Toshiba Satellite P25-S509 Laptop (2.80-GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive)

by Toshiba

Product Details

Data Sheet [209kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 16.4 x 11.5 x 1.8 inches ; 9.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000DJEIF
• Item model number: PSP20U-1LKF3V
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,690 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 30, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Toshiba's Satellite P25-S509 combines the computing performance of a desktop computer and the audio/video performance of a personal entertainment system into a single, portable system. It features an 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, spacious 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and built-in 802-11g wireless connectivity.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The large 80 GB hard drive is on the high end of hard drive sizes for currently available notebook PCs. It's more than enough for storing your business documents or a very respectable collection of digital audio files.
• Processor: A 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system--see more in Tech Talk section below) powers the P25-S509, which offers more than enough speed for everyday and business computing tasks.
• Memory: The P25-S509 comes preloaded with 512 MB of DDR SDRAM; the computer has two slots with a maximum memory expansion of 2 GB.
• CD/DVD Drive: The DVD multi-drive is capable of reading and writing DVD (DVD-R/RW format) and CD disks. It has the following write speeds: CD-R (16x), CD-R/W (4x), DVD-R (2x), DVD-R/W (1x), DVD-RAM (2x).
• Keyboard & Mouse: The P25-S509 has a full-sized 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys and two-button touchpad.

Sound and Graphics
The P25-S509 produces crisp video playback and good 3-D performance for gaming, thanks to its 32 MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4 FX Go5200 video/graphics card. With 32 MB of dedicated video RAM, the P25-S509 will perform well with multimedia applications and will do OK with gaming software. The 17-inch XGA TFT active matrix display has a native resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels (with support for 16 million colors).

The Realtek ALC202 sound card (18-bit, full duplex, AC'97 standard) is integrated into the computers main board. The P25-S509 features built-in Harman Kardon speakers, and it has headphone, microphone, and line-in audio jacks.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
You get a wide range of connectivity options with the P25-S509, including two PC card slots (with support for two Type II or one Type III card) and the following external connections:

• 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; 1 in front and 1 in back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 2 infrared ports
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 TV-out (S-Video)
• Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot

It also has an an integrated 802.11g wireless LAN (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates), integrated 56K modem (V.92), and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
The P25-S509 comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Norton Antivirus 2003 (with 90 days of complimentary live updates), Adobe Acrobat Reader, AOL (with three-month trial membership), Quicken 2003, InterVideo WinDVD SE (for playing DVD movies), and DragÕn Drop CD+DVD software.

Dimensions and Weight
A little heavier than similarly priced notebooks, the P25-S509 weighs 9.9 pounds and measures 16.4 x 11.5 x 1.8 (L x W x H).

Power
The included 12-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery weighs 1.4 pounds and has an approximate 2-hour battery life (during normal use). It also comes with a 120W AC adapter.

What's in the Box
This package includes the Toshiba Satellite P25-S509 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.

Tech Talk
Hyper-Threading: A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast, FULL of features, consumer desktop replacement., December 10, 2003

By 

Erick C. (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toshiba Satellite P25-S509 Laptop (2.80-GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive) (Personal Computers)

This laptop is big, 17" XGA screen. Bright and nice. Its kinda heavy if you want to carry it around (10punds) If you need a laptop to carry around then buy a 15" or a Centrino powered notebook.

The hardrive has only 5200rpm so this is the only thing I don't like about this laptop. I whish it was 7200rpm.

Battery does not last so long, but where would you go with this big and heavy laptop without a DC or AC adapter? So this not an issue for me.

I really like the power on button, turn it on and it turns red, then when windows boots up it turns blue, on standby mode it flashes slowly... it's beautiful!!

I only wish it weight less, kinda like the powerbook.

Yeah, this machine is fast, I currently have a Dual Athlon MP 1800+ as my desktop, at work I have a Pentium 4 HT 800 FSB at 2.4mhz and this Toshiba laptop can put up a nice fight between them. Of course when rendering, the dual athlon MP wins.

