Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q880 TruBrite 18.4-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black/Red)

by Toshiba

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 17.4 x 1.6 inches ; 9.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00305HS7K
• Item model number: PQX33U-01J00H
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,174 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 12, 2010

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q880: Hard-core Gaming, Brilliant Graphics

Amplify your 3D gaming and video editing with incredibly fast frame rates with the Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q880 gaming laptop, which features a stunning, high-definition 18.4-inch display and the Intel Core i7 processor with four cores of intelligent processing power. Additionally, it offers ultra-fast DDR3 system memory and the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M graphics with 1 GB of GDDR5 video memory. Together, this pairing of high-performance technologies allow you to rip through the latest 3D games at lightning-fast frame-rates or create high-definition video and audio faster and more efficiently with smooth rendering and encoding.

The Toshiba Qosmio X505 features a striking design on the outside and is packed with premium technologies on the inside (see larger image).

The stunning Fusion finish in Omega Black with stylish red chrome accents (see larger image).

A comfortable full keyboard with LED Backlighting and numeric 10-key pad (see larger image).

The Qosmio X505 features Toshiba's striking Fusion Finish in Omega Black with stylish red chrome accents and a comfortable full keyboard with LED Backlighting and numeric 10-key pad. An intuitive touchpad with multi-touch control enables greater flexibility to browse and control what's happening on-screen with gesture-commands--including two-finger pinch, swipe, rotate and scroll.

Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.

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Key Features

• 18.4-inch high-definition TruBrite display with 1920 x 1080 resolution for amazing color depth and clarity and native 1080p support.
  

• 1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM processor (with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.80 GHz) delivers maximum processing power in response to peak demands. Intel's Turbo Boost technology maximizes speed for demanding applications, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workload--providing more performance when you need it the most. It also comes equipped with Intel HD Graphics--an advanced video engine that delivers smooth, high-quality HD video playback, and advanced 3D capabilities, providing an ideal graphics solution for everyday computing.
  

• 64 GB Serial ATA solid state drive is free of moving parts and almost two times faster than conventional drives. You can load an entire game onto the solid state drive, then sit back and enjoy the fun with no gaps in the action.
• 500 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM) with an impact sensor that helps safeguard your data by "parking" the hard drive heads in the event of a drop or sudden movement.
  

• 6 GB of DDR3 RAM (upgradeable to 8 GB) gives you the bandwidth you need to get the most of today's popular software, multitask all day long and run applications without a glitch.
  

• NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M with 1 GB GDDR5 discrete graphics memory offers what gamers want most--hyper-realistic action with intense 3D visuals, plus vibrant, lifelike scenes and dynamic character effects--thanks to NVIDIA's PhysX technology. It goes beyond everyday gaming with built-in CUDA technology to speed demanding system tasks, like video playback and HD movie editing. You'll also enjoy up to a 50 percent improvement over previous generation mobile graphics processors, and a more rewarding Windows 7 experience with accelerated video and image processing.
  

• Watch Blu-ray Disc movies in crystal clear resolution with the read-only Blu-ray drive; also supports reading/writing of CD-R/RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, and DVD-RAM The drive also offers Labelflash printing, which enables you to personalize your discs and keep them looking attractive and organized with direct-to-disc laser printing.
  

• Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for greater speed and range.
  

• 1.3 megapixel webcam with Face Recognition capabilities for added security. And if you're using one laptop for several users--say for the whole family or for a small business--Toshiba Face Recognition lets you switch profiles with one simple look.
• Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity enables you to communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as printers and cell phones.
• Harman Kardon stereo speakers bring an added dimension to music, movies and gaming with rich, immersive virtual surround sound.
• Dolby Home Theater suite of technologies delivers virtual surround sound from stereo speakers or any pair of headphones.
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 5-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Multi Media Card, xD Picture Card
• ExpressCard (34/54) slot lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features.
• Four total USB ports with one eSATA/USB combo port that also features Sleep and Charge capabilities, allowing you to charge your mobile phone and other devices even when the notebook is asleep or off.
• HDMI-CEC audio/video output lets you control additional media players with just a single remote.
• Combo headphone S/PDIF digital audio output
• Enjoy proactive PC health--without the worry. For your peace mind, this laptop comes with an innovative PC Health Monitor that constantly keeps tabs on things like your machine's power usage, temperature and hard drive--so you won't have to.
• Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.
• Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
• Pre-loaded software includes Microsoft Works SE 9.0 for word processing and spreadsheet work. Enjoy a 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007.
• 12-cell (8000 mAh) battery
  

• Weight: 10.1 pounds
  

• Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.6 x 1.63 inches (WxDxH)
• Warranty: 1 year warranty with international limited warranty coverage
• Energy Star 5.0 certified
• Gold EPEAT designation for meeting standards to help reduce its environmental impact.
• RoHS compliant effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances

What's in the Box
This package contains the Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q880 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.

