What do you guys think?

I am lookin for some input regarding my recent purchase of a Toshiba Satellite

BTW, I'm new here... I go by the name of ThisBullet on the web I am also on Gruntville.com. Nice to see you guys and I'm glad I found a place dedicated to notebook discussion. Props to the community and the makers of this forum.

Well, I can't begin to tell you the hell I've experienced with laptops. This will be my 4th attempt (pitiful!) at keeping a working laptop for more than a month.

I started off with an old Compaq that just sucked. Then a sony vaio with a 16 inch screen and I appreciated that until the power plug took a ****. Most recently I sold my HP Pavilion which suffered from the same power problem. Somehow I ended up making money on all these laptops.

Anyhow. I got fed really fed up. I googled my ass of and determined that a Dell Latitude or a Toshiba Satellite would be best for me.

I thought about this for a second... Dell or Toshiba. Toshiba

So I started ebaying it! and of course ebay isn't what it used to be so I resorted to the "send some one a message and ask for a private deal for less money than what they are asking for" method. It is how I got all my previous laptops so cheap. I got my compaq for a 100, my sony for 250, and my hp for 300. I won't get into specs right now but my HP was a 2.4GHZ amd with 1gb ram

Anyhow... I had a few potential deals. I could have an A75 notebook with 2.8ghz Mobile P4, 512M, 60gb HDD, 15 inch screen, DVD/CDRW for $500 shipped. Then I found another with a 3.0ghz and 256M for $500 shipped after I bought the laptop I just bought. Then I started learning about the 50% off clearance for the release of vista clearing out of all the xp notebooks but I didnt find anything like everyone says... grr. There were some other deals and there was one deal that pissed me off... It was a 17 inch WXGA screen with the same specs and an 80gb hdd I believe and it went for like 520 shipped but I just missed it. I saw it in the history under completed auctions.

I spent my whole saturday and today (sunday) buying a laptop. I've narrowed it down to a Toshiba Satellite and I believe the model is A35 but don't quote me on it... That happens to be one of my questions I will ask later in this thread (no I won't write too much more after this don't worry).

So this Toshiba has the followin specifications after teaching the seller on ebay how to find the specs for me...

Processor: Mobile Intel Pentium 4 @ 2.80GHZ
Hard Drive: 60GB
Screen: 15 inch
Optical Drive: It is either a DVDRW or CDRW/DVDROM
RAM: 512M PC2700
OS: XP Pro
Battery: Yes
AC ADPTR: Yes
Misc: External Laptop Cooler (I'm hoping that is a bonus and not a hint that this thing overheats without it haha)

And the condition is Excellent. So pretty much mint. The price? $450 including shipping and insurrance and the external cooler, battery, and ac adaptor. I bought it 1:00am today and he will ship it Monday. The guy had it up for $500 BIN or $400 opening bid plus $18 to ship so I talked him down a decent amount.

Now before I ask the questions I had in mind I will present the actual images of the item below:


These pictures suck.

This is the link to the auction that was advertised but canceled upon my request to pursue a private deal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=190077031414&rd=1&rd=1


So I googled my ass off as I said and this has got toe be the funniest method of figuring out what you are buying. The guy is not too computer savy and couldn't provide me with the model. All he knew was it was a satellite. Well I'm not gonna ***** the guy out... So i googled and started typing A20 A25 A30 A35 A75 A100 etc.... and the models that I searched for that looked like this laptop were A35 and A30. Here is a picture of the A30 for a refresher...



Googling for Toshiba A30 one can actually find some information about it.

Now IF this is indeed an A30/5 laptop I've concluded that it is Toshiba's Professional version of Satellite series notebooks. I've also read this is a small to medium business laptop. In my book, business laptops are better built and made for durability and long life (correct me if I am wrong) That is why I chose a Satellite or a Latitude in the first place. Well, I know Satellite is consumer but they do make business versions.

So the first question...
Is this an A30 or A35 laptop or is it something different?

If it is one of the above models what your opinions on it. Would I have been better with the A75?

