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This PC also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit), 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.
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The Basics
- Processor: The 2.16 GHz Intel Pentium T3400 dual-core processor delivers additional computing resources and help expand the PC's capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. And its Intel 64 architecture is also ready for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, and offers enhanced performance through improved virtual memory. Each core shares 2 MB of L2 cache, and they have a 667 MHz front-side bus. (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.)
- Hard Drive: The generous 250 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM) provides more than enough capacity for storing a large audio and video library, as well as extra space required for video editing. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to Firewire and USB 2.0.
- Memory: The 3 GB of installed RAM (PC6400, 1 x 2 GB, 2 x 1 GB) helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card. It also offers an ultra-fast 800 MHz speed. This notebook has an 8 GB maximum RAM capacity. To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.
- 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: 6x for both DVD+/-R DL, 8x for both single-layer DVD+/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x 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 104-key keyboard--with 10-keypad on the side--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.
This Toshiba Satellite has a 17-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1440 x 900 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 X4500M, which uses shared video memory (up to 1342 MB allocated from the system memory) and provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.
This notebook also features an integrated audio card and two stereo speakers.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard card slot (replacing the PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. It comes with the following external connectors:
- 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
- 1 Expres sCard 54/34 slot
- Video out: VGA
- Microphone/line-in and stereo headphones/speakers/line-out
- RJ-45 port for 10/100 Ethernet connection
- 56K modem port (V.90)
- 5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO)
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Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 (32-bit) 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 9.0, Google Toolbar, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5, Norton 360 All-in-One Security (30-day trial), and Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60-day trial).
Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 15.7 x 11.5 x 1.7 inches (WxDxH, and it weighs 7 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 Toshiba Satellite L355-S7902 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
With a broad display, full-size keyboard, and other features, the Satellite L355 Laptop Series is ideal for those who want to enjoy affordable Toshiba value and more spacious computing. Financial pros, students, and business people can use its 17-inch diagonal widescreen LCD to see more spreadsheet columns, give great desktop presentations, or multitask. A full 10-key pad eases typing and data entry. Powerful Intel dual-core processors, plus ample memory and storage provide the tools for doing more, at a desk or away. A Built-in Wi-Fi and a webcam help you stay connected or capture, send or store still pictures. The Toshiba L355-S7902 ships with Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 32 bit version), 2.16 GHz Intel Pentium T3400 Processor, 1MB L2 Cache, Mobile Intel GL40 Express Chipset, Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with 128MB-1342MB Dynamically Allocated Shared Graphics Memory, Configured with 3GB PC6400 DDR2 SDRAM, 250GB (5400 RPM) Hard Drive (SATA), DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive with LabelFlash supporting 11 formats, 17.0 in (Diagonal) Widescreen TruBrite TFT LCD Display at 1440 x 900 Resolution, webcam and microphone built into LCD bezel, Atheros 802.11b/g wireless LAN. Dimensions: 15.7 ” x 11.5″ x 1.39″ without feet, weight: Starting at 6.94 lbs.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
By Linda
2009-01-27
I bought my laptop from another online vendor w/ 5 easy payments, so mine was a little more expensive than Amazon.com.
I love the color, It’s not lightning fast, but quick enough, the keyboard is great for typing assignments, the number keys to the right are great, that is the main reason I chose a 17 inch laptop, plenty of hard drive space, and 3 GB is fine, but can be upgraded to 4. This is a very quiet laptop, the best I’ve ever owned.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
By Mark
2009-04-11
I have had this laptop about three weeks now. First the good:
1. Amazon did a great job getting it to me fast and at a great price
2. Toshiba does a great job at the way they package this laptop. There customization and user manual is top rate
3. Toshiba service has been great to work with
4. Great ten key keyboard
5. I like have a manual switch to turn off the wireless card..cool feature
6. Nothing is in the back of the laptop making all connections very easy to get to
7. The performance and picture quality are wonderful
The bad:
1. The laptop is physically very big. I haven’t traveled with it yet…but I am concerned with using it in coach on a plane
2. The finish is shinny black and it shows finger prints. I wish it had silver trim like in the Amazon picture. Mine didn’t.
The ugly:
1. The DVD drive was broke on delivery. It worked but made loud noises
2. The NIC card broke after only one week
3. A local authorized Toshiba dealer repaired in about one week. It was like waiting for Christmas
4. I had the option of sending back to Amazon but elected not to because I had invested so much time in customizing it
5. I have had the laptop back one week now and it rocks. I am glad I had it repaired. The repair dealer highly recommended buying an extended warantee because of the expense of just having it looked at. I believe this to be sound advise. Also note that you need to do this right away because Toshiba only gives you a very short time to do it.
The moral of this story. Good things come in time.
Enjoy…it’s still a great laptop.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
By Charles
2009-03-24
Bought it today from Office Depot. Great screen, sharp image, whisper quite and quick. Best laptop I ever owned too. Set up and getting started was a breeze. Not sure how it will perform at a later date, but have always forund Toshiba products to be high quality.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
By Charles
2009-05-17
The brief assessment
The Satellite L355 is a large, heavy portable – I can’t make myself call it a LAP-top – machine that provides sufficient computing power to run Vista in full Aero mode, decent hard disk storage, good 17-inch display, adequate IO, a somewhat subpar near-full-size keyboard and a few bells and whistles such as 801.11g Wi-fi and integrated Webcam and microphone. The bundled free software includes Microsoft Works, Skype, some games and some annoying ‘60-day-trial’ bloatware such Norton 360.
