Is this a good deal on Satellite P740-BT4N22 Laptop?

I just configured a Satellite P740-BT4N22 Laptop. This was the configuration. Does this sound like a good deal and is it a good system?

Satellite P740-BT4N22 Laptop
Intel® Core™ i5-2430M Processor 2.40GHz (3.00GHz with Turbo Boost Technology), 3MB Cache, Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit, SP1, 4GB DDR3 1333MHz SDRAM (2048MBx2) , 500GB HDD (7200rpm, Serial-ATA), Integrated Graphics, Blu-ray Disc™ RE with SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Double Layer drive, Glossy Black LED Backlit Tile keyboard, Lithium Ion Battery (12-cell), Wi-Fi® Wireless networking (802.11b/g/n) with Bluetooth® v3.0 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), Microsoft® Office 2010 Starter, Norton Internet Security Suite (NIS) 2012 (30-day trial), 3 Years Standard Limited Warranty.

Its costs 900 dollars even with tax included. Being that Toshiba has a 15 percent restocking fee on custom builds I called them and cancelled this order. They said its too late and it will be shipped out but that when I receive it I have the option to call and get an RMA to ship back without a restock fee being I called before I received it.

So now I can except it or return it. I just can't find much info on this. What I don't like about it, all plastic.. really? for 900 dollars? A bit bulky as well. I've read the build has a bit too much flex in the lid, and that the lid is not so strong. What I do like is the option for a BD writer, which is extremely rare option these days. It seems like a very good price for a 14" that includes an i5, 12 cell battery and BD writer with BT. In fact, I don't think there is any other machine currently on the market that can provide all that for 900 dollars, and oh yeah, with a 3 year warranty. Apparently the hardon kardon speakers are top of class as well. What I don't like is having to deal with Toshiba America in Irvine if I have to exercise that warranty. And some say the display is washed out with bad viewing angles. So I am really undecided about this purchase. I'm so used to Hp's no questions asked full refund return policy in the first 21 days. Toshiba does not stand behind or have the confidence to offer a decent return policy. And like I said, there is darn little info on the net on this system.

 

I think it's a good price. My mother's Sony-S 13.3" with the same i5, Blueray reader [no write], WiDi and 1 year warranty for $980.
Might be able to find a better deal; but some of the specs you configured might not be attainable with other brands for the price [BD-RE], WiDi Display, etc....

The P-Series is an upper tier Satellite. For a 14" laptop, i5 dual-core is the norm. It is a bit lacking in the GPU department [Intel HD 3000], but I do see it has WiDi [Intel Wireless Display] which also can be hard to find. I think the other added bonus [which you mentioned] is the 3 year warranty and Bluray-writer. I see you opted for a 12-cell battery, which should provide for a lot of surfing time. The display is typical for a glossy screen; may be happier with a matte.

Here's a marketing video that breaks down the general features of the p740
Toshiba Unboxed: Satellite P740 Series Laptop - YouTube



Sounds like you may want a slimer, business oriented laptop. The Satellite series have moved away form a semi-business series to a strictly consumer grade laptop. The Toshiba business-end is now in the portege and tecra series. I think you may have some attraction to the Toshiba Tecra [14" r840; cousin to portege]. Tecra is much slimmer than Satellites and are composed of a carbon-resin mesh body. Also has option for a 1600x900p matte 14" screen and a dedicated AMD GPU. Of course, it is more expensive than the p740 you selected.

Toshiba Unboxed - Tecra R840 Series Laptop - YouTube
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/laptops.to?family=Tecra&model=R840#resultsMatrix


Good luck

 

Thanks for that information. Although I don't think the one I ordered has the WiDi wireless display since when I configured it they said I needed to configure the dedicated gpu for that to work. So I am confused about that one. Maybe I'll give them a call. If it does work with the intel graphics that would be a added bonus for sure. I might actually keep this order. Good sound is very important to me and I think this may have one of the best. Also, I'm not sure I want to pay that much for a tecra.

I'm not a gamer so the intel graphics would be a real plus for heat and power management. I do allot of HD video but the intel graphics should be more then enough for that, especially with the i5.

Any thoughts on satellite reliability in general in comparision with the likes of dell and HP? I've had some issues with HP but at least their service is quite good. I've heard Toshiba is good on the hardware end but lousy on the service end. My very first laptop was a Toshiba and a real POS but it had ME on it. But still they repaired it two times before sending me a replacement. Hp on the otherhand, would have send a replacement right of the bat in that first month of ownership. Dealing with Irvine for Toshiba was not fun.

 

No. That's a terrible deal. You can get the cheapest Qosmio for about $200 more and it'll smoke that machine.

 

But remember, that price includes a 12 cell battery, a BD burner, and a three year warranty. The cheapest Qosmio probably will have a standard 1 year warranty, no BD burner, and a 6 or 9 cell battery. So to be honestly fair, how much more would the Qosmio cost with RW BD drive, 12 cell and 3 year warranty?

