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"A HORRIBLE Experience" on by petitgitan
Pros: Thin and sleek
Cons: Screen died after 3 weeks, horrible warranty and customer service.
Summary: Sleek notebook, but that’s the only positive. My absolute worst fears all came true only three weeks after I bought it.
Within three weeks the screen had died on me. Called the warranty service who advised me to send it to the Toshiba depot for repair, as opposed to taking it to a local service center. They assured me that the depot would have all the necessary parts, whereas a service center will have to order them and wait. They also assured me that I’ll have my notebook back in about a week.
Three weeks later, after countless phone calls, and many promises of delivery “next week”, they finally told me that parts are still not available and that it would take two additional weeks before they get them.
I called customer relations several times (get used to 45 minutes on hold, don’t bother leaving messages, they never return calls despite the promise of “within the hour”). Every time I was assured that this time they’ll get it right and that I’ll get my notebook within days.
Needless to say, two weeks passed, and the assurances turned to be meaningless. Customer relations’ only job is to get you off the phone, not to solve your problem. So here I am with a brand new notebook that spent twice as much time in the repair shop than on my desk. I called customer relations again, and asked to speak to someone who will actually do something to solve my problem, perhaps send me a replacement unit. I bought the notebook because I needed it, and I just can’t defer using it indefinitely. Guess what they told me? There’s not such thing as someone who could do something. There is no replacement policy. I’ll just have to wait for the part until it arrives – whenever that is.
A new notebook is not supposed to break right out of the box, but if it does, a respectable manufacturer should stand by their product and make up for the inconvenience to the customer. Toshiba has been utterly disappointing on all counts. -
"Info for new buyers !" on by silver5050
Pros: FAST, Sleak, Lots and lots of software, and ready to take over the world right out of the box.
Cons: XP home not Pro. "like most notebooks"
Summary: I’ve had mine 3 or 4 months now. I use the hell out of it for personal and work, phone system programming (Telecom). I’ve been through many laptops and this is by far my favorite, not just because it’s new but it seems to be BULITPROOF. For beginners, it’s easy to use, great screen, and won’t need to be replaced in six months or a year. Plus it comes with tons of software. NOTE: For new buyers, don’t be put off by this processor speed-1.6 GHz compared to some 3.0 or 3.4GHz machines. A larger Processor speed does not always mean a faster machine, for example 533MHz front side bus speed, 333MHz memory speed, faster CD/DVD burner, and a real plus is the two slots for RAM with a single 512MHz module installed so you can upgrade to 1.0GHz RAM with a single purchase of a 512 stick. I did it and love it!!!
Hope this helps.
J… -
"Hard to go wrong with this one" on
Pros: Features, features, features
Cons: Awkward that different built-in programs are used for reading vs. writing DVDs
Summary: I'm not a tech wizard but I did carefully compare features and prices before I bought the M45-S331 and so far I'm happy with my choice (I've had it about a month). I think this model is at or near the top of the list for a name-brand model with the most features for the money.
One of my 'must-haves' was a DVD+/-RW drive because I experienced how frustrating it was with my old computer not being able to write to a CD. Even if you don't want to make 'movies' on a DVD now, sooner or later you are going to want to be able to write to a DVD, even if it's for nothing more than archiving data. Most models in this price range can only read DVDs.
Another 'must-have' was a Pentium M processor for its power management capabilities. If you're buying a notebook, don't you want to do all you can to have longer battery life?
A third 'must-have' was a wide-format screen. True, it's kind of a 'vanity feature' but getting a new notebook with a squarish screen is like getting a new sports car with cloth seats... the day after you buy it you'll wish you'd opted for leather.
One thing that put me over the top in deciding to buy this model was seeing how vidid the screen is. One feature I wanted but couldn't find was a touchpad with a good scrolling capability. You can scroll with this model's touchpad but so far I haven't mastered doing it smoothly.
As for the built-in wireless capability, I got a wireless router for next to nothing after rebates but figured this was a feature I'd almost never use. I was wrong - I love having the option of picking up the computer and moving to another room without missing a beat.
Regarding memory size, 512 MB was not a requirement since adding memory is not too difficult, but it's nice that this one has it.
One minor criticism I have is that after having trouble writing to a DVD at first, Toshiba support told me that I should use one built-in program to read DVDs and another to write - what's up with that? Given all the other good things it's a minor inconvenience. -
"Trouble in Tosh Land! Turn off wi-fi or Freeze!" on by gixer4cd
Pros: Sound, speakers, light weight,display
Cons: FREEZES! , whack keyboard character placement, slow/noisy cdrom
Summary: Yes, there is a major flaw!!! I have wasted countless hours trying to trouble shoot the freeze/lockup/hang problem/complaint (all that said so more hits will come this way and people will know NOT to buy a Tosh).
