The U300 is nice!

The U300/U305 notebook is nice! A 13.3 screen!

It replace the U205 which you cannot order anymore.

The price is quite right too.

Hope someone do a review soon.

 

Yes, its a very computer by the looks of it, but its a bit thick, and no Santa Rosa is pretty disappointing. No dedicated graphics option is slightly limiting, but it makes for good competition with the Lenovo V series.

Actually, come to think of it, has anyone seen *any* Santa Rosa Toshi yet?

 

Is it any thicker than the U205?

I like the screen and layout of the USB. And the built in webcam.

I am thinking and price is not bad.

 

The Lenovo V200 is a much better deal...better build quality, Santa Rosa (better CPU and graphics), smaller footprint, and its not too much more expensive.

 

While the model currently posted is a U300-ST3091, the Tech Support section also lists a U300-ST3092, and while there are no specifics to this model posted anywhere that I can find, perhaps this model will have Santa Rosa in it.

Pure speculation, mind you.

Also, there are Toshibas with Santa Rosa. See the Tecra A9, M8, M9, and Portégé R500. I'm anxiously awaiting Satellites with Santa Rosa in them. There's a good chance that assuming one comes out before the middle part of July, I'll be one of the first to review 'em.

- Trip

 

Any idea on when the U300 or U305 will hit the store? I know it replace the
U200/U205.

 

If anybody can reed in Russian that’s link to Santa Rosa (European) version http://www.mobile-review.com/fullnews/main/2007/June/15.shtml

 

U305 up on circuitcity.com
$1099.99 USD after rebate

http://circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=185210

i really hope someone does a review soon!

 

U305, an upgrade of the U205? Hopefully same build quality.

13.3" is nice and light

 

browsing on toshibadirect, it doesn't look like the U300 will be offered with a Santa Rosa socket P processor. But I'm not sure if the 800 MHz fsb makes that much difference with business/office apps.

It's a shame they didn't offer the lightweight U with the low-voltage L processors available in the Thinkpad X61s.

 

I don't know if this is Santa Rosa
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/pdet.to?seg=HHO&poid=383434
Processor Type * : Core™2 Duo Processor Number * : T7100 Processor Speed * : 1.80GHz Front Side Bus * : 800MHz

 

Satellite U305-S5127 model features “Santa Rosa’s” Intel GM965 chipset, but memory works at 677
Best price I found so far is from amazon 1299 after mir

 

Santa Rosa chipsets are all odd numbers, 7100, 7300, 7500...etc

 

i just ordered my u305-s5127 from circuit city (which didn't want to price match what i found on buy.com with their 7% discount until july 8) -- i'm going to check it out and if i like it, will get it from buy.com instead and hopefully get you guys a good user-review.

i'm thinking of whether i should return my xps m1210 for the u305... since it's the same price... what i hope to gain:
1. santa rosa chipset
2. a BETTER camera (tested it out at circuit city)
3. bigger hard drive (200gb vs my m1210's 80gb) albeit a slower one (4200 rpm vs. 5400)
4. a fingerprint reader (yay!)
5. super dvd multidrive

what i'm giving up:
1. 4MB cache on my m1210 (which has the T7200 intel 2.0GHz processor non-santa rosa)
2. 256MB nvidia geforce 8400 Go (for the toshi's intel x3100 shared video card which i HOPE can run my games)
3. road-ready hard drive (shockproof)
4. sturdiness of the xps screen
5. xps support and reliability (however good that may seem)

anyway... will let you guys know. it's being shipped from vegas so i expect it by saturday or monday

 

Lucky you! No fingerprint reader for Europeans models.

First impressions on heat and noise?

I would be also interested to find out about battery life.

 

The configureable model is still on Napa - no Santa Rosa on that yet. The SR preconfig model is overpriced, and the U300 is too heavy. The Asus W7s is a much better deal, and the M1330 with the regular LCD and integrated graphics isn't much pricier either.

 

If you think the U300 is too heavy you will be encouraged by the description at the infosync website:

"The U305 notebooks are rather compact and lightweight at just 4.6 ounces."

Now that would truly be a thin and light!

 

What do you mean no Santa Rosa on the Satellite U305-S5127 ?