When I was on ebay this was the only model of this laptop I saw. There were loads of A75 and A100s and the A15s. Does the number mean better quality in ascending order? Or is it just a model number. And does it also represent age in ascending order?

I was lookin at all the newer satellites and to me they look cheapy. Maybe I'm wrong. But when I saw this A30 laptop it registered to me as a solid piece of equipment. I saved $50 compared to the A75 (only after I made a proposal for a private deal with the owners of the A75 otherwise they were all going for $550 - $600). It had the same exact specs.

It looked like there were a lot of Celeron machines going going for a lot. And when I say $500 - $600 A75s on ebay thats the cheapest I found. They go all the way up to $1000 or more used. Even for some of the celerons. hmmm...

I really need some help identifying the model of this laptop. I am driving myself crazy saying did I screw myself over by paying too much for this or is this worth it or is it just a fair deal.

A 17 inch satellite was out of the picture based on ebay prices. The A75's were generally $500 - $600 plus shipping (the a30 was $450 shipped) without making a private offer.

So Basically I would like to know....

Was this a good decision going with this laptop for the price I bought it at?

Is this one of the more reliable or better models Toshiba made?

Would you take it it over one of the new Satellites if they were the same specs?

Did I get ripped off?

Should I try and get my money back and get something different before it ships monday?

What is the actual model of this laptop?

Any other comments, or questions or anything is welcome. I am looking for the most input regarding this topic. I have googled my ass off but google just doesn't seem to be good enough to answer all my questions. So I am resorting to some people who know about Toshiba and their history.

I hope you guys can help me and enlighten me about this laptop I just bought. (I have an extra stick of 256M pc2700 sitting on my keyboard that would work for it hehe)

--THISBULLET

PS. **** I need a smoke after typing all that
PPS. Some one needs to add a smokin smiley to the collection

 

If I were getting an older used laptop, I'd go for at least something with a Pentium M, if not a Core Duo or Core 2 Duo (some of which are available for not much more than the price you want to spend). I'd just always take at least Pentium M over the old mobile Pentium IV chips which I never cared for.

I am pretty sure the Satellite Axx series is just the regular Satellite; they aren't particularly well-built, their main claim to fame is just being pretty inexpensive.

 

oops my pics werent included in this thread...



That looks like my model (that is an A30)...

anyhow.. If you look very closely at the image on ebay in that link I posted above after the word "satellite" on the bottom left it looks like a black square that says "pro" but i am not sure.

I was looking on crucial's memory selector and I saw a selection for Satellite or Satellite pro. I went under each one and it showed the A30. So I guess I won't really know until I get it or If i try to ask the guy again... Would that make a big difference?

I think this looks very close to what the guy described if not exactly it
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...BV_EngineID=cccgaddjmighhddcgfkceghdgngdgmm.0

hmmm now on toshiba's website under satellite pro there is no A series.

thats full specs though. What am i losing by not having a P4M? Ive seen some with HT... I haven't really seen too many core duos or core solos that were very reasonable. What am I losin by having the straight pentium 4 if that is the case?

Well what do you think about this overall? Was it a bad move for $450 or could I have done better. I still feel like an idiot because it was like 2:00am and I jumped on it and now I'm thinking I should have done better but I really didnt see much after 2 days of searching.

I was told toshiba is the cadillac of laptops. If the satellite isnt well-build, which ones are? Are the new A series better in durability than the old ones or vice versa? I appreciate some more input on this. thanks so much!!!

 

You're not losing anything per se. The big problem with the Pentium 4 was that it ran hot, sucked power, and just wasn't very efficient. The Pentium M was one of the first processors Intel designed with the goal of better battery life and more efficient operation. There is a reason that the Core Duo and Core 2 Duo come from the same lineage as the Pentium M.

Some Toshibas are well-built, and if this is one of the older ones you might be ok. I am pretty sure the current A series has very little in common with the old Toshibas.

Anyway, just as an example though, you can get a Toshiba A135-S2286 from CompUSA right now for $579 ($729 - $150 mail-in rebate). That has a Core Duo processor, etc. and is generally going to be more modern than I think what you are looking at.

