Product Description

TOSHIBA A205S4777 15.4 in Satellite Notebook. Optimized for everyday use, the affordable Satellite A200/A205, with 15.4 in diagonal widescreen TruBrite display, is loaded with a PC wish list of features. Intels latest mobile technology offers efficient use of power and speed for multitasking and multimedia. Redesigned for looks and convenience, the Satellite A200/A205 offers an attractive Onyx Blue Metallic case, six CD/DVD control buttons for instant media access, and better spacing of its four USB ports to accommodate larger peripherals. Select models offer a DVD SuperMulti /plus/minus R double layer/ with Labelflash drive, for burning high quality labels directly onto Labelflash media. Stay in touch with next generation wireless /802.11a/g/n/ and built in Webcam /select models.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2307 in Personal Computers
• Brand: Toshiba
• Model: A205-S4777
• Dimensions: 1.00" h x 11.00" w x 14.00" l,
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 1.66 GHz
• Memory: 2000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 200GB
• Processors: 2
• Display size: 15.4

Features

• Bright 15.4-inch LCD stylishly accented with an onyx blue metallic LCD cover
• 1.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 processor, 200 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM (max), dual-layer DVD/CD burner with Labelflash printing
• Intel 4965 AGN wireless LAN connects to 802.11n routers (as well as 802.11a/b/g); 10/100 Ethernet; Intel GMA 950 video card
• Connectivity: 4 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, 1 S-Video, 1 headphone, 1 microphone, 1 ExpressCard 34/54
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

Amazon.com Product Description
Stylishly accented with an onyx blue metallic cover, the Toshiba Satellite A205-S4777 notebook PC is a great blend of multitasking productivity, multimedia prowess, and efficiently powered portability. It features a large, bright 15.4-inch XGA-resolution LCD (1280 x 800)--perfect for viewing multiple application screens or watching widescreen movies on DVD. It's also great for using as a media center, with Toshiba's unique Express Media Player enabling you to bypass the system and access CDs and DVDs with a touch of button. The dual-layer/multi-format DVD drive also burns CDs and offers Labelflash print functionality.

This notebook is powered by the 1.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 processor from the newest "Santa Rosa" chipset. Providing an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance, as well as excellent battery management, it also offers a 667 MHz front-side bus and 2 MB L2 cache. It also includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. Other features include a 200 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), Intel GMA 950 video card with up to 256 MB of shared video RAM, 5-in-1 memory card reader, and a biometric fingerprint scanner for added security.

This PC also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: Part of 2007's Santa Rosa chipset release, the Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 processor has a 1.66 GHz processor speed, super-fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.

• Hard Drive: The 200 GB Serial ATA hard drive is about double the average size for notebook PCs, however its 4200 RPM speed is a bit slower than current standard hard drives. It provides more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and video editing software. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1 GB DDR2, PC5300) is an excellent start, but you'll want to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and productivity suites. It provides two DIMM slots and has a large 4 GB maximum RAM capacity. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed.

• DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer Labelflash DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data--great for backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL, 8x for both single-layer DVD+R/-R, 4x DVD+RW, 4x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, and 24x/16x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.

  With the Labelflash functionality, you can burn high-resolution, high-contrast pictures on the label side of DVD discs using the same laser used for data recording. Enjoy transparency and high-quality not found in traditional printable media. All you need is a Labelflash DVD disc to start labeling without a printer.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers CD/DVD media player and control buttons (play, stop, next, previous) as well as a volume control dial.

Screen, Video & Audio
This notebook has a 15.4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 256 MB of shared video memory. It also features an integrated audio card with headphone and microphone jacks.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with this notebook's integrated quad-mode Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (though no standard PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a good offering of connectivity options:

• 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) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video port for connecting to a TV
• 1 ExpressCard 54/34
• 1 headphone jack (1 with S/PDIF digital audio compatibility) and 1 microphone jack
• 5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Microsoft Works 8.5, InterVideo WinDVD 8, Google Desktop and Picasa, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5, McAfee Internet Security Suite (30-day trial), and Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition (60-day trial).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.3 x 10.5 x 1.55 inches (WxDxH, and it weighs 6 pounds.

Power
It comes with a 4000 mAh lithium-ion battery pack for extra-long battery life.

What's in the Box
This package contains the A205-S4777 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.

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Customer Reviews

A generous Laptop
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.

Great 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.

Great laptop, but...
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.