P55T 4K - Confusion

Hi all, I'm hoping to get some help from everyone... I've been eagerly awaiting the release of the P55T after reading articles such as:
Spec Sheet: Toshiba's 4K laptop tries to dominate the high-res competition | The Verge
and
Hands on: Toshiba Satellite P55t 4K Ultra HD review | Laptops and netbooks Reviews | TechRadar

Well, as it turns out, Toshiba didn't release a new "P55T", but rather a new P50T, specifically the P50T-BST2N01. Not a big deal, but instead of being listed for $1,499 (which seemed to be the consensus starting point per most articles I saw), it's listed at $1,799... oh and by the way, that price doesn't include Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 or a BD.

To confuse things even more, when you go to their highlights page for the new P50T here Satellite P50t 4K Ultra HD Laptop | Toshiba , and start scrolling down, it lists things like LR5 and Bluray capabilities. But when you click the "See Detailed specs" button, the only configuration currently available doesn't include those options. When I chatted with a sales associate, they said that future models or store-specific models will offer those options.

To be honest, LR5 and a BD aren't that expensive, but I was hoping that this would all be part of a package that would sell for $1,499.... this was based on the ever-reliable internet sources noted above. Anyhow, am I missing something here???

Thanks!
Greg

 

After a lengthy chat with a rep on Toshiba site, here is the info I got:

1. There are 2 versions of 4K laptop, one is p50t which is on sale at Toshiba direct right now, and retailer version which is p55t. Retailer version is not released yet, and likely will have lower price and including the LR software plus BD.

2. Toshiba direct do not sell p55t, only p50t.

3. p50t is a prebuild model which has no customization option, rep said they do not have information about customization model, but my guess is that there will be one in the future.

 

hey there, thanks for the reply! did you happen to ask when the p55t will be released to retailers?

 

Yes I did, and their answer is no information., since they do not sell retailer version on the site.
I also asked them the difference between p50t and p55t, the only difference hardware-wise is that p55t has BD drive, and likely have lower price.
I found it funny that even rep on Toshiba direct admits that retailer version is likely to have lower price, but they did mention that they are the first channel in US that
gets Toshiba 4k laptop.

p50t, available NOW, but no BD and probably will cost 300 dollars more than p55t, assuming that 1499 price in all the review article is true.

p55t, has lower price (supposely), has BD drive, comes with LR software, but no one knows when will it goes on sale.

So the million dollar question now is when will p55t goes on sale....

Here is some more info:

-16 GB RAM is the max already
-There is only ONE slot for HDD/SSD

 

Are you sure there is an mSATA card slot, not a normal 2.5" disk SATA slot?
I haven't read of a harddisk fitting on a thin mSATA card. The specs only say Serial ATA. The installed disk is a hybrid (HDD with flash cache), maybe 8G flash.

It would be nice if, in addition to one 2.5" disk SATA slot, there was an SSD-capable slot (probably mSATA in this price range, but could be M.2), but that would raise the price.

 

There is only one slot, will double check if it is SATA or mSATA with Toshiba.

 

Pretty sure it is based on the same HM86 chipset in the P50t models that are already around for the last 9 months or so, which will mean no mSATA slot.

P50t already comes with BD as standard in the pre-built model offer in my country, which is the only 4K model that is on offer.

PSPNVA-00R00N - Toshiba Satellite P50 Computer - New Zealand :: Toshiba :: Computers, Laptops/Notebooks, Tablets, Televisions, DVD and Blu-Ray Players, Camcorders, Storage, Accessories, and more

Although I have to wonder if the chipset is changed to at least HM87 and possible mSATA slot. Take into account the 4x USB3 ports it now has, an also the new GPU in the form of R9 M265X with GDDR5 which shouldn't be anything to laugh at.

 

Bah! Why did NZ model gets BD and USA model gets DVD drive only...

 

Would you pay $2486 in USA dollars for this?

That what it works out to be at the current exchange rate, which at the moment the NZ dollar is around the strongest it ever been against the USA dollar.
In NZ we are getting ripped off badly, especially when it just a 1TB drive with a messily 8GB integrated cache! The BD does not look like a bargin.

 

Wow! Did not know it was THAT crazy expensive in NZ! For that price I would get Razor Blade 2014/MSI instead.
Yes, it is totally rip off!

 

Ha yea, and we don't get the Razor model either.

The MSI are here, but the cheapest Ghost model (which is what I would want) is $2650 USD and that only comes with a i7-4700MQ, 860M, dual 128 mSATA, and 1080p screen.

 

It seems no matter what laptop you get over there, it will be expensive...
The alternative would be Lenovo Y50 , maybe?

 

Yeah a Y50 would be great, but Lenovo NZ list the L, T, X ,and W models, no Y grrrr damn it.

I think the best I can do is wait for a 20% off sale on NZ crazy inflated prices and then I can get the Toshiba P50t-b00r at $1985 USD, which is no bargain but best I can get.

Becomes hard to justify the price of a meh grade PC quality, when a MacBook Pro can be had for similar money with pretty much flawless build quality and design perfection. Although bootcamp does not work smartly with power savings, and I don't generally use a Mac for Windows duties.

Worried about the tiny 4 cell battery in this thing, cause for concern?

 

Does anyone know how to upgrade its hdd to ssd? Thanks.

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

 

I do---Correction, I mean I DID.
It was NOT easy, since they only sell prebuild model now, perhaps wait for customization model is better option.
All I can say is tear open your very first UHD laptop on DAY ONE was not for the faint of heart!

 

does newmodeus sell optical caddy for this baby or is the dvd drive not removable? i want 1tb ssd+1.5tb optical caddy hdd

 

Once you open that bottom lid, the DVD drive is very, very easily removable, there is nothing holding it except the interface itself.


The hardest part on this laptop was opening that lid---I broke a plastic clip or two in the process. But the laptop is fine afterward.
As for the caddy, I dont see anything on newmodeus that is for p50t...
But I do found this:

http://hddcaddy.com/en/toshiba-hdd-caddy/713-toshiba-satellite-p50t-hdd-caddy.html

no idea if it will fit though.

 

HI Xepher2014, Right now I'm in the process of getting 4K P50 or 55T, planning to usee HDD caddy for HDD and SSD at original bay...is there any problem with DVD Sata compatibility or Sata 1 Sata 2 Sata 3 interface issue. Alsi I read it some where that after adding HDD to DVD port, it seems lappie getting too hot as the $K model contentiously using more than 30% of processor keep accessing HDD, which was placed in the DVD port.

Please advcie.