It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2010 (30-day trial), Toshiba PC Health Monitor, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Edition (60-day trial), Windows Media Player, Google Toolbar, WildTangent Orb Game Console

Product Description

The Qosmio X505 laptop delivers the extreme performance you crave, transforming the latest games and high-def content into a delectable feast for the eyes, while keeping you riveted with blazing-fast frame rates and entertaining extras. You’ll enjoy elite performance powered by the newest Intel Core i7 quad-core or Core i5 dual core processors, enthusiast class NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M graphics and up to 8GB of ultrafast DDR3 memory. Power through hyper-realistic 3D games brought to life with intense visuals and sound. Create and edit hi-res photos and videos. Enjoy the latest movies on Blu-ray Disc. Hold tons of entertainment on a massive high-speed hard drive. Or simply plow through your day on a brilliant, HD 18.4-Inch display.8 Topped by a striking Fusion Finish in Omega Black, the Qosmio X505 has power performance and portability to unleash your creativity.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, Powerful - Best Laptop I've Owned by Far!, February 2, 2010

By 

Kaio (Santa Monica, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q880 TruBrite 18.4-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black/Red) (Personal Computers)

Cosmetically, the Qosmio looks like a technological piece of art; under the hood, it gets even better. Every time I lay my hands on it, I'm thrilled I made this purchase.

I originally got the X505-Q850 and am posting that review here as well since the 880 is essentially the same laptop and I thought this review would be helpful to people....

I'd been hoping to put off buying a new laptop but the screen on my old HP was failing and I just can't justify sinking money into obsolete tech. I convinced myself I was willing to live with the funky lines running through my screen in favor of being frugal, but with each malfunctioning pixel, it was clear I had to buy a replacement soon.

If you're like me, a new laptop isn't something to be taken lightly. It's a decision I'll have to live with a good many years, so selecting the right model is important since I'll be using it on a daily basis. Well, I'd like to say I did exhaustive research comparison shopping every new laptop, but that simply wasn't the case. I had two basic criteria that eliminated 99% of the laptops on the market: I wanted the largest screen possible and a lighted keyboard.

Enter Qosmio...
(Insert angelic harps here)

Thankfully, Amazon makes it easy to search laptops by attribute like screen size, and the first laptop that came up on my search was the Qosmio x505-Q850 -- the pictures were more reminiscent of an elegant sports car than laptop -- it was love at first sight. The screen was a whopping 18.4 inches, which is huge for a laptop, and much to my surprise, it even had a lighted keyboard!!!

(Angelic choir join the harps and crescendo for dramatic effect...)

Could finding my perfect laptop be this easy? "Calm down," I tell myself, "looks aren't everything." The price isn't cheap, yet it's nearly half the cost of Alienware, it's nearest rival in specs and looks. Excitedly reading the product info, I was thrilled to see the Qosmio's feature set is just as brilliant on the inside as it is on the outside. With the latest quad core processor, a blazing fast solid state drive for the OS, a 2nd SATA drive, 6gb of memory, the latest NVIDIA graphics card, Bluetooth, HDMI output and Blu-Ray drive, this Qosmio is a powerhouse indeed.

Delving deeper, I learned this new Qosmio had just been released and was in limited supply. Even buying direct from Toshiba was a 2 month wait. Amazon had a few in stock but quickly sold out. With more pixels disappearing on my old HP, I kept a keen lookout hoping someone would get the Qosmio in stock soon. I was hoping to buy at Amazon and get triple points on their credit card (every 2500 points gets me a $25 gift card and triple points on a laptop would be near 6000!!) but alas, a different retailer got in a small quantity, and much as I hated to do it, I cheated on Amazon and made my purchase elsewhere.

When my Qosmio arrived, it was a euphoric experience. The box is red and black with a huge red Q on it and the same detailed design that's on the laptop itself. As I peeled back the box tab to open it, the inside flap had little red letters that said "Enjoy your laptop." My heart fluttered, "I will," I thought to myself, "Don't you worry."

Angelic harps reach their apex as I open the Qosmio box. And there it was -- emerging through light beams -- with its high gloss black finish glistening, and points of light sparkling off red metallic accents. I challenge anyone to find a more stunning looking laptop.

