Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest
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alaTest.com
Editors' rating: 87
Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 98 reviews of Toshiba Satellite M305-S4826 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 74/100 and users 77/100. Comparing these reviews to 171452 other Laptops reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 87/100 = Very Good.
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laptoplogic.com
Editors' rating: 60
Summary: If you're looking for a laptop slightly smaller than the run of the mill 15.4 inchers out there - and don't mind the glossy keyboard and lackluster 3d performance - the M305 is a very nice option for the budget minded individual looking for ...
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NotebookReview.com
Summary: Approaching this review, I wasn't particularly excited about what the M305 had to offer: it seemed like a fairly run-of-the-mill notebook in a visual package that I found fairly unappealing. If my expectations were mixed, the Satellite has ...
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pcmag.com
Editors' rating: 70
Summary: Whether you carry it on the road or leave it at home, this mainstream laptop has what it takes to excel in any environment.
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digitaltrends.com
Editors' rating: 70
CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Laptops. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of laptop.
Thin-and-light laptop computer
A thin-and-light laptop computer offers the optimal combination of portability, performance, features, and cost. Power-tuned mobile processors deliver enough power to keep you working smoothly, and unlike ultraportables, most thin-and-light laptops have a more reasonably sized keyboard and display, a larger hard drive, and a built-in optical drive. Yes, they're more expensive than slightly larger, heavier mid-size laptops, but if you need maximum productivity in a portable package, this is the best choice.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
See more Thin-and-light laptop computer products
Microsoft Windows Vista for laptop computers
In addition to the core functionality of the Vista operating system, Microsoft portioned out extra features into different editions of Vista, aimed at different market segments and at differing price points.
| Feature | Home Basic | Home Premium | Business | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU support | One physical CPU, but with multiple cores | One physical CPU, but with multiple cores | Up to two physical CPUs | Up to two physical CPUs |
| Maximum supported RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows defender & firewall | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduled backup | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Aero desktop experience | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobility center (centralized access to controls often used on portables) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Tablet PC support | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Windows SideShow (display support for a variety of secondary devices) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Extended media and entertainment capabilities (Media center, games,HD, movie- and DVD maker) | Yes | Yes | ||
| Remote desktop connection | Yes | Yes | ||
| Windows Fax and Scan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Sound Schemes, DreamScene (video desktop "wallpaper") | Yes | |||
| BitLocker drive encryption | Yes |
See more Microsoft Windows Vista products
Microsoft Windows 7 system requirements
Ready for Windows 7?
If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:
- -1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- -1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- -16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
- -DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Additional requirements to use certain features:
- -Internet access (fees may apply)
- -Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
- -For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
- -Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
- -HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
- -DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
- -BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
- -BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
- -Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on
- -Music and sound require audio output
from windows.microsoft.com
See more Microsoft Windows 7 system requirements products
Home user laptop computer
Home users are increasingly turning to notebook computers as their primary PCs, as they like that laptops can offer similar performance and features to those of a desktop PC, and can be easily moved from room to room. Though of course almost any notebook computer will do for typical home use, there are two types of laptops most suitable for home users: mid-size notebooks, which tend to be budget-friendly, and desktop replacements, which are usually packed with features.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
Student laptop computer
Students and others on a tight budget should look for a cheap laptop computer that delivers the most bang for the buck. In particular, students need a notebook that is small and light enough to lug back and forth across campus but rugged enough to withstand bouncing around in a backpack.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
CNET product brief
Description: The Toshiba Satellite M305-S4915 is a 5.3-pound, thin-and-light notebook computer.Compared to other thin-and-light notebooks on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $925.The 14.1 inch widescreen has a native resolution of 1280 x 800, which is fairly standard among laptops.Runs on the Intel Core 2 Duo processor.This unit has a 320GB hard disk drive and 4 GB of memory.
Pros: Has a 320GB hard drive.This is larger than the average notebook on the market today, but is to be expected for a notebook of this price.The External Serial ATA port (ESATA) will transfer data to an external hard drive much faster than USB 2.0.
Cons: The poor battery performance of this notebook means it has to be recharged more often than other notebooks in its class.Shared video memory has a negative impact on system performance which may be okay for users with more modest graphics needs.Users with more demanding needs should look to a graphics solution that brings its own muscle.
Suitability: Suited for those who want a balance between power and portability.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Internet from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled notebook.Archive your digital videos using this notebook's DVD burner.
Value: In view of its very inexpensive price, this notebook has great features for the money.For example, when it comes to screen size, the average price of thin-and-light products with a comparable screen size is considerably more -- in fact around $1,330.
Suggestions: (1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Internet more conveniently from any room.(2) The integrated camera, while it does not have the resolution of most handheld cameras, can be handy if you want to teleconference over the Web.
CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.
Toshiba Satellite M305-S4915 - Core 2 Duo P7450 2.13 GHz - 14.1" TFT:
