 up. If you have a few hundred more dollars in your pocket, get the next tier Satellite.