Overall, this is a good machine if travel is not its main purpose and if the relatively low price is factored in. It will replace a basic desktop once a mouse is added.
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Detailed review
Delivery and physical setup
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The ‘laptop’ comes securely packaged in a relatively small box. The package is easy to open and there isn’t a lot of assembly required. Besides the laptop’s body, there is the power supply, a couple of CDs and not much else.
Specs
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- Dual-core Intel T3400 processor at 2.16 GHz
- 3GB SDRAM expandable to 4GB
- 250GB hard drive
- 17″ display
- 802.11b/g Wi-fi
- DVD drive
- Webcam + microphone
- 3 USB 2.0 ports
- Modem
- Ethernet port
- RGB monitor port
- 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter slot that supports Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Secure Digital, MMC and xD media
- Near full-size keyboard with numeric keypad
- Touchpad
On the Vista performance benchmark, the Satellite scores a 3.3 with ‘graphics’ accounting for its lowest scores – 3.3 for Aero and 3.4 for 3D business and gaming and the CPU (5.1) and the hard drive (5.3) being the highest.
Setup
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Vista Setup begins as soon as the power button is pressed and it completes quickly. Once an account is created and after given permission, the Satellite was able to quickly find and join my Wi-fi network and download and install the latest mostly Vista updates – over 40 of them.
To my surprise, there wasn’t a lot of bloatware, Norton 360 60-day trial being the most annoying of them all – its window pops up and it can’t be closed, the only apparent option being to run the setup. I was able to get rid of it by immediately removing it and other unwanted ‘free’ or ‘free trial’ offers such as NetZero before touching their setup processes. The Google Toolbar installed itself before asking but a ‘thank you’ pops up when it’s finished.
Explorer and Windows Media Player are present but it was easy to install my favorite browser (Chrome) and relegate the Explorer to the second-tier, ‘backup browsers’ status.
Once the Norton 360 is removed, Vista begins to complain about its lacking virus protection. One reasonable truly free offer, and this is what I installed, was Avira. Once Avira was installed, I was able to register it with Defender and Vista stopped complaining.
Other pre-installed but not ‘60-day trial’ packages included are Picassa and Google Desktop. They can be easily downloaded off the Net but I don’t mind them being there since they do not interact intrusively with the user.
Operation and Ergonomics
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As I mentioned already, the keyboard is a little unusual. While large, some of the keys are not where I would expect them – the Fn and Ctrl keys, for example are switched as compared with my familiar Thinkpad layout, the shapes of the ‘Backspace’ and ‘Tab’ are a little odd and so is the layout of the top row function keys. I would not type my next novel on this keyboard. Being a spoiled Thinkpad user, I missed the little knob that controls the mouse pointer movements. The touch pad works but it doesn’t work for me. I wasn’t comfortable until I attached a Logitech Nano cordless mouse by inserting its little dongle into one of the 3 available USB ports.
In my opinion, the display is the best part in the Satellite. It’s large and it’s bright. Wide-screen DVD movies play great on it but, sadly, this being a Toshiba (not a Sony) the optical drive does not support Blu-ray.
The integrated Webcam works well with apps such as Google Chat or Skype and it’s well integrated and easy to use.
The Satellite weight – really, really heavy – does not make it suited for frequent travel. Its lacking a docking station add-on does not make it a good telecommuting choice.
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Rating and evaluation
The Satellite 355’s size and weight do not make it a good choice for anyone looking for a traditional ‘laptop’. However, anyone looking for a ’sometimes portable desktop’ that integrates just about everything other than the mouse, this can be a good compromise. This is exactly what I wanted for one of my sons and I am therefore happy with my purchase.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
By Betty
2009-03-30
The laptop works well. Only It didn’t come with a detailed instruction manual. I haven’t been able to access the internet.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
By Helen
2009-04-24
Toshiba Satellite L355-S7902 17.0-Inch Laptop
Great system, wife loves it, a bit bigger than she was expecting but great system.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
By Helen
2009-06-04
In deciding on what type of laptop computer would suit my needs I had read through the other reviews of this product and ones like it. What appealed to me most was the larger screen and that it could be an ideal replacement for a desktop computer. Because my desktop computer is over 6 years old I felt it to be a good idea to seek a suitable replacement before it quits working for me. The idea that I could have the best of both worlds, a laptop that can replace a desktop, seemed like the right choice for me.
I have not been disappointed yet but admit I have not taken my laptop with me on an airplane so the larger size could be cumbersome. What I think is absolutely great about it is that it does have the larger screen so that reading e-mails and other tedious wordy documents is less strain on my eyes.
For me this has been a great choice and I am enjoying learning to use all the neat “bells and whistles” that I do not have on my desktop such as the webcam feature.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
By Betty
2009-05-28
I am not a computer geek so my machine has to be simple to operate yet be versatile. This unit is simple easy fast and versatile. Great screen! I have a router setup so can access the internet from anywhere in the house. You will love this unit!
May 20th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
By Charles
2009-06-30
Good: Price – bought it from Office Depot for $499. Fast enough, not for gamers, though. Very, very quiet. Easy to use, good memory and HD size, CPU for the price. Full size keypad. Outstanding quality of the screen. Excellent replacement for desktop.
Cons: Weight, battery life, portable enough to move it @ home, however, not for frequent fliers.
Overall, strongly recommended for quality vs the price.