Toshiba Satellite M45-S359 15.4" Laptop (Intel Pentium M Processor 760 (Centrino), 1024 MB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, DVD SuperMulti Drive)

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 14.2 x 10.6 x 1.4 inches ; 6.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BKABC6
• Item model number: PSM42U-017006
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,670 in Computer & Accessories (See Bestsellers in Computer & Accessories)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 26, 2005

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Easily mobile at just 6.2 pounds, the Toshiba Satellite M45-S359 makes it easy to get your work done with a large, bright 15.4-inch screen (which is also great for watching DVD movies when you need a break). This affordable notebook PC also features a battery-sipping 2.0 GHz Pentium M processor, 100 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), dual-layer, multi-format DVD burner, integrated 54g wireless connectivity, and Windows XP Home edition.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 100 GB hard drive (5400 RPM) is a above average in size for notebook PCs, and its capacity is a welcome size for road warriors.
• Processor: The 2.0 GHz Pentium M 760 (Centrino) processor is near the top of the speed spectrum for this processor class (October 2005). It is well equipped for office productivity software tasks, from complex spreadsheets to databases. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. It also has a large 2 MB L2 cache--which will help speed up your system's performance--and a 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
• Memory: The 1 GB of built-in memory (2 x 512 MB, PC4200, 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM) will help you power through multimedia presentation and heavy-duty spreadsheets. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The double-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data--great for backing up your MP3 collection. It features the following speeds: 2.4x DVD+R-DL, 8x/4x for both DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW, and 24x/10x for CD-R/RW.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Screen, Graphics and Sound
The M45-S359 has a 15.4-inch XGA display w with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video and graphics are powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 128 MB of shared video memory. The integrated audio card (Realtek ALC250) provides 16-bit stereo sound via the built-in stereo speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The M45-S359 has an integrated Intel Pro/Wireless 2200BG 802.11b/g LAN. You get a basic offering of connectivity options:

• 3 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 out
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack
• 1 microphone jack
• 6-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, MMC, and XD Picture Card (SD slot supports SDIO cards)

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.92) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Fast Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office OneNote 2003, McAfee AntiVirus, InterVideo WinDVD and WinDVD Creator, Sonic Solutions RecordNow.

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 14.17 x 10.6 x 1.45 (WxDxH) and weighs 6.2 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3.5 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the M45-S359 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.

Product Description

Technologically advanced, sleek and powerful, this system boasts an Intel Pentium M processor 760, a full gigabyte (=1024MB) of system memory, and Widescreen TruBrite display! Built-in wireless connectivity and a DVD burner ensure easy handling of any dynamic data requirements. Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 with 8MB-128MB dynamically allocated graphics memory 3-USB (2.0) ports, i.LINK IEEE 1394 port, TV-out (S-Video), 10/100 Ethernet port, V.92 modem port, headphone jack, external microphone jack (monaural), RGB monitor port Dimensions (WxDxH Front/H Rear) - 14.2 (360.0mm) x 10.6 (268.5mm) x 1.14 (29.0mm)[F]/1.43 (36.2mm)[R] without feet Manufacturer's 1 Year Standard Limited Warranty

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great computer, great price., November 12, 2005

By	tonto500 (Bloomington, IN) - See all my reviews

I didn't purchase this computer through Amazon (Circuit City), but I feel some obligation to provide feedback on Amazon as I regularly read other Amazon customer reviews (to see what real customers are saying) before purchasing electronics and computers--I'd like to return the favor.

While I'm impressed with the computer, let me begin by saying that I am reviewing a second M45-S359; the first had to be returned because the touchpad mysteriously stopped working and the keyboard began functioning irregularly (it developed a three second lag began typing and the characters being shown on the screen.) Hence the reason for the four-star rating and not a five.

This computer replaces a Sony VGN-A150 I own, so I'll compare the two. The Sony was my first deviation from Toshiba laptops; while it is a good computer, dollar for dollar, the Toshiba is a much better bargain. Sonys are too expensive for the lesser configurations offered to customers. I've got two daughters in college, both of whom own Toshiba laptops, as does my wife. We've not had any problems with Toshiba; they are relatively well constructed and problem free.

