Toshiba Satellite P25-S676 17" Laptop (3.40 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD Super Multi Drive)

by Toshiba

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16.4 x 11.5 x 1.8 inches ; 21.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 18 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002BAN4A
• Item model number: PSP26U-0GMQZR
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 8, 2004

Product Description

Amazon Product Description

The Basics:
An awesome roster of portable computers designed for those who won't accept anything less than the finest mobile performance, Toshiba's Satellite P25 series of notebooks will handle virtually any duty you might normally reserve for a high-end desktop PC. As powerful "desktop replacements", they are somewhat bulkier and less battery efficient than today's new breed of ultra-lightweight notebooks. However, true power users will find the extra size a small price to pay for such a stunning list of amenities. This model, the Satellite P25-S676 Notebook PC, features such perks as a 17-inch widescreen display, DVD recording, state-of-the-art 3D graphic handling abilities, and a spacious 80 GB hard disk.

Processor:
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties such as word processing, email and the like. The Satellite P25-S676 lies firmly in the former category, equipped with a blazing 3.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading. Hyper-Threading, a new Intel technology, allows a single CPU system (which most are) to behave at times as a dual CPU system, thus adding substantially more speed to some high-end applications. Running at 3.4 GHz, this particular processor would be one of the fastest in any notebook, but is nothing less than spectacular with its integrated Hyper-Threading.

Memory:
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Satellite P25-S676 incorporates 512 MB of RAM, more than enough for most situations. Ultra-demanding users have the option of expanding their RAM to a boggling maximum of 2048 MB.

Video:
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). This system's graphics controller is an nVidia GeForce FX Go5700 with a whopping 128 MB of dedicated video RAM. This is simply one of the fastest graphics controllers in today's notebook world, delivering top-notch images and super-smooth frame rates to virtually any 2D or 3D application, including today's most demanding 3D games.

Display:
You'll love the way your DVD movies and 3D games look on the system's roomy 17-inch TFT WXGA display. Substantially larger than most notebook viewing screens, this display is especially notable for its widescreen format, the same panoramic configuration favored by movie-makers and some high-end game producers. And with a maximum resolution of 1440 by 900, you can expect super-sharp images no matter what you're doing.

Hard Disk:
The Satellite P25-S676 features a massive 80 GB of hard disk space. This quantity of data storage is a welcome perk indeed for those who want to operate a broad range of applications and also keep a large library of space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files.

Optical Drive:
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a combination of all of these tasks. This system features a DVD-Super-Multi drive that supports all of the above in each of today's most common CD and DVD formats.

Audio:
The system features an integrated audio processor that mimics the spatial awareness of surround sound, and two harman-kardon speakers for powerful mobile stereo output.

Keyboard and Controls:
You'll control your notebook via an 85-key keyboard with 12 function keys, dedicated Windows keys support, and a TouchPad pointing device with scroll. CD controls include Play/Pause, Stop/Eject, Previous, and Skip/Next.

Connectivity and Expansion:
The Satellite P25-S676 offers a wide variety of ways to keep in touch, including a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email access, an RJ-45 Ethernet port for high-speed wired network and Internet, and integrated wireless LAN for cordless e-communication at home, at the office or on the road via a local public hotspot. Other key amenities include four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and digital cameras, an infrared port for interacting with wireless peripherals, an IEEE 1394 FireWire port (commonly used for quick data uploads from digital camcorders), two digital (S-Video) TV-out ports, and a digital audio out (SPDIF) connection.

Operating System and Software:
Toshiba has fitted the system with one of today's most advanced operating systems, Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition.

Dimensions and Weight:
Notebook computers are manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and weights. Many of today's most powerful notebooks are also the largest, weighing ten or twelve lbs or more and therefore too big and cumbersome for extensive, continuous traveling. These are often referred to as "desktop replacements". On the other extreme are "thin and lights" or "ultra-portables", super-miniaturized units that typically aren't as powerful as their larger brethren but weigh as little as two lbs and will often fit comfortably inside a large purse. The Satellite P25-S676 is definitely larger than average, yet more compact than many other "desktop replacements" at 16.4 by 11.5 by 1.8 inches and 9.9 lbs.

Power:
The unit is equipped with a 12-cell Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that delivers 1.5 hours between charges. This is not particularly efficient when compared with less powerful ultra-portables using Intel's Centrino technology and Pentium M processor, but is in keeping with standard desktop replacement battery longevity.

