Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617 Laptop Technical Details

• Bright 15.4-inch LCD stylishly accented with an onyx blue metallic LCD cover
• 1.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor, 250 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM (max), dual-layer DVD/CD burner with Labelflash printing
• Intel 4965 AGN wireless LAN connects to draft 802.11n routers (as well as 802.11a/b/g); Intel GMA 950 video card
• Connectivity: 4 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, 1 S-Video, 1 headphone, 1 microphone, 1 ExpressCard 34/54
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617 Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Stylishly accented with an onyx blue metallic LCD cover, the Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617 notebook PC is a great blend of multitasking productivity, multimedia prowess, and efficiently powered portability. It features Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. The large, bright 15.4-inch XGA-resolution LCD (1280 x 800) is perfect for viewing multiple application screens or watching widescreen movies on DVD. It's also great for using as a media center, with Toshiba's unique Express Media Player enabling you to bypass the system and access CDs and DVDs with a touch of button. The dual-layer/multi-format DVD drive also burns CDs, and can print labels directly onto discs with the integrated Labelflash functionality.

This notebook is powered by the 1.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor (with quicker 667 MHz front-side bus), which offers a 20 percent performance boost over its predecessor while using 28 percent less power--so you get the benefit of a powerful dual-core PC plus all the benefits of mobility. It provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved multitasking performance. It features an extra-large 250 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (max capacity), Intel GMA 950 graphics processor with up to 256 MB of shared video memory, an ExpressCard slot, and a 5-in-1 memory card reader. And the integrated WebCam (with built-in microphone) enables easy video conferencing via VoIP and video IM chats.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor has a 1.66 GHz processor speed, super-fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and large 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.

• Hard Drive: The extra-large 250 GB Serial ATA hard drive (4500 RPM) provides more than enough capacity for storing documents, digital media files, and productivity software. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 2 GB of built-in memory (PC5300, DDR2 SDRAM, 2 x 1024 MB) offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. It can be expanded to a generous 4 GB, which will enable you to handle video editing, graphics-intensive presentations, and multiple open business productivity applications more efficiently--as well as smoothly play immersive 3-D games.

• DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer Labelflash DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data--great for backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL, 8x for both single-layer DVD+R/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, and 24x/16x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.

  With the Labelflash functionality, you can burn high-resolution, high-contrast pictures on the label side of DVD discs using the same laser used for data recording. Enjoy transparency and high-quality not found in traditional printable media. All you need is a Labelflash DVD disc to start labeling without a printer.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers a launch button for the Express CD/DVD media player and control buttons (play, stop, next, previous) as well as a volume control dial.

Screen, Video & Audio
This notebook has a 15.4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 256 MB of shared video memory. It also features an integrated audio card with headphone and microphone jacks.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 4965 AGN LAN chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments).

This notebook also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (replacing the PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. Here's the full list of connectivity options:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 ExpressCard 54/34
• 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
• 5-in-1 memory card reader that's compatible with Secure Digital (including SDIO), MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card memory cards

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.92) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Fast Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Toshiba software includes Disc Creator, Recovery Disc Creator, and Speech System. Third-party software titles include Microsoft Works 8.5, InterVideo WinDVD 8 SD, Google Desktop and Toolbar, McAfee Internet Security Suite (with 30-day trial), and Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60-day trial).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 14.3 x 10.5 x 1.55 (WxDxH) and weighs 6 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 4000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 2.5 hours (depending on usage). It has a 4.5-hour full charging time.

What's in the Box
This package contains the A205-S4617 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.

Sparked with good looks, the 15.4-inch diagonal widescreen Satellite A205-S4617 laptop is well suited to your ambitious multitasking efforts. The latest Intel Core 2 Duo Processor and desktop features a dual hard drive option for high-end workloads increases the system's overall functionality while providing optimal storage capacity along with discrete graphics. Harman Kardon speakers, 6-button media keypad, DVD SuperMulti drive and a built-in Webcam start you off right. Share files and downloads with the 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter. Use 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity with an ExpressCard slot and expanded USB ports for a desktop-like experience. Meet your everyday demands with the Satellite A205 affordable laptop packed with design enhancements and features that go beyond viewing. Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 8MB-256MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory Control Buttons - Internet button to launch default browser & CD/DVD control buttons (Skip to Previous/Next Track, Play, Stop) 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet Integrated Wi-Fi compliant wireless - Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965 (802.11a/g/n) ExpressCard slot - ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter - Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Multi Media Card, xD Picture Card Ports - Video RGB (monitor) output port, S-Video output port, Audio Microphone input port, Headphone output port, i.LINK IEEE-1394, 4 USB v2.0 Fixed Optical Disk Drive - DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) with Labelflash drive - CD-ROM (24x), CD-R (24x), CD-RW (16x), DVD-ROM (8x), DVD-R Single Layer (8x), DVD-R Double Layer (4x), DVD-RW (6x), DVD+R Single Layer, (8x), DVD+R Double Layer (4x), DVD+RW (8x) & DVDRAM (5x) Operating System - Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit version) Dimensions - Width 14.3 x Depth 10.5 x Height 1.32/1.55-inch