Okay, so literary embellishments aside, this really is a great laptop. And Windows 7 is pretty awesome too. Boot up time is lightening fast; 45 seconds tops from the moment I hit the power button and I can click on anything and get going instantly. And this new processor is a total beast too. Photoshop CS4 opens near instantly. A 100gb backup took barely over an hour. And rendering video editing is blazing fast too. I'm not a gamer, so I have nothing to report there, but judging by everything else, it ought to be equally fast in that department.


"Gaming Laptop" is just a euphemism for Fast!

If you see a computer that's touted for "gamers" don't assume that's all it's good for. "Gaming computer" just means fast, and who doesn't want a fast computer?? I've seen several reviews that did speed tests pitting this new Qosmio against its rivals and it outperformed them with ease. Granted, it was the only one with this new processor and as others follow suit, the speed comparisons will level off.


Blu-Ray Rom vs Burner

ROM basically means this drive plays Blu-Ray disks but doesn't burn them. (It does, of course, burn DVD+-RW and CDs.) At first, I was disappointed Qosmio didn't have a Blu-Ray burner. But then I realized I'd rather archive all my video to MPEG4 or WMV and watch it directly off Media Share. I already use Media Share to listen to all my music, so why not do the same with video too? It's way more convenient to access MP3 files digitally than it is to load a CD into a player, just like it's easier to do backups with external hard drives as opposed to disks. Digital files are just faster and more convenient, so a Blu-Ray burner may already be meaningless for my purposes.


HDMI Output

One of my favorite features of the Qosmio is the ease with which it can be connected to my 50" plasma! Just run an HDMI cable from your computer to your plasma and it's good to go! Audio is automatically cut from the laptop and plays out the TV instead. And the picture is full 1080p HD! Play any video clip, surf the web or watch a Blu-Ray movie all on your plasma!! Very cool!! Oh, and in case you're wondering, the Qosmio uses a standard HDMI cable, not the mini size seen on camcorders. And Qosmio automatically detects the HDMI signal and turns on an off the external display automatically. You can have both screens active at the same time, or choose between the two. Combined with my Philips Wireless HDMI transmitter and it all couldn't be easier to use.


Lighted Keyboard

I've read some forums where people were upset the keyboard doesn't stay lit all the time and turns off after so many seconds. NOT TRUE -- the keyboard CAN be set to stay on all the time. On your Qosmio, just go to: >Start >Toshiba >Utilities >HWSetup >Illumination >then under "Keyboard Backlight," click the radio button "FN" then check the box "On." After you reboot, you'll be able to turn the keyboard on and off by using the "FN" + "Z" keys. Personally, I have my keyboard set to stay on all the time, and naturally, it turns off automatically when the computer is shut down. It's also worth mentioning that the keyboard itself is very smooth and QUIET! I don't know about you, but clackety-clack keyboards drive me nuts! No reason why they can't all be virtually silent like this Qosmio's. I have to strain just to hear a sound -- perfect!


No Crapware

I hate it when I buy a new computer and it's loaded with garbage programs that basically amount to advertisers littering all over my new hard drive. Thankfully, Qosmio comes with very little corporate garbage under the hood -- a Microsoft Office trial, Quickbooks, Toshiba Online Backup -- oh, and that crappy Norton I got rid of on my first bootup. Aside from that, it's pretty much a clean install with only the necessities, and I'm thankful for that. I'll install my own programs, thank you very much! Incidentally, Toshiba did a good job of including some helpful utilities and a decent DVD/CD burning program, so kudos there.


Harman / Kardon Speakers

No, these aren't going to fill a room or blow anyone's hair back, but compared to other laptops I've encountered, these speakers are great! If I'm out on the go, they're just fine and plenty powerful. But when I'm home, I do plug in a set of Altec Lansings for a fuller, dynamic sound. But truth be told, I don't listen to music off my laptop. But I do have it connected to my DirecTV receiver and listen to music on my home theater system via Media Share. There's nothing like it!


Eco-Mode

I applaud Toshiba for including this feature but it's nothing I'll ever use. Basically, you can setup this feature so that at a push of a button, your the Qosmio will conserve energy and you can feel good about reducing your carbon footprint. That's all well and good but I didn't spend 2 grand for a sluggish computer. I paid for speed and I want speed, I'll deal with my carbon footprint elsewhere. I take the bus most places, so I have most people beat right there. I'll burn my laptop as fast as I please; thanks much.


