Customer Reviews

Toshiba Satellite A205-S4777 15.4-inch Laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5450, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this laptop when it was just released. I was amazed about the features that were announced and got excited enough to order one from Amazon. Now that I've used it for a month or so, I still think of it as a good machine. Nevertheless, it has some flaws that are worthmention: First of all this machine is not tight enough: I made the same review at toshibadirect, since the borders crack very often. It seems that the laptop wasn't put together with enough junctions or screws or whatever it should've had and it doesn't. Second, the laptop doesn't have the fingerprint scan security device Amazon features. This is not a toshiba flaw, it is Amazon's and I complained about it, since it is a misleading description. Third, and this is just my opinion: it should've had a bluetooth antenna and it doesn't. Fourth: it is great that now you can burn high quality labels to your optical media directly from your drive, but labelflash media is not widely available, I have not been able to buy media from Amazon or other stores. A final issue that may be a concern is its graph capacity. The windows experience index gives this machine a 3.1 out of 5... and it's all blames to the graphics. I have experienced some slowness and a few crashes when I demand too much to the video.

Regardless of my complains, I'm still satisfied with the A205 S4797. I think it is a balanced computer with a great price vs quality relation and I hope it matches my previous great experiences of endurance with toshiba.

Ufff!!! Extremely good!! This is one of the best laptops that I ever had, Processor very good speed, memory works very fast, Hard drive awesome capacity, display high quality graphics, webcam sometimes get trouble when you run messenger or try to connect but its ok, DVD/CDRW very good, Vista a little bit slow when open any aplicattion, all the rest works smoothly. I recommend this laptop for any kind of use.
Ricardo Guerrero T.

From the moment I opened the box I've the same problems. Programs not responding, Windows shutting down and window changing sizes uncommanded. I have contacted Toshiba several times. I was told that I should have returned the computer to the retailer. However,inside the box ws a note telling me that if I had any problems that I was not to return it but contact Toshiba. I'm sure its a problem with Vista, but Toshiba sold me the computer with this OS. Toshiba now wants me to send my new computer in for servicing. It's like buying a new car with many problems and the dealer wants me to send it back to the factory for repairs. Like the car, I bought the new computer because I needed it. I cant go weeks without a car or computer.

I would no recommend Toshiba or VISTA untill they workout all there problems.

Walter

The laptop has been performing well for a month and half. However, internet explorer has never worked and has caused many crashes. This is frustrating since I called Toshiba and they told me that they will guide me through a re-installing of everything on the laptop. I don't have time to do this.
This is one problem. The other problem is physical. The screen came with a non-working pixel. It stays blue all the time. Toshiba will take the computer away for repair... a complete hassle since I need the computer every day. If the laptop had not arrived with these problems, it would get 5 stars.

I bought three toshiba computers, I have proved fabulous, 4 stars are becouse windows vista run a little bit slow, i think xp will run great, but for me is just waht a need, toshiba is simple Exciting.

What a great computer! Price from Amazon was good. Does all I need. Took some getting used to Vista but a good system. If you do not play with it , it will be just fine.By the way - DSL will make this computer sing.

I've bought two of these laptops recently. The first one was for me and it has performed flawlessly. It is a great machine, good price.

But the second one was intended for my dad. He received it, but the screen was black, you could see a bit but was black. Toshiba technical service said that was the "inverter", changed that but it didn't worked. Now we are waiting screen replacement.

This laptop is very good, I give it only 4 stars because of the lemon I've got.

Toshiba PA3567U-1ETC Keyboard Protector for Toshiba Notebooks
Toshiba PA3534U-1BRS Notebook Battery

The computer A205-S4797 is excellent equipment. The relationship price-performance is very good.

The Toshiba's applications are good integrated to the environment of Windows vista. Webcam and integrated microphone give good response. Superior results were obtained when using Skype application. When using an external "standard" microphone, the sensibility is significantly lower.

The wireless integrated system is ok.

I tested this computer to intense real work. In this test, it processing images and video (DV), as the capture in real-time by IEEE 1394 port, edition, generation of complex movie files ("special effects") in format AVI, and MPEG2; DVD authoring with good performance (without freezing of the processor neither lost frame). Naturally, the mode of energy management should be in "maximum performance". Just by 2GB RAM, and the video occupying 20% of the memory (the memory RAM is shared with the video memory), it is necessary to turn off ALL applications that won't be used, to offer the described performance. The heat is appropriately dissipated by the integrated fan system.


Of course, if you want a high computer capacity for processing and calculation is recommended that you look to high line of portable or desktop computers. Also, try to have a specialized video card with enough and independent memory. Hard disk up 7200 RPM it is good to look.


For those applications which cannot execute in Windows Vista, it is possible to creation a Windows XP partition. Free simplicity applications available in the web allow selecting the operating system for the start up (switch between Xp, Vista or another operating system).

Looking accessories proposed by Toshiba, is broadly recommendable the Toshiba Silicone Keyboard Protector (Part Number: PA3567U-1ETC) which give protect to dust and make typewrite more comfortable.

In accordance with the technical specifications, this computer can work with 64 bits operating systems. This was not evaluated in these tests.


In conclusion, this equipment, inside the range determined by the technical specifications and its peripherals (middle range computer), covers the requirements thoroughly for businesses, entertainment and intensive use of calculation and regular storage (160GB) such as processing of images and video, with an excellent relationship price-performance.

This Laptop is great for Business.

Pros: Keyboard feel is smooth, Screen is clear, Sound is great.

With 2GB Ram this machine run Windows Vista very well.

Cons: Integrated Video Card. But for Business you will dont need a faster Vid.

My daughter has toshiba laptop (Sat)and ran into problems with black screen. After many hours trying to fix it, the cause was toshiba power management system. By using the toshiba master disk, I change the default to Windows power management system. This seemed to correct the problem for the most part.

I found that Black screen and other things can be caused by the toshiba design. The air vents are all on the bottom (if they haven't changed the design yet). If the unit is placed for example on a bed etc can block the vents causing the unit to over heat and causing strange things to happen including black screen.

I found that speed was issue with time and after installing new software. The speed issue was directly related to cleaning up the internet and temp files using Norton or Mcfee maintence tools etc. You can also set I.E. to default to empty these files (internet only) when the browser is closed.