Product Description

Toshiba P25-S676 Satellite Notebook Computer - Featuring an extremely powerful Intel Pentium 4 processor 3.4GHz with HT Technology, and a 17" widescreen LCD, this laptop computer makes an excellent desktop replacement. Especially when bundled with Windows XP Media Center Edition. You can watch and record TV, view videos, browse through digital photos and more - all through an easy to use interface. All of which can be controlled with the included remote control! DVD-SuperMulti Drive - (read speeds) up to 8x DVD-ROM, 4x DVD-R/RW, 4x DVD+R/RW, 2x DVD-RAM, 24x CD-R/ROM, & 12x CD-RW 17 Widescreen LCD (native resolution - 1440x900) NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5700 graphics with 128MB of DDR memory TV Tuner One Touch TV Out Button 2 PC Card Slots - 2 Type II or 1 Type III Realtek Built-in Audio with 2 Harman/Kardon speakers Integrated v.92 56k Data/Fax Modem Integrated 802.11g (802.11b compatible) Wi-Fi Adapter Ports - 10/100Mbps Ethernet, VGA, 4 USB 1.1, FIR Infrared, S-Video Out, Component Out (supports HDTV up to 1080i), 1 FireWire, Secure Digital (SD) Memory Slot, Headphone, & Microphone In Includes - a lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, Microsoft Windows XP Home, Microsoft Works, Office OneNote 2003, Office Student Teacher Edition (30-day trial), InterVideo WinDVD 4, Drag'n Drop CD+DVD Software, InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2 Platinum, ArcSoft ShowBix DVD Version 1.3, Intuit Quicken New User Edition 2004, Norton AntiVirus 2004 with a 3 month subscription, AOL with 3 months free Unit Dimensions - 16.5 (l) x 11.5 (w) x 1.85 (h) (2.05 with feet) Unit Weight - 10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Multi-Media Powerhouse, but not very portable, August 6, 2004

By 

PCS ME (NM, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toshiba Satellite P25-S676 17" Laptop (3.40 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD Super Multi Drive) (Personal Computers)

I bought this as a desktop replacement, and so far this notebook has surpassed all my expectations. Fit and finish are top-notch, this laptop is gorgeous even without turning it on. This thing is big though, I mean big! I live in a smaller town and have yet to find a store that has a bag big enough to fit this notebook. So if you're a road warrior you might want to consider a smaller choice, not to mention this thing is pushing 10lbs without any accessories. Comes with two remote controls, one for XP MCE and a small credit card sized Toshiba brand remote used exclusively for movie watching or listening to CDs, not sure why they included two since the Media Center remote will do all that and a lot more, but oh well. Also comes with a trial version of Office 2003 student edition, a nice touch that wasn't listed in the specs. Has quick launch buttons on the right for internet, mail and a tv-out feature for displaying on a TV. The LCD is extremely bright and the picture is uniform from corner to corner. Best features by far are the component out video ports and the 5.1 surround digital out for surround sound. If weight and size aren't an issue I would definitely recommend this notebook.

Update!: Finally got around to using the component video out ports and hooked it up to my HDTV, you can set the output all the way up to 720p if your tv supports it, incredible picture! If you want to take advantage of the surround sound capability of this laptop you will need a toslink adapter for the headphone jack, you can find them for a few dollars. This will allow you to plug in a digital optical audio cable. Once I got that hooked up and put a dvd in it looked and sounded just as good as my sony home theater setup. The only drawback is having to figure all this out myself, the toshiba user manual is not very friendly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Computer, but WORST SUPPORT I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED!!!, February 25, 2005

By 

Jeremy P. Seda "CEO of XMS, Inc." (Bremerton, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toshiba Satellite P25-S676 17" Laptop (3.40 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD Super Multi Drive) (Personal Computers)

I will never buy another Toshiba Computer again. I've owned 3 laptops made by Toshiba (P25-S607, M30 and P25-S676) and am impressed with the machines. However, Toshiba's support is by far the worst that I've ever encountered; in fact, I would go so far as to say that they have NO SUPPORT!

One day I was working on my P25-S676 and I shut the lid of the computer, which would obviously put the system on standby. When I opened the lid again and tried to turn the computer on, it wouldn't give me anything but a blank, black screen. I found out that the motherboard was fried (???) and that it needed to be sent into the Toshiba Support Depot. I sent my laptop to Toshiba on 1/15/2005 and here it is 2/25/2005 and it is still not fixed. It's not the fact that I've been without my laptop for over a month that bothers me; it's that I was promised EIGHT different E.T.A.s! If I was told that it would take two months to fix my laptop, I would've been disappointed, but respected the honesty. However, it really ticks me off when a company lies to me eight times and counting!!! I have no faith that I will receive my laptop back in the next month, or maybe even this year. I've contacted the Better Business Bureau and I'm hoping that they can light a fire under Toshiba, since Toshiba's customers can't.

When shopping for a laptop, shop for support first and performance second.

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid PC but it gets VERY hot., September 8, 2007

By 

Kenneth H. Weaver "Kit-Karamak" (Just north of Washington DC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toshiba Satellite P25-S676 17" Laptop (3.40 GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD Super Multi Drive) (Personal Computers)

I bought this PC is 2004. I've NEVER had a problem with it. It has an Nvidia FX5700 card (not a 5200!) with 128mb of dedicated video ram; it will handle Vista and it's a splendid machine. However, it weighs 9 pounds, 9.5 ounces. It's heavy. I've taken it all over the country (as I am a musician) and logged in thousands of hours typing (as I am an aspiring writer). It has NEVER given me ANY problem. I've upgraded the ram to the full amount and, out of personal preference, swapped the DVD drive and the battery module. They're on opposite sides now (because you can add two batteries or two drives, if you like).