The m45-S359's Intel Pentium M processor (2 GHz) is Intel's fastest processor for laptops to date. Combined with the 1 gigabyte of RAM and the 533 MHz front-side bus and 2 MB L2 cache, the machine is really fast. Screen redraws are very quick as is opening programs. More than enough memory and speed for surfing the web and using the usual Microsoft Office standards (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Publisher). The Sony has a 1.5GHz with the same front-side bus and cache configuration and 512MB of RAM (which I upgraded to 768MB). Needless to say there is a noticeable difference in performance. While the Sony is a good performer, it can't keep up with the Toshiba. I don't play many computer games, only Empire Earth. Not only does the Toshiba handle the graphics-intensive program flawlessly, it is very smooth. On the Sony, the game has an occasional tendency to jerk. Additionally, the Toshiba renders the game in full screen while the Sony can only muster 800X600 leaving bothersome thick black borders on either side of the screen. The Toshiba's processor is quiet and the computer stays very cool and with a 100GB hard drive (5400 RPM) accessing data is quick.

The wireless capability is very handy and works flawlessly--very quick set-up and connection. It took about 30 seconds to connect right out of the box w/o reading directions. It linked to our wireless home network and no problems connecting anywhere in the house.

The 15.4 inch TruBrite screen is very nice. Max resolution is 1280X800 and text and images are very crisp and clear--no more tired eyes from extended computer use. Screen width is adequate for just about productivity program you'd want to use. I would have preferred a higher resolution, but that's a personal preference, not a complaint about the screen. Side-by-side, I think the Sony's screen is just slightly brighter, but you'll not be disappointed with the Toshiba screen.

Multimedia is very nice. The DVD/CD-ROM is nice given its flexibility of recording various formats and the speakers with virtual surround sound offers a clear and crisp sound, much better than the Sony's. Additionally, I'm not sure why Sony puts black mesh across the speakers and the whole of the top edge of the computer; it is simply impossible to keep clean no matter what you try. The Toshiba, luckily, doesn't have this. Additionally, you can play CDs and DVDs on the Toshiba without booting up the whole system, which is handy, particularly if you're operating on battery power.

The casing and layout are user friendly as well. All USB ports, which are 2.0, are on either side of the computer--two on the right and one on the left--which keeps you from having to move the computer around to access them in the back. (not the case with the Sony, which has two of its USB ports on the back). The serial port connection is also on the left side. LAN and telephone connections are in the back. Controls for the CD player and Web access are next to the keyboard.

Compared to the Sony, which weighs in at about 7 lbs, the Toshiba is a joy to carry around (6 lbs). The Toshiba's profile is a bit lower as well, so it's easier to move from place to place. The keyboard is nicely centered and feels sturdy. It is also nice that Toshiba provides customers with a restore disk--more convenient than having to burn your own.

Now for a few "aw shucks" points. The biggest shortcoming is battery life--tops is 2.5 hours; less of course if you've got the processor and screen at their highest settings. You may want to consider buying the 12-cell battery from Toshiba to extend battery life--I will.

While the 6-in-1 memory card reader is great, compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia, MMC, and XD Picture Card, it would have been nice to have a slot for CF cards as well (yes, some of us still use them).

When the CD-ROM is accessing information, it can vibrate a bit; operationally not a problem, just a bit annoying.

Of course, I can do without all the preloaded software (as I'm sure most of us can), but it is easily removed. Toshiba has bundled some software that allows the user to pre-define functions that can be accessed by touching the four corners of the touchpad. But frankly, it is so hard to scroll without activating the software that I found it easier to turn off.

And I still miss the infared capability earlier Toshibas came equipped with.

All in all, a great machine and a purchase I'd make again.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Toshiba Ever, January 17, 2006

By	R. patel "ronpat" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is my first laptop, but I have done a lot of research before I bought this laptop. I know people that have Sony, Dell and they always had problems. I don't know why people have rated this product so low. I personally think this is fastest laptop I have ever seen with a 1GB of ram its just great. The graphic card is excellent online gaming it also great. I downloaded a demo of Need for Speed Most Wanted just to see how good my graphic card is and the game did not lag at all, I also played it online and it worked great. You can run a lot of stuff at the same time, this laptop handles it great. The wireless card is also great.
Take a look at the CNet rating on this laptop. www.cnet.com then type satellite M45-S359 in the search.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good machine, December 3, 2005

By	Oscar Milewski (Tokyo) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am not sure why other people have problems with it and give such low reviews. My laptop works fine and it has been one year I had it. Trusts me I have tons of software installed on it, four external hard-drives, and a bunch and bunch of other stuff that would would crush, freeze and cause all sorts of other problems on other comps - I know from experience. I highly reccomend this model and I think it is really under-rated on this review page.