Satellite Pro A300 on screen volume bar?

Hi

I just recently purchased a Toshiba Satellite Pro A300.
It came with Windows Vista 32bit preinstalled, and except for a little bloatware that needed to be removed, it runs great.

My question is though, if there is a way to install or activate an on screen volume indicator?
I can't seem to find any information about this, and it is quite possible that it just isn't available for Vista. I think the XP installation (which is included on cd's) has it.

Does anyone know if there is an on screen volume bar available for a Toshiba Satellite running Vista?

 

Actually i just found a somewhat ackward solution.

Someone suggested installing the Microsoft Intellitype software, because it features a volume bar, and it shouldn't matter whether you have a Microsoft keyboard or not.
I installed the software and sure enough, when i use the volume wheel on my Satellite a nice little volume bar appears in the bottom right corner of the screen.

So if anyone else is looking for a solution to this problem try this out.

 

what do u think about your toshiba??
i was just about to buy a satellite pro A300-1NT but i bought dv5-1135

 

Actually this is the first Toshiba laptop i've owned.
Before buying it i was a bit worried about the quality of Toshiba.
I've always favored IBM/Lenono and HP laptops.

But this time i didn't want to spend big bucks on one of those.
I found the Toshiba laptop on a website and asked the dealer for his view on Toshiba vs Lenovo and HP.
He said that the failrate on Toshiba is as low as Lenovo and HP.
Also the one i got is very well configured at a low price.

Having played around with it for a couple of days i really like it.
It's very fast and it seems quite solid. The keyboard is pleasantly good to type on and the screen is nice and bright.

I don't know the specifications for the A300-1NT, but mine is as follows.

Toshiba Satellite Pro A300-1E7
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26 GHz (P8400)
4 GB DDR2 (preconfigured with 3 GB but i had it upgraded to 4 GB)
320 GB harddrive
15,4" TrueBrite (1280x800)
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470

I paid kr. 5.495 for it here in Denmark. I think that's just around $1,000, and i have no idea if that's a good price in the US.

 

To Mictand

Do you game on your Toshiba? If so, what games can A300 handle? Curious to know, because I may end up buying it!

Thanks in advance,
D3158

 

I don't really use mine for gaming, only surfing, office applications, and watching video and listening to music.

But i seriously doubt that the new popular games will play especially well on it.
The Ati Mobility Radeon HD 3470 is quite a low-end graphics card.

I thought about playing Need for Speed Underground 1 & 2 on it, but i think the detail settings will have to be turned down quite a bit.

Maybe some other users have a more qualified answer to your question.

 

oh bummer lol. Thanks mic

 

As a current lenovo owner, I found the quality of my other lap - toshiba A300 quite disappointing. The keyboard has flex on the left side and the screen has not been properly sealed. I mean, the plastic plates just above the camera do not fully stick together.

From now on, I won't even think of purchasing another non-lenovo laptop.

Can another A300 user examine his keyboard for flexible areas and whether the area above the camera is properly sealed. Greatly appreciated! I wanna know if I got a lemon or Toshiba just s*cks!

 

I altso have a ThinkPad Z60m, when it was still branded with the IBM logo.
As to be expected the keyboard on my Toshiba is not as solid as on the IBM.
That said i haven't noticed much flex, a little perhaps, if i press down hard around the o and p keys.

On mine i really can't see anything wrong with the seal of the plastic around the camera. The seal seems to be perfect.

Is yours a Pro model too? I'm not sure what differences there are between pro and non pro, except for the glossy keyboard on the non pro (but isn't it called A305 then?).

 

Yea Microsoft Intellitype works great for me but when running a fullscreen program not in native resolution(1280*800) it flickers for a second or two, you can still see how high you are putting the volume but other than that it is great to have.

I have the ATI 3470 256mb too!(see sig).
I can play NFSMW on 1024*768 with all options on high execpt for the big ones such as AA. I can usually get 35-45fps. For Pro Street, 800*600 on lowest setting(collision on high, smoke on), it is playable, 1024*768, would really be pushing the card.

As for the plastic seal around the camera, my sits flush to the grey plastic around it(or really really close). Maybe you have a lemon?

 

How is the battery life?