Toshiba Satellite A205 S7468 15.4" Laptop Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5250, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium

Editorial Review
Stylishly accented with an onyx blue metallic LCD cover, the Toshiba Satellite A205-S7468 notebook PC is a great blend of multitasking productivity, multimedia prowess, and efficiently powered portability. It features a large, bright 15.4-inch XGA-resolution LCD (1280 x 800)--perfect for viewing multiple application screens or watching widescreen movies on DVD. It's also great for using as a media center, with Toshiba's unique Express Media Player enabling you to bypass the system and access CDs and DVDs with a touch of button. This notebook also incorporates an HD DVD drive that's compatible with the new high-definition DVD disc format. Enjoy amazingly crisp and vibrantly colorful imagery from this new format. You'll also be able to burn a wide range of disc formats with the integrated DVD/CD burner.

This notebook is powered by the 1.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, which offers a 20 percent performance boost over its predecessor while using 28 percent less power--so you get the benefit of a powerful dual-core PC plus all the benefits of mobility. It includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. It also includes a 200 GB hard drive, 2 GB of RAM, Intel GMA X3100 video card with up to 358 MB of shared video RAM, webcam integrated onto the bezel for video conferencing, and four USB ports for easy connections to all your peripherals.

This PC also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also 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 Core 2 Duo T5250 processor has a 1.5 GHz processor speed, fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and large 2 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.)
The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:
- Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
- Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
- Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
- Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.
Hard Drive: The 200 GB Serial ATA hard drive provides more than enough capacity for storing a large audio and video library, as well as extra space required for video editing. However its 4200 RPM speed is a bit slower than current standard hard drives. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1 GB DDR2, PC5300) is an excellent start, but you'll want to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and productivity suites. It provides two DIMM slots and has a large 4 GB maximum RAM capacity. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed.
DVD/CD Drive: This Satellite notebook offers the next generation of DVD entertainment with the HD DVD ROM optical drive, which provides the superior image and sound quality of high-definition images and multichannel surround sound as well as backward compatibility with standard DVD movie discs and content burned onto DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM. It also incorporates a multi-format DVD/CD burner, which is compatible with dual-layer (DL) discs that can hold up to 8.5 GB of data. It features the following speeds: 2.4x DVD+R DL, 2x DVD-R DL, 4x for both single-layer DVD+R/-R, 4x DVD+RW, 4x DVD-RW, 3x DVD-RAM, and 24x/10x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.
Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers 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 Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which uses shared video memory (up to 358 MB allocated from the system memory) and provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with this notebook's integrated quad-mode Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (though no standard PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a good offering of connectivity options:

4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
1 VGA monitor port
1 S-Video port for connecting to a TV
1 ExpressCard 54/34
Stereo headphones/speakers/line-out; microphone/line-in

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

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
Microsoft Works 8.5, InterVideo WinDVD 8, Google Desktop and Picasa, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5, McAfee Internet Security Suite (30-day trial), and Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60-day trial).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.3 x 10.5 x 1.55 inches (WxDxH, and it weighs 6 pounds.

Power
It comes with a 4000 mAH lithium-ion battery pack for extra-long battery life.

What's in the Box
This package contains the A205-S7468 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

Fast and Easy to Set up

2007-12-01
This laptop is a pleasure to use and I can't describe how great an improvement it is over my old '98 program. I can't complain about my old dinasaour.It has served me well for almost 9 years. I now feel as if I've joined the 21st century!I highly recommend this Toshiba!

Great product, only defect no web cam

2007-11-29
I bought this laptop for all the extras, 2 Gb RAM 160 Gb Hard drive dvd burner doble layer, but the only defect is that AMAZON add to the specifications that it has a web cam, but it doesn't, if you reply you'll have a nice answer from AMAZON

Great Laptop. Only problem: Vista

2007-11-21
The laptop itself is excellent. The problem is Vista. And even with 2GB RAM and dual processor, it's very slow. But, of course, that's true for ANY computer that comes with that OS.

Once I installed my XP, this computer showed awesome performance.

Laptop no webcam integrated onto the bezel

2007-11-08
Buy a laptop and has no Webcam .
In the feature sold with the Webcam.

This notebook is powered by the 1.46 GHz Intel Pentium dual-core processor and it comes with 2 GB of installed RAM (which can be increased to a maximum of 4 GB). It also includes a 160 GB hard drive, 54g Wi-Fi connectivity, Intel GMA X3100 video card with up to 358 MB of shared video RAM, webcam integrated onto the bezel for video conferencing

I do not recommend
rosa albornoz

Good so far

2008-02-21
Seems fast enough, even with Vista. THe only thing I don't like so far are the status indicator lights on the lip below where your wrists rest....they are WAY TOO BRIGHT. IN a dim room, it is very distracting. I wish there was a way to turn them off or dim them...

nothing to complain!

2008-02-18
first of all, i didn't have any problems with anything in my order.
i purchased it few days before i travel so i needed to get it on the right time that i chose. it came in the estimate date.

second of all, it came perfectly.. exactly the one that i picked with its manual, dvd with the back up of the windows vista and the other things to use in case of need to restore the computer.
i'm using it now! a really good computer! i'm architecture student and i use a lot of heavy programs and it's working really good!
that's it! and i think this store is reliable!

Vista makes it too slow

2008-01-24
I purchased this computer because my Vaio 1G FS 660 tended to be a bit slow when having Itunes, word, and Photo
shop running at the same time, so I thought this Core Duo 2 with 2 G would fly, but it is darn slow, and I am very likely to delet Vista and install XP

Great Performance!

2008-01-20
I purchased this laptop right before I traveled overseas to Taiwan. I was looking for something compact, reliable, and easy to use. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

This is my first experience with a notebook, and for the price (maybe 40% more than a comparable desktop?), it's been wonderful. The dual core processor and 2GB of RAM make it easy to run multiple applications. I was a little worried about the reliability of Windows Vista, but for the most part it's been fine. The automated online updates sometimes cause a few glitches, but they're usually easy to remedy.

I've become an avid fan of Toshiba products and would reccomend this to any price-conscious buyer who's looking for something reliable and quality-built.

I received the equipment, but I was disappointed because there has webcan as announced.

2007-12-06
Purchased Toshiba Satellite A205 - S7443 15.4 "Notebook PC (Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor T2310, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) to work and study with videoconferencing (emergency). I received the equipment, but I was disappointed because there has webcan as announced. I could not return because of the urgency for my work.