Going up a little more than that and you can find plenty of fairly reasonably priced Core Duo laptops that should still be fine.

I think you could find an old Pentium M-based or Core Duo ThinkPad or something which would probably be fairly inexpensive, and also would probably meet your requirements for durability, etc.

I would definitely say that if durability is the concern, it's hard to go wrong with any ThinkPad, and I have to think you could find an older one in your price range.

 

I understand what you are saying with the heat problems. I had an HP Pavilion ZE4800 and never again will I buy one. The **** thing would go 180F and shut down and I would have to let it cool. Definetally not a laptop that can run all day like a desktop. I have an old NEC and it has an uptime of weeks since I got it. No problems. Im convinced this world is coming to new technology but at the sacrifice of quality. Maybe I'll get lucky with this thing and it will be alright. I would probably end up selling this eventually... I've already went through 4 so what will probably happen is it will melt down or something or the power plug will take a **** and I will be so furious and I will end up parting it out or better advertising it and making or at least getting my money back on it. I would never think to look in retail stores for deals. I've heard a lot about 50% clearances because of vista. Do you think I should back out of the deal and tell the guy I don't want it and have him send my money back? Or should I use it and sell it down the road and do what you're saying I should have done but do it a little down the road if this machine isn't unbarable. I just feel bad I went out and bought this and now I'm looking to disown it already. But laptops dont have feelings. I was looking at thinkpads... I hate those mice they use on them.. that stupid thing in the middle of the keyboard. I have a really old IBM I have to get rid of. But the specs are terrible. So what do you think. Hold on to this and next time definetally go with something new with a duo processor? Or try to back out now and maybe lose $20 - $40 or so due to paypal transfer fees. Durability is more of a concern for me now that Ive had the power plug situation happen to me twice. Its not like I go everywhere with it but if duability means that the power plug doesnt break than I am all for durability. To me plugs should never break and durable should be drop it and it doesnt get ruined... I thought the core duo was somethin brand new.. how do old machines have this? or are you saying get an old pentium M or a new core duo? What does hyperthreading say to you? I could have had that instaed of a P4M for $50 but it was a new A series. Well let me know what you think. I really appreciate the input. Helps a lot...

 

I wouldn't try and back out of a deal for which you've already paid, personally. That kind of thing can bite you in the ass later.

The Core Duo is "old" because it is a 32-bit chip, whereas new laptops mostly come with Core 2 Duos now, which are 64-bit chips. This just means you can sometimes find pretty nice prices on older machines with Core Duo chips. The Core Duo is still in use though, and many manufacturers still sell new models as well with Core Duo chips in them as lower prices alternatives.

The Pentium M ones are older though (the generation prior to the Core Duo), and you could probably find a good price on a Pentium M-based system. Core Duos are a lot like Pentium M's, with the main difference just being two cores instead of 1, which can help when you're multitasking, etc.

But if you mainly use your laptop for word processing, web browsing, etc. it's not going to make a huge difference.

Some ThinkPads at least seem to have both the little eraser-nub thing and a trackpad, letting you use either input method.

-Zadillo

 

Well, TBH thats not too great of a deal. The laptop itself is 4yrs old and without seeing the laptop in person its hard to judge the build quality & whether the it will be durable or not. A lot of it depends on how the previous owner treated the laptop. The 2 pictures arent very detailed either to atleast find out how worn(for ex: keyboard) of the laptop is. Also the ebay listing of the cooling pad does indicate that the laptop probably does/did overheat or had some heat related issues, otherwise why would they be keeping the laptop on a cooling pad.

 

Yeah I think backing out of the deal is going to screw me out of money and its gonna give me too many mixed feelings. I already have mixed feelings about initially making the deal.. if i go ahead and cancel ill start worrying about that too. Plus it would be nice to put this 256mb stick of ram to use for a while. I could always bundle it with the laptop down the road and it might actually help the selling price just because its more than the standard 512 it had.

What do you think about these laptop coolers. It is coming with one and that should have been my hint for a heat problem. Ive seen laptop coolers for gaming laptops but if its for a satellite that might not be good. is it something you leave attached and use all the time or just when you are at a desk and in AC power...