The ONLY foreseeable problem is that there are THREE heat fans on the bottom. They draw air in to push heat out the back. PLEASE do NOT sit this monster down on a bed, an ottoman or a carpet. It will dramatically shorten the lifespan of your machine!

Also, it wasn't built with modern heat-efficient technology. What this means is, when I play Battlefield 2 ONLINE with this machine, I need to remove the battery (or whatever modular bay is on the right hand side) and put in a "COLD COMPRESS" ice pack (used for bruises and such), wrapped in two ziplock backs (to reduce condensation), because the video processor (a chip, not a card like in a desktop - the cooling method is different) will get hot. How can you tell? the palm rest on the right will get HOT when you try and play DOOM3 for an hour. If you overclock the chip, you're going to shorten its life span, so be careful! It took only 20 minutes of gaming to thaw an ice compress so I had 3 on hand, swapping them into my fridge for a new one, every half an hour.

WHile this machine CAN handle games, I don't suggest it for this very reason.

This laptop is a tank. It's a road warrior proven tank. Toshiba has given me GREAT and HORRIBLE service since 1998 when I bought my first 233mhz satellite - a Penitum - 1 with MMX technology. Over the years it has steadily gone from OUTSTANDING down to HORRIBLE. But it depends on what you need help with.

Their tech center (Call center for phone help) is amazing. They're intelligent, quick and knowledgable. They help and you won't have to call them back a second or third time because they fix the problem and follow up with YOU (call YOU back) to ensure everything is taken care of.

However, if you have to SEND a machine to them, your best bet is to use the Internet, find the nearest service station, and HAND DELIVER your machine. Why? Because then you have someone to slap if they get out of line. I'm serious. DO NOT send Toshiba your machine through the mail; I have friends who made this mistake. They'll take weeks just to replace a motherboard and return the thing. They'll wipe your drive and return it to factory standard, minus all the recent drivers, security measures - etc. You'd sooner want to set yourself on fire than to deal with them, should you have to send your machine in through the mail. In Canada and Japan, their customer service department is outstanding but not in America.
However, in America, their phone tech service is amazing. If you somehow accidentally turn your video into standard VGA and accidentally EAT your hard drive for dinner while drunk, they will get you into DOS, have you type in some commands and return your hard drive to the way it was the last time you turned it on, 24 hours before you snacked on it. Beautiful.

This machine may be a few years old, but it was a powerhouse in its day. It's also a workhorse, so long as you keep it cool. You can add 250 and 500 GB hard drives in the modular bays (if you wish to remove the DVD drive and the battery - everything is hot-swappable).

I've ONLY JUST sold this laptop after over 3 years of intense (8-12 hours almost every day) use. I gave it to my son's mother and she used it as a television to save electricity. With the included components, it's QUITE an awesome DVR unit. I had it locate and burn every episode of CSI (accidentally, I just meant to get a few episodes saved because of my work schedule. It used Windows Media Center Edition to locate every channel that played reruns of CSI, filed them, recorded them and then burned the entire show, Season 1-4, to disc... I realized it when it kept asking me for DVDs every so often, LMAO).

She said she sold the laptop after 2-3 months of constant use for about 600 dollars (maybe upwards of 700, i'm not completely sure how much, I just know it was over 600, so... it has great re-sell value for its age) and that person had it for 4 weeks before it died.

WHY did it die?? Because they set it on their bed mattress and used it - the heat did it in. Very foolish.

My parents each bought one around a week after I bought mine... theirs still run just fine. They also use theirs on a flat surface so... there ya go.

I've also owned an "A" series Toshiba - I do NOT suggest purchasing those. They're inexpensive but so is the notebook and it's components. THe P25, however, is made with excellent parts and is designed very well. It will run Max Payne 2 with full settings without breaking a sweat... Battlefield 2 and Doom3 on the other hand... not so much; this machine is a little antiquated for these newer titles... you'll have to dull-down the graphical settings to play these games... anything newer than that... not a chance. You can forget trying to play OBLIVION on this machine - sorry!

Remember: this machine will get VERY hot, very quickly. It also weighs 9 pounds, 9 ounces (I think there is 16 oz. in a pound).

Needless to say, I was very happy with the long life of my machine.

I once spilled soda (dr. pepper) into the keyboard. Luckily, the keyboard was designed with a metallic coating that protected the interior from spills. I replaced that keyboard with a new one and the part was VERY easy to find online (through a Toshiba certified retailer). Tiger Direct still sells new batteries for this machine ($133 dollars a pop) and a second DVD burner is less than 100 bucks on the internet. It supports up to 2 gigs of PC2700 (Which I suggest using over the slower PC2100).

:)