If I left out those three options it would probably be only 600 for the P740. I'm convinced the price is good for the configuration. My question mainly is how people like this machine and how it holds up over time.. build quality etc..

 

I've had both HP and Toshiba, and recently just ordered a Dell XPS 17 with i7-2670QM (more on that later). I can tell you that when it comes to reliability, Toshiba beats HP hands down. Now, I'm not fond of both their customer services, the good thing was that I've only dealt with Toshiba ONCE and it wasn't as bad as many think...compared to probably over 15 times previously during the course of owning my HP from day ONE! Not pleasant to say the least.

Why not another Toshiba? Well, I was going to, as a matter of fact I was in the middle of configuring a P775 in similar specs to the Dell but suddenly decided to head down to my local Best Buy to get a glance at it in real life just to see how it really look and feel since I wasn't too fond of my last Satellite -- the result was a big no no! I didn't like the color, design (raised tree bark-type texture) and the feel. It was cheap and it killed it for me!

So I decided to see what Dell had in store at the time (post Black-Friday) and configured a much more powerful computer with much much more features; not to mention JBL speakers with a 12-watt subwoofer on the bottom (22 watts of beefy sound) for about $250 less! Oh yeah, the aluminum body was one of the selling point.

If you're concerned about styling, here is something to consider:
Amazon.com: Dell XPS 14Z X14z-2308ELS 14-Inch Laptop (Elemental Silver): Electronics

Dell sells for about $900 at their site, then again, there is also the Inspiron 14" to compare.

 

I know what you mean. I looked at a similar model to the P740 I ordered at Sams club, the 15" model and don't care much for the all plastic fusion look. I listened to the Hardon Kardon speakers and was also somewhat disappointed since my expectations were higher from what some reviewers have said about them. I can't stop my shipment even though I called and tried to cancel the very next day. The CSR did put a note on my order and said I can call for an RMA and avoid the 15% restock fee when I receive it next Monday.

However, that being said, I doubt I can match that price for features I ordered on the Black Friday special. The P740 I built includes i5, intel graphics, 12 cell battery, BD rewritable drive, and three years warranty. From what I've seen, that configuration will run me another 300 plus dollars with Sony or Dell. But I agree, the Dell XPS sounds like something I would like better with the metal construction and JBL speakers. The issue there is I don't believe they make a slot loading BD rewritable drive on the 14z model, I probably would have to configure a 15" model for that.

 

The Harman Kardon speakers are usually pretty good; of course were speaking in terms of laptop speakers. BTW, JBL is made by Harman Kardon.

 

You can't be regretting about buying something you don't want or developing buyer's remorse afterward, especially on a laptop because it WILL haunted you for as long as you own it. I've learnt that lesson with my Satellite shortly after I bought it, not because of the performance or reliability issues but for the ergonomics; the basic design elements and comfort of the laptop. Not a day went by that I didn't b!tch and moan whenever I'm on it, I did this for over two years until I finally replaced it last week -- and what a relieve that was for my girlfriend.

There are many choices if you feel that a BD-Writer plays an important role on your purchase, but it is not easy finding one that can match the price of a Toshiba. The good thing is you can finance your purchase interest-free with Toshiba but it is only limited to 6 months, compared to 12 months with Dell.

Not sure if size is important, but here's a 15" XPS, I configured for you with pretty much the same specs (BD writer of course) for $914. You get an additional 3% off when you finance with Dell, so there's more discount but you might have to call in for assistance though.
Dell Online Store - Home & Home Office. Two things I did was:
1. Add BD writer
2. Edit Keyboard to 'Backlit' after selecting Review and Checkout.

Actual link for configuration:
The Dell Online Store: Build Your System
Then apply this coupon code: 932N$0ZCCHWZB9

 

Thanks for that info and coupon. Adding the 9 cell battery and tax will bring it over 1000 but something to consider. Also the extended warranty would bring this way over my budget. Just wish I could see a P740 before mine comes in on Monday. I'm sure once I open that package I will be stuck with the 15% restock fee. I really miss Hp in times like this.

 

Well I received the machine today and took the chance to open it up. I was going to refuse the package but the words did not come out of my mouth. So far I really like it. Much better then the bigger 15" I saw in the store. In fact, I finally saw some P740's at best buy today. Speakers are really good. And the keyboard has a nice feel and quiet to type on. Back lit keyboard is miles better then the one I have on my HP HDX 18. I called tech support and they confirmed that my machine has the intel widi which is great. Its funny how when you configure it, they say you have to order the nvidia for that to work.. I think they just say that to make customers pay more. The display is very nice. I checked and it has a sec panel on it. However, I think my HP HDX 18" LCD is a bit better. And I have an older dv6500t that has a LG lcd panel and that is beautiful display. I think maybe the viewing angles on these newer led panels may not be as great as the older LCD ones. But the panel is still very good. I'm happy and pretty picky about displays. I recommend the 12 cell. The machine feels fairly portable even with the bigger battery and it props it up which helps cooling and elevate keyboard. The machine is quiet and very cool anyways.

