Toshiba Satellite C655D-S5134 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ABgQVoACL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 15 x 1.5 inches ; 5.5 pounds
Shipping Weight: 7.2 pounds
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
ASIN: B004G8QOMK
Item model number: PSC0YU-006002
Price: $387.56

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

AMD E-Series Processor E-240 1.5 GHz, 512KB L2 Cache
Configured with 2GB DDR3 (max 8GB)
320GB (5400 RPM); Serial ATA hard disk drive
15.6" diagonal widescreen TruBrite TFT display at 1366 x 768 native resolution (HD) with 16:9 Aspect Ratio and LED Backlite
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit with a 6 cell/48Wh Lithium Ion battery pack; Battery Life (measured by MobileMark 2007): 3 hours

Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

Hardware Platform: Unknown
Processor: 1.5 hertz AMD E Series
Number of Processors: 1
RAM: 2 GB
RAM Type: Unknown
Memory Slots: 2

Hard Drive

Size: 320 GB
Manufacturer: Serial ATA hard disk drive
Type: Unknown
Speed: 5400 rpm

Ports and Connectivity

USB Ports: 2

Cases and Expandability

Size (LWH): 9.84 inches, 15 inches, 1.5 inches
Weight: 5.5 pounds

Power

Rated Charge (normal use): 3 hours

Warranty and Support

Amazon.com Returns Policies: You may return any new computer purchased from Amazon.com that is "dead on arrival," arrives in damaged condition, or is still in unopened boxes, for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Amazon.com reserves the right to test "dead on arrival" returns and impose a customer fee equal to 15 percent of the product sales price if the customer misrepresents the condition of the product. Any returned computer that is damaged through customer misuse, is missing parts, or is in unsellable condition due to customer tampering will result in the customer being charged a higher restocking fee based on the condition of the product. Amazon.com will not accept returns of any desktop or notebook computer more than 30 days after you receive the shipment. New, used, and refurbished products purchased from Marketplace vendors are subject to the returns policy of the individual vendor.

Product Description

Get things done and stay connected with the Satellite C655 laptop, a very affordable, easy-to-use PC for basic productivity at home or in the office. Featuring a 15.6" diagonal TruBrite HD display, plus new AMD E240 processor technology and ample graphics horsepower, this laptop gives families, students or small and home-based businesses the essential power and workspace to study, tackle budgets with a handy 10-key pad, keep up on Facebook and Twitter , or simply do more at their desk. An attractive Trax textured finish blends looks with durability. With Wi-Fi , Ethernet and Vision Technology3 from AMD, you can connect, and experience quick-loading, rich web content,sharp photos and crystal-clear music. Escape into your favorite casual games and enjoy smooth, realistic graphics. Plus, plenty of ports and storage give you the freedom to expand, or hold more files and media. Conclusion: Toshiba technology delivers style at any price.

Customer Reviews

This review is from: Toshiba Satellite C655D-S5134 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

We tested a variety of Toshiba Satellites - and it's very confusing, because there are so many model numbers that are so similar.

We highly recommend the Toshiba Satellite, just not this model (C655-S5134). The problem is, it's using one of the SLOWEST processors on the market today. It's speed is comparable to 10-year-old technology (processor speed is as slow as my 2002 Satellite laptop). In other words, the advertised speed (1.5 GHz) is almost meaningless.

To make matters even more confusing, after testing a dozen different Toshibas, we actually bought another Satellite C655 model (the C655-S5048) for the same price. It's almost identical in every respect, except the processor on our model (AMD P320) has a clocked speed (independent testing) of 1,261. The clocked speed on the C655-S5143 is (get this)... 350! That's nearly 1/4th the speed!

This was all very confusing to us, but here's the "short cut" - when you're shopping around for laptops, write down the name of the processor, and look it up at: CPUbenchmark-net

You will see some ridiculous inconsistencies, and you will be an informed consumer. Just poke around on Amazon for a few minutes - you will find plenty of Toshiba laptops for under $400, with processor speeds over 800-1,000 (independent testing on the above-mentioned web site - this should be considered the bare minimum). Obviously there are a lot of factors which go into computer speed, just like engine size is not the only factor in the speed of your car (weight, fuel type, tires, aerodynamics, etc). But the above web site is a simple way that anyone can get an independent report of the processor speed before you buy.

Don't think that a faster processor will cost more. We also reviewed some of the more expensive Satellites ($599-$699) and found slow processors in that price class as well! And this is consistent with pretty much all computer manufacturers - the problem is that Intel, AMD, etc., invest a lot of money in marketing, and consumers demand chips they don't know anything about. But you can be a more informed consumer, and feel really good about your purchase.

Here are some *general* comments about the C655-series Toshiba Satellites:

PRO:

-Keyboard is an excellent size, and numeric keypad on the side is excellent for us. We use it all the time.

-Screen is fantastic - love it, no complaints. (I would not recommend the Toshiba models with the Trubrite screen - models with the TruBrite cost a minimum of $100 more & it picks up lots of glare/reflections.)

-Stays very cool (even when playing videos), and the fan rarely kicks on.

-It's light weight & durable. My 12-month old will pound on the keys occasionally, and it holds up just fine.

-Comes with built-in antivirus software. I recommend also installing Avira, and every computer/laptop you own should be running Hostsman.

-The battery isn't shabby, although this model has a slightly cheaper battery than the model I bought.

CON:

-No built-in camera or mic.

-Sound is not great. Most people assume it's cheap speakers, but it's not. Speakers are fine - but the sound driver itself is the problem for some reason. The "fix" only takes about 30 seconds - uninstall the sound card driver & have Windows install a generic driver that will boost your sound levels by 50%.

-We have some general complaints against Windows 7, not Toshiba's fault (a discussion for another day). The biggest problem is, with the 64-bit version of Windows 7, we could not port any of our software from our previous Satellite to our new one.

Bottom Line: (1) Don't buy this model - it's a very nice laptop, but the speed is too slow. (2) You don't have to be a techie to be an informed consumer. It only takes 5 seconds to look up the speed on the site provided above (again, 800-1,000 should be considered the absolute minimum). (3) Unless you need a super-computer for specialized programming, you should be able to find a Toshiba Satellite with a great processor & all the amenities you need for under $400, right here on Amazon.

Please don't get frustrated in your search - I give this laptop 5-stars except for the speed. This is a good brand (Satellite) and a good price (under $400). But there are at least 5 other models that are 3-4x faster for the same price. If you're looking at this product, reading this review, you are definitely on the right track. Hope this helps, and enjoy your new laptop!

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