You say the P4M runs very hot. Is there any chance that the cooling on this laptop could be sufficient enough that it it not a problem and just costs less? I saw two large fans on the bottom which looked nice..... take a look...



thats the P15-S409 satellite. some one just bought it for 580$ shipped same specs as mine just newer.

I think mine has the same bottom with those fans. Maybe better cooling could help..

Ive seen the thinkpads with both mouse options. that is a nice feature. that eraser nub thing is definetally weird though...

Are the HT's any good? or do they not help with mobility and just provide hyper threading?

You dont think this processor could kill the computer and screw me out of $450 do you? appreciate all the help.

 

Ya i know what youre saying. Ive been hearing a lot of that. The guy says in his description it is in Great condition. to me it looked like one of those things that no one bids on because there is not enough detail. so i saw it as a chance. Maybe ill get it and it will be mint. I dont think hed say great condition if it was missing keys and had a half lit screen etc... hopefully thats the case. Im saying the same thing about the cooling pad now. I should just not buy anything at 2:00 am because I tried so hard for literally 2 days straight I havent got off my computer since and i ended up with this. the guy sounds like he treated it good. He sounds very computer illiterate as well. we sent many many emails back and forth regardin details and deal making. If those are the type of fans on the bottom the could be very very clogged with dust after 4 years and instead of him cleaning it he bought that cool pad. thats what i would do if i didnt know any better. He probably didnt even know those were fans. Well you dont think i should try to back out do you? Maybe just hang ont to it... see if it actually works alright and if it doesnt get my use out of it and keep my eyes open for a deal and snag somethin brand new when it appears? tell me what you think. i appreciate the input

 

It has those big fans on the bottom because the Pentium IV in laptops demanded them (and yeah, that's probably why he had a laptop cooler to go along with it).

Seriously, there's a reason Intel abandoned the Pentium IV and the Pentium M became the laptop CPU of choice (and thus led to the Core Duo and Core 2 Duo, which have a lot in common with the Pentium M).

 

Thats your choice to make but since you have already agreed to purchase the laptop I dont think the seller would be too happy if you back out now. As zadillo mentioned there might be consequences in the future(negative feedback). If you want to back off talk to the seller directly and see if you can come to a common ground.

As for the laptop itself I doubt it has 2 fans. I used to have a Satellite A45 and it had a single fan and even with a P4M 2.4GHz it ran pretty warm.

 

I might be able to get this for $500 if the guy accepts ( i talked him down from 650 to 600 to 550 now im tryin for 500) it only has 256 megs so i told him its gonna cost me 100 to get new ram... heres the link. please dont be a dick and buy it or make this guy an offer. just look and let me know. heres the linky

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170075053051&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1

Let me know cuz maybe i can sell mine and get buy this from the guy.

peaceeeee

 

I don't know, honestly I just don't see the benefit of paying that much for such old technology, considering that a similar amount can easily get you a Pentium M or Core Duo based system.

 

i think im gonna stay with my pentium 4 boat anchor since its in transit and get the most use out of it... when its time to sell it ill get an extreme on somethin mad good thats new. what do u think of that idea?

 

If the original seller hasnt sold off/replaced part of the RAM then the P15-S420 should have shipped with 512MB default. Have you asked for or seen the actual pictures of the laptop? If you have & it is in good condition then 500 is an OK price for that laptop.

 

well i talked him down to 500 and he accepted it

i could ask for actual pics and check on the ram. i used the ram as an excuse to do 500.

well im gonna see if my anchor gets here tomorrow. if its surprisingly good then ill leave it at that and from there down the road go retail with somethin new.

if its not like i want i will put it for sale for 500 and when i get paid tell this guy i want it. i proposed that to him and i wanna see if he says yes

we'll see what happens

 

hmm... maybe this laptop aint so bad.

I havent had one random shutdown due to overheating and the overall temperature of this is good.

Battery lasts 2 - 3 hours and more with the lid closed when listening to music.

Good deal

 

If you are happy with it thats all that matters.

 

thanks guys