I have been through FIVE, that's right, FIVE diff Tosh's since 4/3/05!!! 4 of them were the M45-S331 and the one today was a m45-S351. I have tried every solution, real and imagined! You name it, we've tried it! I have THREE case #'s pending with Tosh t/s and have been patiently waiting for a response since the first opened case!
From what i have learned, there are three things that line up to cause the freeze/lock up issue on the M45 series. 1st; the battery must be in, 2nd; the wi-fi switch must be "on"; 3rd (important) the wi-fi must have already acquired a network address (real or adhoc-whether actually connected to internet or not). Once all of these conditions are met, and u plug or replug in the AC adapter, the system locksup and requires a hard boot.
Let it be know that i have nothing against Tosh, except several depostion files I had to re-create and I have had about 36 hours of downtime between, travel, waiting and reconfig laptop time (each time i tried with another tosh). Best Buy and Circuit City folks have all been way overly helpful and patient and their own tech people and I have tried everything. (I would be glad to speak with anyone that wants to talk about this issue since, obviously, i can't get an area rep or Irvine Ca rep to hear me...sorry, only Istanbul, Turkey "CSR" & "tech" reps thus far). I'm not sure if i am allowed to post my phone number, but here it is, (904) 642-0054, and my name is C.D. I can only begin to tell you the amount of frustration, time, monetary and work loss I have encountered just trying to get the laptops to work!
Also, as a side bar, other cons include a whack keyboard, the cdrom drive is alittle slow (4200rpm) and slightly noisy (the "quiet" option only makes it slower!) and the laptops come overly loaded with trial software and Tosh only window redundancies). The keyboard has the windows key in upper right instead of lower left; delete key is lower mid-right instead of upper right; and that other "squiggly" key--sorry can't recall name of it that used to be next to the "1" is now lower mid left next to the space bar). On the pro side, the sound/speaker quality (thanks, i guess to H/K) is absolutely phenomenal and the Centreno, screen and battery life are all fine (2.75 average with full power all the time!)
I like Toshiba for the price and good things that their M45 offers for that price, but i shouldnt have to disconnect from the internet (via subsequently turning OFF the wi-fi switch) before i plug in the ac adapter)! I have tried all the numbers I found for California and got no where. We alternately tried, untried, uninstalled, reinstalled all 3 wi-fi software's and even the tosh power management and config free stuffs...all to no avail. I can tell you the problem seems more prevelent when the battery is weak or hot and Tosh now claims, tonight, that the "Lite-On" adapter shipped with these units is causing a power surge once the 3 conditions are met. tosh says again that a level 3 tech will get back to me again, now by monday--they haven't responded yet). I should be getting a Sony FS 550 tomorrow which, from research and demo, has poor battery time, partitioned h/d, DVD+/- issues, crappy speakers/sound, no multi card slot, no S video, NORMAL keyboard, same specs, is .8 lbs heavier, thinner, has double layer +/-, etc). I will keep you posted as i learn more. I am thinking of trying another m45, but with a diff power adapter, just to call Tosh's bluff!! Anyone else have a different power adapter and theirs works ok? Is there hope?!
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"Great -until it broke" on by tamilynn
Pros: Nice features, decent price
Cons: HORRIBLE customer support
Summary: I purchased this laptop in April. Less than 3 weeks later the DVD drive died. After a few phone calls it was determined that I should send it to Toshiba's laptop depot for repair. I was told that turnaround time was 1 to 2 weeks. That was a month ago. It's on hold for "parts". Parts being a new drive, which they don't stock at the depot and seem to have trouble getting in. I've been given 3 different dates for the part to arrive and my computer to be repaired. As each date passes I'm told it will for sure be in the next time. I've spoken to tech support, depot, and customer service people at Toshiba until I'm hoarse. Once I was even hung up on by customer service, although I was not being rude or profane. I was simply demanding to know why Toshiba could not seem to repair and return the laptop to me in a reasonable amount of time. As of now they've had the computer longer than we did before it broke. I'm beginning to think we shall never see it again, and I might as well have just thrown away all that money I paid for it. I will never again buy a Toshiba product, and I strongly caution all consumers to think long and hard about purchasing from a company with such poor service.
Updated
After many phone calls to Toshiba and much frustration, we finally got the laptop back on July 11. Just a mere 7 weeks after it was sent in for repair! Now that it's back I can see why I chose it in the first place. It is a nice laptop, and does everything we need it to do. But I have my fingers and toes crossed that it won't need repair again. After this experience with Toshiba I must say that I will never purchase a product manufactured by them again.
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