Toshiba M40/45 - The Unanswered Questions...

After perusing through the many threads on the M40, decided to bite the bullet and placed an order on one through Costco.ca (excellent return policy! and lowest cost on M40-YP3 faster version). Thankfully I live in Canada to get the 6600 graphics chipset... This thread hopefully will bring together the main hardware issues still to be resolved/understood:

1. ExpressCard support - apparently the Aussie version has the bus available by sliding open the protector but the N. American versions are sealed with plastic where that slot is. Do the N.A. versions actually have a connector inside so that sometime in the future, we actually may be able to get access to it? (Hope this doesn't involve cutting thru the plastic!)

2. DDR2 compatibility - is there any?

3. This issue with squealing noise when plugged into the AC. Is it fixed? Is it really a problem?

4. Battery life - I know, it seems to suck according to most posts - ~2hrs +/- 15min usually for the standard battery. Any further comments on this issue from those who have done all they can with the battery saver settings? Anyone tried the 12-cell battery (http://www.toshiba.ca/web/product.grp?lg=en&section=1&group=2&product=4392)?

Much appreciated if anyone can shed light on these issues!

Regards...

 

I am actually looking at getting the same machine. But I will be saving about $500 by going with the slower processor.

Any comments on this laptop or any information on it being replaced anytime soon would be greatly appreaciated.

 

I know this isn't a concrete answer to your #2, but according to the nature of how laptops are built, either they use DDR or DDR2 simple as that. The M40 is definitely designed for DDR, as I have bought a stick of Kingston 512 and stuck it in perfectly. I dont see any slot for DDR2, and I suspect laptop mohterboards aren't as flexible as desktop ones. I doubt anyome would gamble and buy some DDR2 just to try it out though, there was a guy here from Australia and worked in one of the Toshiba factories, even he could not completely confirm the DDR2 issue.

 

I just saw that costco.ca no longer has this computer for sale. I am wondering if that is because they are stocked out or because the computer is being replaced.

Anyone have any insight?

 

I'll answer to the best of my current knowledge

1. Indeed the plastic slot is stuck for us N.A. owners, I have not tried looking into the laptop to see if there's the actual connector!

2. From what I've read, it doesn't support DDR2, just simple DDR, and I may be wrong, but someone around here tried to enable dual channel and couldn't. If this particular persone actually successed in enabling dual channel, he could tell us his experience, because otherwise I assume it doesn't work.

3. That's a design issue that seems to be more related to the Centrino platform than Toshiba themselves, some other brands and models are behaving the same. But it is there. Not many people seem to be free of it, but it is not that an annoyance. It is a varying (it varies with CPU speed) electrical buzz that can be heard when no other background noises are present.

4. It sucks. Watching a DVD off the DVD drive, using the DVD power setting, you won't even get 2 hours, more something between 1h30 and 1h45. Watching videos off the hard drive, I get a little more than 2 hours if I use a conservative power setting. The LCD and the DVD drive seem to be the 2 most power-hogging devices in this laptop.

If you bought the 12-cells, well, it'll add something near a pound of weight and it'll stick out from the back, but you'll get twice the running time, it's exactly twice the capacity. It costs 250 CAN$ from their Canadian online shopping site.

john100: This particular model, the M40, since it was released, has always been short on stocks. I checked it out since I bought it and some days it's in stock, some others it's not (on Futureshop for example), so it's possible that Costco has decided not to buy a laptop in limited quantity anymore, though it's just a guess

Toshiba Satellite M40 - Pentium-M Sonoma 1.6ghz - 512mb DDR333 - 60gb 4200rpm - GeForce 6600 128mb - 15.4" BrightView WXGA TFT LCD

 

Thanks for the responses so far. Just checked and my Costco order is still "in process" for the M40-YP3. Hopefully they can find some stock on this model and I'll certainly update you guys once I get this faster 1.86 GHz unit; especially around the buzzing noise issue if this is a Centrino problem.

Like I indicated, Costco does have an excellent return policy and if things don't work out, back it goes...

Arch

 

I have a quick question. I am getting this machine, but I am trying to determine whether to buy the faster (PSM40C-JM300E) or slower (PSM40C-YP300E ) version.

The price difference between them is going to be about $425 Canadian after tax. The only real difference I can see between them is the faster one has a processor that is faster by .28 Ghz and has a 20 GB larger hard-drive.

All the other features (DVD-burner, RAM, 128MB video RAM, same FSB, and same L2 cache).

I can't tell any other differences. Is that extra speed and 20 GB really worth the $450? Considering that the laptop is worth about $2100 after tax. Is the extra 20% rise in features worth the 20% increase in price?

Thanks.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by john100

 

Great!

Thank you for your comments. I will be going with the 1.6 Ghz model. I just can't justify that extra 20% in price for the two features.

I already have a HD enclosure that I use to back up data. But I guess I will be buying another one to use as an external drive if I need it. You're right, it will be much faster than any laptop drive.

 

Yeah, I was about to tell you the same thing. Just a slight increase of speed and some more HD space. You're better off upgrading the memory and the hard drive to a 5400 or 7200 RPM yourself with the 425$ you'll have in your pockets.