Face Recognition Login

Yes, you heard me -- this Qosmio has a built in web cam that's good for video calls via Skype, but it also does one better -- the built in web cam also enables the use of face recognition software in lieu of a password for login! Cool!


Fingerprints

The high gloss finish of this Qosmio is stunning but it also picks up fingerprints with ease. Personally, I don't mind. I wouldn't want to sacrifice the Qosmio's lux look and don't mind wiping it down to keep it shiny and clean. Besides, we've all seen the reports that say people's keyboards have more germs on them than a public toilet, so it's a good thing to wipe your laptop down frequently no matter what.


Solid State Drive

I credit Qosmio for wanting to be on the cutting edge but the solid state drive on this thing is way too small -- only 64gb. It does have a 2nd 320gb SATA which beats most competitors since it spins at 7200rpm. But the SSD is still small for my taste. To make matters worse, the partitions only give 47gb of usable space. The rest is allocated to... Read more ›

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well priced speed demon, January 28, 2010

By 

C. Wade (Philadelpha, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q880 TruBrite 18.4-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black/Red) (Personal Computers)

Bluntly, this laptop puts most gaming desktops to shame. The I7 processor is a true upgrade from the Core 2, 1066MHz RAM and SSD give you enough bandwidth and read speed to reduce load times incredibly, and the huge HD screen is like sitting in the front row at a theater. Add to that Blu-Ray, the undisputed best speakers I have ever heard on a portable, and a full-sized illuminated keyboard and you will realize why this is the most impressive gaming laptop on the market.

The price is extremely reasonable given the feature set. Previous generation gaming portables could lighten your wallet by almost $3,000 for stock options, while this one is under $2,000 with just about every bell or whistle you could want. Building a desktop with similar specs would set you back nearly $1,400, thus a $500 price premium for portability is more than acceptable.

In multimedia, simply put, the Qosmio Q880 will handle anything you throw at it. Blu-Ray is flawless, as is 1080P downloaded content. The speakers are very powerful for their size but do lack bass response like all small speakers, though I was impressed with what it had. It seems to use the chassis as a wave guide for low frequencies. The screen is bright with good color reproduction, easily the match of a desktop display, and even when viewed very closely (in your lap for instance) retains sharpness.

As to gaming, again there is no current title that this laptop cannot handle. In extremely demanding games you may have to turn off a few bells and whistles to play at 1920x1080, the same as you would with a single card in a desktop. 6GB of RAM as opposed to the usual 3 or 4 in gaming laptops is refreshing, giving overhead rather than trying to match the current batch of high end games. World of Warcraft, The Sims 3, Borderlands, and Mass Effect 2 all run without a hitch.

Finally the laptop-y things; Battery life is good for a gaming laptop but this is by no means a netbook. You'll get about 2.5-3 hours in constant use provided you're not running 3D games or anything more demanding than Internet and Office apps. Thanks to a CPU that can not just ramp down its frequency but shut off parts of itself on demand, you can have battery life and power in the same box. The appearance of the unit is very cool, but I tend to think a lot of people would like options other than black and red.

A few things I was disappointed to find: There is no install media included with the Q880. I know it is easy to create restore disks, but when plopping down nearly two grand for a laptop you'd think the least they could do would be to print a few DVDs. The first thing I do with a prebuilt system is reinstall everything without the bloatware, and having to use several of my own blank DVDs is asinine. As of my receipt of this unit there are no valid drivers for the GeForce 360M, and the ones available from Toshiba's site do not support it either. (The ones that come preloaded into the OS are edited to support the 360M and are a bit out of date. I had to hack my own to bring them to current, and there are minor bugs as the official drivers do not yet exist. After nVidia officially releases the 300 series a driver will be available.)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Love this Product!!!!, March 10, 2010

By 

Jim "Electronics Engineer" (Warner Robins, Georgia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q880 TruBrite 18.4-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black/Red) (Personal Computers)

Does everything Toshiba advertises! I also had many,many specialized utilities - and all have run under 64-bit Win 7. Buying a pre-packaged/integrated system sure was much easier than getting the desktop I built afterwards online ... Not cheap - but great/fast shipping, great system stability and operaiton. Can't comment on the value of the warranty as I have not used it ... and I am a VERY heavy usenet user - frequently downloading 24x7 several days per week! Even the sound system is adequate in this laptop - which is big and heavy - but very easy to read (large screen) and the fastest laptop I have ever seen! If you can afford it - highly recommended. As a 56 year old electronics engineer - computing over 30 years - I am very impressed with this Toshiba product.

Jim

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