Toshiba Satellite Pro A100 00L00 Review

Ideal for the basic home user this laptop is perfect for storing photos, watching DVDs, writing documents and accessing the internet, thanks to the efficient Celeron Mobile processor, DVD player and wireless networking. As well as watching DVDs you can write CDs and XP home offers a familiar working environment.

Specifications

Processor
Type : Intel® Celeron® M processor 380
Clock speed : 1.60 GHz
Front Side Bus : 400 MHz
2nd level cache : 1 MB

Operating system
Windows® XP Professional

System memory
Standard : 512 MB
Maximum expandability : 2,048 MB
Technology : DDR2 RAM (533 MHz)

Hard disk
Capacity : 60 GB
Certification : S.M.A.R.T.

Optical Storage
CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo - integrated
Read Speed:24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
Write Speed: 24x
CD/DVD Rewrite Speed: 24x

Display
Size : 15.4 "
Type : WXGA TFT display

Graphics adaptor
Manufacturer : ATI
Type : ATI Radeon® Xpress 200M
Memory : up to 128 MB
Memory type : DDR2 RAM

Internal video modes
Resolution : 1,280 x 800
Maximum number of colours : 16.7 Million

Max External Video Modes
Max Resolution : 2,048 x 1,536
Max Colours : 4.3 billion
Max Refresh Rate : 100 Hz
Non-interlaced resolution with max refresh rate : 1,600 x 1,200

BIOS
ACPI : 1.0b
System Management BIOS : 2.3

Battery
Technology : lithium-ion

AC adaptor
Input voltage : autosensing AC adapter (100/240 V) for worldwide usage

Interfaces
1 x DC-in
1 x external monitor
1 x RJ-11
1 x RJ-45
1 x TV-out (s-video)
1 x i.LINK® (IEEE 1394)
1 x external microphone
1 x headphone (stereo)
4 x USB 2.0

Expansion
2 x memory slots (1 to configure)
Type : PC Card slot for 1x Type II card

Wireless communication
Compliancy : Wi-Fi®
Network Support : 802.11b/g integrated
Wireless Technology : Wireless LAN

Wired communication
Topology : Ethernet LAN
Speed : 10/100 Base-TX
Topology : international V.90 modem (V.92 ready)
Speed : 56 Kbps data (V.90) and 14.4 Kbps fax (V.34)

Sound system supported
Audio format : 16-bit stereo
Speakers : built-in stereo speakers

Keyboard
Keys : 86
Windows keys : 2
Hot Keys : 1
Special features : spill-resistant keyboard

Physical dimensions
W x D x H : 360 x 267 x 29.8 (front) / 36.8 (back) mm
Weight : 2.72 kg

Pointing device
Type : Touch Pad

Warranty
1-year international warranty. Upgrade your standard warranty with Toshiba warranty extension, uplift and all-risks insurance packs.

Bundled hardware
AC adaptor
AC Power Cable

Bundled software
Toshiba utilities and drivers
On-line user's and modem manual
Toshiba Console
ConfigFree™
Connectivity Doctor
Microsoft® Office OneNote ™ 2003
Sonic¿ Record Now!
InterVideo® WinDVD Creator (2Platinum)
Norton Internet Security™ 2005 (90-Day Free Trial Version)
Toshiba Summit

Security features
Main hard disk (by screw)
Keyboard lock
Main memory (by screw)
BIOS password
Slot for Kensington Cable Lock
Wireless LAN switch
System password security

Special features
SM BIOS compliant
Spill-resistant keyboard
HD Audio support

Review

The A100 is a great value in the configuration that I tested. It offers performance that will be significantly faster than units in this price range with either shared memory video systems or lower-end dedicated video systems such as the GeForce Go 7300 and 7400 or ATI X1400. With the A100's excellent hardware specifications and the current promotion in Canada offering free Student/Teacher Microsoft Office with this notebook the only other thing a student will need is a carrying bag. Props to Toshiba for making this so easy.
Nothing is perfect, and the A100 does have a couple of areas that could be improved. I think the battery should be a 9-cell unit. Not being able to complete an average length DVD on a single battery charge is a bummer. I also think the keyboard could be stiffer, but that is coming from a confessed keyboard snob.
This is a competitive price range but the A100 is pretty tough to beat.

Source:
http://www.notebookreview.com