Toshiba Satellite T135D-S1324

Pros: In spite of my user lack of experience with Laptops & Nomenclature (Geekology) - I find that "RED" is IN (My Living Room!)
I wanted Internet Feed from New York Metropolitan Opera and, eventually, I Got It!
No ugly desktop over by the TV.

Cons: What I thought were flaws went out the window in a hurry. Minimal documentation proved to be adequate and II had it running in a few minutes but the constant interference from the installed programs caused much frustration.

Summary: Review Toshiba Satellite Laptop T135-S1325 RD

My credentials do NOT include use of a Laptop for anything during my career of care & feeding of PCs since I got my first one in 1986. Being such a laggard, I cannot be anything but a "newbie" regarding RED. So, here I am, a clueless Septuagarian telling you about it. But I do know what I like.

Last Summer, we went down to Stanford to attend a conference (she) and Fry's (me). Among that superabundance of toys I spent 6 hours surveying; I was drawn back to the ample display of portable computing devices. The next morning, I took her back to Fry's to show her those portables. Swatting the pestiferous sales clerks away; we managed to home in on a couple of models that interested us. Like a cloud of flies, the clerks kept distracting us to the point of exhaustion but we were drawn to one portable because of its wildly non-conforming appearance.

It was RED. Not exactly Stanford Cardinal, nor blood red; this was more like WINE RED. In fact, it was Toshiba Red.

Fast forward a year and the buzzwords include Internet and TV; as in Internet on television. Content from the Internet is dangerous to the entertainment industry which wants to control what we watch or hear. The consumer can take control by dragging a spare PC out into the living room and setting it next to the flat panel display. There it could sit while you are away and nobody would care. While you ARE there, that PC will look as ugly as a wart-hog. And chances are that the first setup will not work. I tried it but was baffled by a defective off the shelf Ethernet Cable.

Now, "Consumer Reports" March 2010 wrote about this wonderful technological breakthrough, hyping the "new" Blu-Ray Player and how it could connect directly to the Internet. So, Right in the middle of IRS Time, I jumped into this concept and got me a Blu-Ray by LG. It only allowed 'connection' to pre-selected programming such as rent-a-movie services and the weather channel. So, back to Wal-Mart with the LG. I have already managed to subscribe to something that appeals to my own wierd tastes: Metropolitan Opera. I could watch their feed any time and from hundreds of Operas in the Met Opera Archives. It dawned on me that a smaller PC could be hidden away in the TV cabinet. Not an Apple Mini nor a big screen heavyweight Portable but a small Laptop. (See, I learn quickly.) So, within an hour of returning the useless Blu-Ray player, I wandered into Office Depot and spotted RED.

And, here we are. User reviews are filled with geeky problems I can see have been worked out by Toahiba - almost.

The keyboard is a hateful thing but I have been learning about its limitations while writing this review on it. I have another new toy over in front of my Desktop Monitor. It is a Logitech Illuminated Keyboard designed by typing teachers. One lesson I got from my junior high teacher was: "ARCH YOUR FINGERS and DON'T rest the heels of your hands on anything."
That works with RED, because the slightest touch of your hands will cause the cursor to kick in somewhere else. My pleasant experience with the Logitech makes me detest the keyboard on RED. Logitech keys are slightly concave and that increases strike accuracy. The Logitech is a USB device - - - hmmm! Do you suppose I could plug that into "RED"? I did not try, Instead, I moved over to my Desktop after the CNET program refused to accept this review. So, I cut and pasted it to my Solid RED Traveldrive, thencely to this desktop.

So, I AM HAPPY with RED!
GET THOSE FINGERS ARCHED!

Now, if CNET will allow it, ........

Updated on Apr 13, 2010

Further research shows both S1324 and s1325 are nearly identical and valid model stock numbers. S1320 is the "Wal-Mart" version with 3GB DDR-2, S1310 has an Intel Processor and faster DDR-3 RAM. In the process, it appears that the consensus is "AOK" except for the finish on the Touch Pad, the "Too Small Keys." I object to the dead flat surfaces on all except for Function Key Row buttons.
I found the touch pad nearly impossible to use; cured that with a Belkin F4U006 USB Retractable Mouse. But the on-screen Pointer is too small for my ancient eyes. The VGA D-Sub port did not secure the cable, that led me to try the HDMI Interface; which did. I recommend at least an e-Bag Sleeve for protection and a pocket for the AC Adapter.