Processor Type * : Core™2 Duo Processor Number * : T7100 Processor Speed * : 1.80GHz Front Side Bus * : 800MHz

 

Yes, Starting at 4.6 lbs. That is light. Some ppl aint know how to count.

 

The code-name Santa Rosa refers to the fourth-generation Centrino platform, which was released on Wednesday 9 May 2007. The following features are included:[1]

an Intel second generation Core 2 Duo (code-named Merom) mobile processor. The processor is similar to, and still carries the codename Merom in common with, that used on the Napa Refresh platform although the new processors connect to the motherboard with Socket P.
an Intel Mobile 965 Express chipset (code named Crestline) with Intel's GMA X3100 graphics technology and ICH8M southbridge, 800 MT/s front side bus with Dynamic Front Side Bus Switching to save power during low utilization, and
RAM supported for DDR2-533 and DDR2-667 SODIMM.
NAND flash-memory caching branded as Turbo Memory (code-named Robson)
EFI-compliant firmware, a successor to BIOS.
Intel Dynamic Acceleration (IDA), better Windows Vista Aero support. [1]
the Intel PRO/Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n mini-PCIe Wi-Fi adapter (code named Kedron). This Wireless-N technology boasts a 5X speed increase, along with a 2X greater coverage area, and supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signal bands, with enough bandwidth for high definition audio and video streams. :[2]
The chipset update was originally intended to include WWAN Internet access via HSDPA (code-named Windigo) co-developed with Nokia [2][3]. After announcing a working partnership, both later retracted the deal citing the lack of a clear business case for the technology. [4]

Support for WiMAX (802.16) was originally scheduled for inclusion in Santa Rosa but appears to have been delayed until Montevina in 2008 [5]. There have, however, been reports that WiMax may still be introduced in 2007.

Santa Rosa features an updated mobile Core 2 Duo microprocessor. Notably, the Front Side Bus speed has been increased to 800 MHz. The chipset can also dynamically change the FSB speed to save power. Other power savings come from an Enhanced Sleep state where both the CPU cores and the chipset will power down.

Intel will also implement Dynamic Acceleration Technology with the Santa Rosa platform. This technology allows single threaded applications to execute faster. When a single threaded application is running the CPU can turn off one of the CPU cores and overclock the active core. In this way the CPU maintains the same Thermal Profile as it would when both cores are active. Many expect Santa Rosa to perform well as a mobile gaming platform due to its ability to switch between single threaded and multithreaded tasks.[6]

The Santa Rosa platform is branded as "Centrino Pro" when combined with the enhanced security technologies Intel introduced with vPro and will be called "Centrino Duo" when they are not used.[7]

A refresh of the Santa Rosa platform scheduled for release in late 2007[8] will upgrade Centrino to the 45nm Penryn Processor.



You confused between the Bus Speed and the RAM

 

What colour is the U300 there?

Over here it comes in Onyx Blue and Silver..

 

I think he was talking about the typo (4.6 ounces). But 4.6lbs is not really that light for a 13.3" notebook. I'm really very sorry to inform you, but the Asus Z35 weighs 4.2, the W7s weighs 4.3, XPS M1330 weighs 4.0, Sony SZ weighs between 3.7 and 4.07, so this really is a bit heavier than the others. Granted, you could compare it to the "made of lead" MacBook (5.1) or ''too thick for its own good'' Sony C series (5.07).

 

yall are talking about a 1/2 of lb, hit them gym....

 

When 0.5lb is 15% of the overall weight, it can make a significant difference in the feel of a notebook.

 

Add the 9-cell extended battery and the U305 will almost be 5lbs. Probably 4.8 or 4.9lbs if I'm guessing. The weight is about average in my opinion compared to the competition. Not really super light. For me, I walk all around campus and every little ounce counts. I'm lugging around an 8+ lbs notebook and the lighter it is, the more the notebook appeals to me.

Anyways, I am looking at the U305. I may get it because the price seems pretty good and it comes well equipped but I'm weary of Satellite quality.

 

Oh......................

 

To Nautilus:
Maybe first you should read post #10 then 11 and 12 taht way you would understand mauch more.
I'm not confused betwen fsb and ram. I'm just sad that ram doesn't work with 800mhz. That way system will be much faster.