All the menus just "pop up" instantly, programs open up fastly. Boots up and turns of fastly. Windows XP PRo, great!

For all the specifications on this laptop just click on the link TECHNICAL DATA on the left side on this page.

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Toshiba provides only a rescue disk!, January 1, 2004

By 

Paul Sheldon Foote (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toshiba Satellite P25-S509 Laptop (2.80-GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive) (Personal Computers)

In late November, I purchased a Toshiba Satellite P25-S509 because this is an innovative computer with many features for the money. At the time of purchase, my only concern was whether I would be able to upgrade the operating system. This computer comes with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. For many advanced uses of computers, such as Web and database development work requiring IIS, the Home Edition will not work. My plan was to upgrade the Home Edition to Microsoft Windows XP Professional.

To my shock, this computer comes only with a rescue disk. Toshiba does not supply the Microsoft XP Home Edition operating system disk. The Toshiba factory-installed image on the rescue disk includes Service Pack 1. Neither the Toshiba nor the Microsoft Web sites provide any supported upgrade paths or workarounds for this Toshiba model.

Even if you do not need to have Microsoft Windows XP Professional, buying this computer would be a mistake. If you ever have any operating system problems, your only solution would be to use the rescue disk to re-install Toshiba's factory-installed image. Doing this would require you to re-install any software you installed after purchasing the computer.

I telephoned Toshiba to ask if they sell any Toshiba laptop computer with Microsoft operating system disks. The Toshiba employee informed me that Toshiba is supplying only a rescue disk for all of its laptop computers. My response to Toshiba was that this is an unacceptable practice and that I would never buy any Toshiba computer as long as they continue to supply only a rescue disk.

It is a terrible shame that a company that has been so innovative in manufacturing full-featured laptop computers at competitive prices would resort to finding a way to destroy the value of its computers to users. No one should purchase any Toshiba laptop computer until Toshiba ends this practice of supplying only a rescue disk.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT BUY THIS COMPUTER I'M SERIOUS!, August 25, 2004

By 

G. Dewolfe (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toshiba Satellite P25-S509 Laptop (2.80-GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive) (Personal Computers)

This computer is really bad. I was so excited when I bought this computer because it was my first notebook and it was 17 inches. I've been through hell and back I can tell you that. I wasnt going to write a review on this until tonight...my cdrom multi drive died again. First one died 3 weeks after I had the computer brand new, it took toshiba in toronto 6 weeks to get me a new one which is rediculous, then they sent me the wrong cd rom drive (clearly didn't fit into my computer) so I called them to tell them that they sent me the wrong one and they called me a liar and told me many times that I was wrong and that they had sent me the right rom and that I wasnt a computer tec and that wouldnt know if it was the right one or not and then they hung up on me. SO tonight (Aug. 25th) 2 weeks after getting the cdrom that fits, the new one stopped working today so now im really mad because i have to send the whole computer back to toronto again.

Their customer service is very bad also. I called them weeks ago to tell them that my first cd rom didnt work and they said ok fed ex it to us in Toronto (I dont live in Toronto or anywhere close to there) and we'll have it back to you in a few days and I said great. SO I sent it and a week went buy and I didn't hear from them or got my computer back in the mail. So I called toshiba and asked them what the deal was and they said they would have to keep it for 4 weeks until they got the "part" in from asia. I said that's rediculous and your customer service sucks. So 1 week later I get the computer back without a cd rom in it because i told them i was paying for the internet and want my computer back and to mail me the cd rom. SO then they made me sign a "waiver" saying that if I damage the cd rom in anyway "installing" it then it's not their proboem. Installing what? All you do is push it in. So anyways I get the rom that doesnt fit 5 weeks later, call them do a bunch of yelling because now im pissed that I waited 5 weeks without a rom and they send me one that doesnt even come close to being a match for my computer. So then 2 weeks ago the new one came and it worked and fit and now today the new cd rom say i/o device error again so now i have to go through the whole thing again. I wrote the president of toshiba in the US and the BBB in Canada to tell them that im never buying a toshiba product again and why.