Toshiba Satellite M40 - Pentium-M Sonoma 1.6ghz - 512mb DDR333 - 60gb 4200rpm - GeForce 6600 128mb - 15.4" BrightView WXGA TFT LCD

 

I know that list laptop (for Canada) has a 512 MB chip. Does the other chip I put in have to be 512 MB also or can I put 1 GB chip?

Anyone know what the specific type of memory it should be?

I will be buying it from memorysuppliers.com, they have great prices and the service from there has been great before.

Thanks.

 

Received the M40-YP3 today - the 1.86GHz model... So far, very nice little unit. Reinstalled Win XP Pro on it, and have been using it all night. A few observations:

1. ExpressCard still blocked off :-(.
2. No notice of this annoying whine people have been complaining of so far.
3. Why does the WiFi not automatically turn on when I reboot? The only way I get to operate is to flip the switch off and on in the front... Doesn't seem very intuitive and a bit annoying!

Like it so far... Very quiet!

Arch

 

That wireless bug has been reported by at least one or two other people in this forum. It seems it's a common problem, but well, you can exchange your unit or live with it :/

Toshiba Satellite M40 - Pentium-M Sonoma 1.6ghz - 512mb DDR333 - 60gb 4200rpm - GeForce 6600 128mb - 15.4" BrightView WXGA TFT LCD

 

archimago,

Was it a pain getting all the drivers for XP pro? Or was that good because you had a clean install without any of the extra crap?

 

Yeah, the Win XP SP2 install required that I go to http://209.167.114.38/support/Download/ln_byModel.htm to download drivers for the nVidia video, wireless (Intel chipset), SoundMAX, and a couple of the Toshiba utilities (Common Modules I think was needed to get Power Saver working). I installed a few of the other drivers like the built-in LAN as well. Not difficult with a bit of leg work...

I'm still a bit peeved about this wireless bug however. It looks like some kind of BIOS issue because the light comes on when I start the machine but will go off right after the BIOS init before XP boots...

I'll hold on to the machine for the time being for work but if a fix can't be found, will probably return the unit...

Regards,
Arch

 

Achimago, did you install all of those drivers. Is there just one download that does them all? Or does this give you a chance to just install the ones you want. If so, which ones did you end up installing?

 

First post for what its worth, being a compulsive fiddler (not the violin variety) the first thing I did after purchasing the Aussie/New Zealand spec M40 was to chuck on xp pro. I used the canada Tosh web site for drivers and only had 2 minor problems. Firstly its been noted you need common modules to get tosh powersaver working and secondly I had to source bluetooth stack 4 from another Tosh model due no drivers on the Canada site. While on the subject of Bluetooth 802.11b/g worked fine until I loaded the bluetooth stack. Then the M40 seemed to get confused requiring switching the radio off and on to connect. The system warns you of interference between the two but I assumed they meant radio interference. Maybe they mean a priority clash with what to connect to.

 

(101st post wouhou)

Do you mean that you actually used some Bluetooth device with it and that it worked? As up to now, I wasn't able to know if bluetooth was actually available.

Toshiba Satellite M40 - Pentium-M Sonoma 1.6ghz - 512mb DDR333 - 60gb 4200rpm - GeForce 6600 128mb - 15.4" BrightView WXGA TFT LCD

 

Yeah, my first attempt with a treo 650 synchronised flawlessly. Ive become a bit of a believer in bluetooth and am currently trying to source a mouse and some headphones. Tempting fate I know.... P

 

huh....does the australian version of M40 differ from the North Amercian version? Because I can't seem to get my Bluetooth to work..I don't even know if I have bluetooth, I have the software of it installed tho

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Shup00

 

That's what I was thinking, but well... Weird if someone has it working. Unless he's using Infrared instead... ?

Toshiba Satellite M40 - Pentium-M Sonoma 1.6ghz - 512mb DDR333 - 60gb 4200rpm - GeForce 6600 128mb - 15.4" BrightView WXGA TFT LCD

 

The New Zealand/Aussie bluetooth is included.It works flawlessly once I tracked down Toshiba Bluetooth Stack 4 I think it was,from another range (Tecra?) as the neither the Canadian or the Aus/NZ web site had the drivers listed for Bluetooth and this model. P

 

In fact I think that the M40/45 and the Tecra A4 seem to be sharing parts & design, depending on country. And even incidents! (e.g., the dummy Express Card).

I would put my money in that they are all being built in the same place with the same bunch of parts, and Toshiba is just choosing bits and pieces depending of a set of very odd considerations of the 'needs and tastes' of local markets... (I just HATE marketing stuff [xx(])

 

Right on Fer. Models selection is ONLY a question of marketing. It stinks.

Toshiba Satellite M40 - Pentium-M Sonoma 1.6ghz - 512mb DDR333 - 60gb 4200rpm - GeForce 6600 128mb - 15.4" BrightView WXGA TFT LCD

 

Is the A4 similar to the M40?

If not, what is the real difference between them?