The only real complaint as has been stated before is the lid. It feels very flimsy. The sides have a line that you can fit your nail into.. not totally sealed. I take careful care of my laptops so I don't feel this will be a problem. However, those that like to throw these machines around may think twice about buying this. I compared mine to one at best buy and it was the same there too. Its a bad design. Even the cheaper L series seems to have a sturdier lid. The grey fusion looks nice on this 14 incher. But it looks busy on the larger models.. don't know why I feel that way. But it seems to work on this size chassis.

The track pad has a very nice feel to it. The buttons are a bit stiff. I plan on using a BT mouse so its no big deal. But I agree with others, the click buttons are stiff. That could be a deal killer for those that primary like to use track pads.

I'm thinking this is a keeper. For 900 dollars even, a i5, 12 cell, BT, widi, back lit keyboard with nice speakers, BD burner and 3 years warranty, I can't beat that anywhere.

 

I agree
Glad to hear your happy with your purchase. Keep us updated with any progress.

 

Good to hear that you're happy with it HI DesertNM, as long as you get everything you want on it that's all it matters. Like I mentioned earlier, you can't really beat a Toshiba when it comes to reliability and price.

 

Well I got a good price, but if I configured the same system today it would cost about 300 more. At that price I can't recommend it. I would have gone with the Dell XPS. But at this price point, I'm very pleased with it. The black Friday special was really good.

 

Update, contrary to what the first Toshiba tech support said, my i5 2430M does not support the intel widi. I went out and bought the netgear pushtogo adapter and that was a no go. Oh well, its not really a deal killer anyways, from what I have read, it lags too much to be used interactively. I'll be using a compact MS BT 6000 keyboard and a V470 logitec BT mouse for when I connect this with HDMI to TV. What puzzles me is sometimes you have to configure the P740 with the nvidia card to get the widi support. But then again, Best buy is selling some that only have the intel graphics that has widi support, which is the 2410M. If widi is something important to you then make sure the description says it has it. Other then that, this is a little pocket rocket. Definitely seems better build and designed then any of the HP's I own.

 

The XPS 17 I bought supports widi but regretfully, I will be returning it. I spoke to Dell and they are okay with it without charging a restocking fee. I really love the laptop, it has pretty much everything I wanted; BD Player, Backlit keys, JBL sounds and an Aluminum body. The keyboard is the best I've ever typed on, it is extremely quiet and has a very nice soft-action and absolutely zero flexing whatsoever while typing -- all for a relatively good price, as a matter of fact it was a steal! But price has nothing to do with it in this situation where the design was the deal-breaker.

The reasons:
The ac jack disconnected on me three times, the plug is so loose that you would not believe it, plus it is situated on the back, along with two USB ports, an HDMI and an ethernet port. The HDD activity light is also on the back (who the hell designed this thing???). Not only that, the overall length of the power cord is almost three feet shorter than all my other laptops. Seriously, if I knew all of these I wouldn't of ordered it, but who'd measure the power cord, look for lights on the cord, and research to see if they'll 'stay put'?

One other thing that bothered me most was; on the plug itself, there is this bright glowing blue light that stays lit no matter what, whether if the computer is ON or OFF. The only remedy is to unplug the wall outlet. Too much work and hassle to owned this thing -- all of which will disconnect on me from time to time.

 

I bought a few 1420 dells online back in 2007 and felt their built quality severely lacked. Both sent back. I remember the screens were simply horrible as well. At any rate, that experience was so bad that I have stayed clear of Dell and have never really considered them an option. I know at one time, they used to build some decent laptops. Maybe on their latitude line?

About the only machine I would consider today would be HP or Toshiba. HP probably the best system for the money to configure online. Toshiba may be a bit better if you can find a good deal. I really fell in love with the Acer timelinex 14" but no blue ray? I think the reason for that is the smaller form facter optical drives don't support BD. Otherwise, I probably would have bought that at Costco for 650 dollars. It had everything else I wanted except the BD, and forget BD RW drives. Only a handful of systems provide that. Sony and Toshiba seem to be the most committed to the BD RW standard at the moment. Apple of course is way over priced and are saying they won't offer optical drives anymore.. which IMO is stupid. But yet another opportunity to sell overpriced external drives that look cool.

Again, I am still kicking myself for not getting the Widi.. at some point, that may have been a cool feature, but since it has a 1 second delay from keyboard to screen, it pretty much kills it for a interactive tool.. mainly only good for watching movies, slide shows etc.. At which point my loaded out LG 670 BD player with usb can play everything under the sun anyways. I would rate the Toshiba P740 about 4.5 stars. I had to take off a half star for no aluminum construction. The lack of widi is more my fault for not configuring that in.