 

I like the Satellite Pro U300 series with a black keyboard, starting @ 1.9 kg = 4.18 lbs

http://eu.computers.toshiba-europe....seriesHomepage.do?service=EU&SERIES_ID=131714

A critical factor for me is battery life but information on this subject is none.

http://pc.toshiba-asia.com/news/index.jsp?newsid=160

 

Exactly; that's what I thought was a funny error.

I saw in the Sunday newspaper ads today that BestBuy, OfficeDepot, and Circuit City all had the U305's, and running about $950 for 2 GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, 802.11 b/g/n. So I hit the stores this afternoon, not finding it at BestBuy but Circuit City had one out. I had hoped to find it at BestBuy because they don't bolt their floor samples down and you can actually get a sense of the weight and what it's like closed. The size is nice; the screen beautifully clear. The only small drawback was the keyboard. It was an okay keyboard but not as super as Toshiba keyboards have usually been.

I wanted to see it because I think the M8 is built on the same chassis and I'm wanting to get a sense of that machine.

 

that deal will be going on for the week wont it?

 

Yes. Check all three for the best deal (Circuit City, BestBuy, Office Depot).

 

I bet those at the store dont have Bluetooth built in.

Has anyone buy the module from Toshiba and put it in yourself?

 

Portege M600-E340E

( Model No.: PPM60L-02F00K )

Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology
- Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7300
(2.0GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
- Intel® PRO/3945ABG Wireless Network Connection 802.11 a/g
- Intel® 965GM Express Chipset
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium Edition
1GB (512MBx2) DDR2 SDRAM
160GB Serial-ATA HDD
DVD Super Multi Drive
13.3" WXGA Clear Superview TFT
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Built in 1.3 Mega pixel Webcam
Integrated Blue tooth V2.0, 5-1 Card Reader
1.86kg with Onyx Blue Chassis
3-Years carry-in International Limited Warranty (parts and labor)

FREE Toshiba 4GB Flash Drive



This is the config i get in my country.

Priced after exchange rate to USD is +/- 1,743.67 USD

 

Hi folks, new poster here.

I bought a U305-S5107 from Circuit City Friday, and will return it today because of a dead optical drive.

A week ago, the ToshibaDirect website said this model did not have bluetooth. This model from CC had bluetooth, but I think it was a late add on, as I was to install drivers, I think. I never got that far, however.

I'm new to Vista, and work with a fast, powerful desktop PC. This package with the T5300 processor at times seemed okay, and at times seemed pretty slow. Sometimes programs loaded quickly, sometimes not. I'm not sure if quirks are due to Vista, Toshiba or my wireless network. I unistalled unneeded preinstalled programs, and this seemed to slow the PC down. Go figure. I don't game, and haven't had a chance to photo edit.

Coming from a fast desktop, it is hard to put up with anything slower. If I had to buy again, I might spring for the model with the T7100 processor (but I wish it then had a seperate graphics processor).

On the other had, this model is a helluva buy right now. Circuit City online lists this at $980 after rebates. This is less than I paid, so I also have to hit CC up for their own price protection guaranty. The model with the T7100 processor and a slightly bigger (but slower?) HD sells for $1400. Heck, for $420 (43% more!), I can probably put up with a little waiting. A Sony model with the T7100 and a seperate graphics processor is $1850 ($1800 at Best Buy ~88% more!). So what I "want" is twice the price. I think I'll probably just exchange for the same model.

 

That is a bit unfortunate to hear. I thought the included 2GB would have made Vista pretty zippy, but I guess that is not the case.

I'm still considering the U305 though but now I'm not too sure.

 

The optical drive works!

Re my speed comments above. This new one zips along okay. Like I said, everything seemed to slow down once I removed preinstalled software on the first machine. I removed Google toolbar, McAfee Security suite trial and various software, etc, offers. I installed a copy of AVG Secutiy suite, which usually zips along unobtrusively.

There were some other problems I encountered with the first machine as well, so I wouldn't put too much emphasis on my speed comments above. I'll monitor more closely how future actions affect speed. I also forgot I changed the setting to maximize battery life, instead of to balance performance. Oops, sorry.

I'll leave it on high speed for awhile and try to report in a few days. I'll see if I can give a battery run test also.

