Toshiba Satellite U305 S5097 Review

Toshiba Satellite U305 S5097 Features and Technical Details
Product Features

    * Ultra-portable 4-pound notebook PC with 13.3-inch LCD; 1.86 GHz Core Duo T2130
    * 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB installed RAM (4 GB max), multi-format/dual-layer DVD drive
    * 54g Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Intel GMA 950 video card with up to 256 MB of shared memory
    * Connectivity: 3 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, 1 S-Video, 1 ExpressCard 34/54. 5-in-1 memory card reader
    * Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

    * Hardware Platform: PC
    * Processor: 1.86 GHz Pentium D
    * System Bus Speed: 533
    * Number of Processors: 2
    * RAM: 1000 MB
    * RAM Type: DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive

    * Size: 160 GB
    * Manufacturer: Portable
    * Type: Serial ATA

Ports and Connectivity

    * Modem: Fax / modem

Cases and Expandability

    * Size (LWH): 12.2 inches, 1.19 inches, 8.9 inches
    * Weight: 7.6 pounds

Toshiba Satellite U305 S5097 Description
Weighing just 4.6 pounds, the ultra-portable Toshiba Satellite U305-S5097 notebook PC packs in an extraordinary amount of power and productivity into its elegant, compact package. The 13.3-inch widescreen display offers TruBrite technology for optimal image clarity and a 1280 x 800 resolution for extra desktop working space and a widescreen aspect ratio for watching letterboxed DVDs. It has a special shock-absorbing design with airpocket cushioning and padding materials that protects key components (HDD, LCD) and the chassis against excessive vibration.

It's powered by Intel's 1.86 GHz Core Duo T2130, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance and a more efficient power consumption. A 1.3 megapixel digital web camera built into the LCD's bezel lets you quickly snap photos and participate in live video chats. Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), 802.11b/g wireless connectivity, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with up to 256 MB of shared video RAM, and 5-in-1 memory card reader.

It 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: The Intel Pentium dual-core T2130 processor is built with the Mobile Intel 945PM Express chipset, and it has a 1.86 GHz processor speed, fast 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 1 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.)

      This 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 next version of Microsoft Windows, code-named Vista. 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. It's more efficient, thanks to Intel's Power Coordination and Deeper Sleep, which help to transfer power only to those areas of the processor that need it. It also features Intel's Digital Media Boost, which delivers enhanced performance on floating point-intensive applications such as CAD tools, 3-D and 2-D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming.

    * Hard Drive: The 160 GB hard drive (5400 RPM) offers enough to room to hold a digital audio library of over 26,000 songs and still have room left over for movies, games, and a large collection of software. This Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

    * Memory: The 1 GB of installed RAM (2 x 512 MB 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 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.

    * Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers a launch button for the Express CD/DVD media player and control buttons (play, stop, next, previous) as well as a volume control dial.

Screen, Video & Audio
This Toshiba Satellite has a 13.3-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
This notebook has an integrated Atheros 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (though no PCMCIA card slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. Here's the full list of connection 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 ExpressCard 54/34 slot
    * Video out: VGA and S-Video
    * Stereo headphones/speakers/line-out
    * Microphone/line-in
    * 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 12.2 x 8.9 x 1.33 inches and weighs 4.6 pounds.

Power
It comes with a 5200 mAh lithium-ion battery pack for extra-long battery life.

What's in the Box
This package contains the U305-S5097 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.

Helpful Customer Reviews for Toshiba Satellite U305 S5097

By Bin Zhu
This is the 2nd toshiba laptop I had. The 1st one was used for over 3 years before I sold it. Never had a problem. I bought this one because my two-year Compaq v2000 died automatically and permanently a month ago.

Great computer! Beautiful look! Keyboard feels great (with my hand). Perfect balance between size and weight: light weight with enough screen size. I like everything of it except without a S-video out port. Probably would buy it next time!

BTW, I would never touch hp/compaq laptop again. My classmate's compaq laptop's power pin broke and dropped inside the computer. Could not be fixed and died. My own compaq just shut down automatically and died since then without a reason. Two weeks ago I heard wife's colleague's hp broke too. Looks like they designed a laptop which will perfectly last for only two years. Would never touch hp/compaq anymore.

By L. Raymond Lebleu
This is a great computer however it does have a big flaw.....it is advertised as having a 4 GB maximum ram capacity and it does indeed have the space to hold 4 GB of ram, but it will only run on 2 GB of ram....I went through 4 different kinds of ram replacement and spent a lot of time and money researching this fact, only to find out that Toshiba had two different sites which gave conflicting data.....Even the memory manufacturers were misinformed in this regard and swore to me that this computer would run on 4 GB or ram.....Kingston has changed that however since I confronted them with the facts.....Also this computer does run hot.....I recommend changing your memory modules with sleeved ones for a remedy to this problem!....If I can be of further help please let me know!