The screen does look nice, with not too much glare. This size screen really is fine for a true portable computer. It actually works okay on my lap, as I use one of those "lap tables", with a board attached to a pillow.

This new one fired right up out of the box, and easily found and connected to my home wireless network. It's been out of the box for about an hour now. So far, so good.

 

I finally get to see this laptop today at the store.

It look nice.

Keyboard maybe make of cheap plastic.

The palm rest area feel luke-warm. I think all small laptop around 12.1" and 13.3" all have this problem.

I dont like the bright lite Toshiba word. If you want to watch a movie, it sure get in the way.

USB ports are lay out in the nice area.

I might get it, but I want to get a 3 yr warranty on it.

 

I picked one up for school. Vista Premium, Pentium T2080, 160G HD, 1G RAM from best buy for $749 + tax. I swore to never buy stuff from b/b amd I almost didn't buy it, but I did need a 13" and the price was right.
It ain't the lightest one ~4.5lb but it's ok. I've experienced no lag at all, the Super PI for 2m came out to be 1:39sec. which is faster than I really expected it to be. It took me about 3 hours to drain the battery with Wifi on, while doing unistalling and installing sfuff. One issue though, heat! It starts to come out of the vent side almost right away, though fans are extremely quite and i didn't notice armrests to be uncomfortably warm, but as soon as you put your hand next to the vent you feel the heat pouring out. I don't know if all light and thin lappies have this issue with heat, I hope this one isn't defected though. Can anyone elso tell if they have this issue with heat? It is summer now, so I hope that in the winter it wouldn't get so warm

 

Now my second U305-S5107 has had its optical drive crap out. The device manager says it cannot load the driver (error 39), which is up to date. The optical drive worked okay on Friday, out of the box. Now it is Monday evening and no go.

Man, I just downloaded 50 gigs of music to the HDD, and was starting to personalize the laptop. Three days wasted. And I'm leaving on vacation for a week tomorrow. Crap, I'll have to return it when I get back. Circuit City gives you 14 days to return laptops. I'll take the darn thing with me anyway. If I cannot get the drive to work properly, back it goes next Monday for a full refund. And no more Toshiba for me.

I also posted this in the thread about the R500 broken optical drive.

 

Same thing with optical thing going dead after 4 days "can't load some crappy driver????" is someone else having this issue? Desert, did you manage to fix it?

 

WOW. I cant believe for the 3rd time? There should be a recall on this!

 

That sucks. I hope Toshiba is doing something about it.

BTW, does anyone have any clear and bigger pictures of the U305? I looked everywhere and all I can find are some small pictures.

 

I recently purchased this laptop, anyone want me to snap some pics?

 

That would be great if you can.

 

Hi folks:

Benjic and I have PMed some info on this. This may be an issue related to removing preloaded, unwanted software. This happened to Benjic also, and a system restore fixed the problem on his laptop, evidently. I actually tried to do a system restore on my first laptop, but the PC did not have a restore date saved that predated my zapping the unwanted software! And restore CDs would not boot (which indicates an actual mechanical problem, however, right? The restore CD loads its own drivers, right?)

I will try the system restore on my laptop when I return from vacation Mondayish. I'll post an update to the forum with the results sometime next week.

Otherwise, this laptop seems pretty nice. A little keyboard flex, a little heat, but nothing excessive. The keyboard is not cramped at all, however, so typing is fine. The screen is nice, and the speed seems fine also. It is a nice laptop for about a grand U$. If I can get the DVD to work...

Jeez, 21st century and you still have to be pretty geeky just to get PCs to work.

 

Do you live in USA? Just go to any computer store man and see it.

This is not like the Dell Latitude where we dont have the luxury to feel and touch it.

 

Guys,

I just got this laptop and had the same cdrom issue. Did some searching and apparently this trick for WinXP works for Vista as well, cdrom works fine again.

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;314060&x=12&y=13

 

Thanks Veg8,

Same issue here, restore fixed that, and thanks for the link too

 

System restore fixed my hassles as well. Oops on the first returned U305. I did try this on the first machine, however.

Thanks for the MS link. I was going to remove unwanted software one-by-one to see which one is the culprit.

 

When did the U300 came out?

I don't see any reviews on this notebook.

I hope there will be reviews soon because it may sway my decision on a notebook.

The U300 looks very promising.