See all Product Description

Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617 Reviews

I love it, April 26, 2007

By Peter Chesterfield "chestepc" (St. Pete, Fl) -
Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617 Laptop laptop is great. I only have a few issues. I wish the hard drive was faster than 4500 rpm and I wish it had the capability of connecting to a docking station or port replicator. I also really like the labelflash functionality. The laptop comes with 1 labelflash DVD that you can use. The problem is you cannot find labelflash media anywhere so it's basically useless.

Could not ask for much more, June 13, 2007

By Madtecomp - Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617 laptop is an excellent machine. I own a Toshiba laptop from the 105 series, and I am extremely impressed with that one as well. I was cautious at first because I heard about overheating problems on Toshibas, and my friend owned one several years ago which did just that. However, it is my opinion that many of the laptops from 3-5 years ago which were running powerful intel pentium 4 processors or even amd's for that matter were overheating because the processors were just too big and too hot. Laptops today are designed with chips that can be cooled by a smaller fan...anyway thats just what I think.

So back to this laptop. I set out to get a smaller more lightweight laptop than the one I had previously (Toshiba 105 series). My requirements for this new laptop were simple. At least a 200 gb hard drive and at least 2 gb of ram (expandable to 4)and also be under 5 pounds. Well I didn't get the under 5 pounds part, however I did get to keep about $1000 in my pocket. I found a few sony's that met my demands. They had 13 inch screens, 200 gb hard drives, and 2 gbs of ram. But the cheapest one was selling for $2000. So I ended up buying this Toshiba, and Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617 Laptop was an excellent decision.

Along with all of the specs which have been noted above, this laptop comes with Harmon/Kardon speakers which give very good sound. It also has a biometric fingerprint reader, which is a nice feature. And it has a built in webcam. I didn't see any of those specifications mentioned, but they may have been, I didn't read through the entire specs list. Overall, I am very pleased with this laptop.

There are several small improvements that I believe would make this laptop flawless.
1. Faster hard drive, the hard drive on this laptop is very large (250 gb) but it can only run at 4200rpms. A 5400rpm would do the trick, and a 7200 would really make this move.
2. Bluetooth. This laptop comes with everything, except bluetooth.
3. The lid is rather glossy, and it leaves fingerprints on it.
4. The battery life could be better, but it is not bad. About 2.5-3hrs.

getting worse than previous Satellite products, June 30, 2007

By W. J. Alonso (São Paulo, Brazil) -
Toshiba is, in general, a good machine, and that is the reason why I bought two notebooks again from this brand. Nevertheless, I am disappointed with some poor technical decisions that were made on these new Satellite series.
Do the designers of these new Satellite series realize that maybe people who buy them will be sometimes using the notebooks at conference auditoriums where silence is required?, or at night in airplanes and other places where it would be nice not to wake up everybody around when you start up your computer? Had they considered that, they would realized that if you do not turn the sound level down (at the volume icon, or in the outrageously hidden Windows system) before switching the computer off, you will certainly have the embarrassment of having the starting sound of Windows coming happily from your machine and without you being able to do nothing about it. Such obsolescence was carefully crafted into the new Satellite series, since in my old A10 and A30 notebooks the mechanical volume switch did work beautifully by being directly connected to the speaker amplifiers (something which, by the way, makes the control of sound in general one thousand times easier and less prone to errors - the "new feature" does not work well many times, leading the volume level to `jump' from, say, level "zero" to six - another technical courtesy to embarrass you in quiet public facilities).
Another problem with the machine performance was the choice of forcing users (no choice is given) to purchase the machine with Windows Vista, an operating system that will not run many of your old programs, that will consume a huge share of your ram memory just for the sake of some cosmetic cuteness, and that is technically very complicate to remove for "downgrading" your notebook to Windows XP. Also, many of the drivers of the Toshiba notebook are only available for Windows Vista, making it a nightmare to have some of the hardware operating in other Windows versions.
And lastly, the cooling fan of this Toshiba frequently works at maximum potency (with the corresponding noise) without any apparent reason (i.e., when almost no processing is taking place, as checked in the system management), making it a less silence machine (and probably unnecessarily shortening the life-spam of the fan).
At the end, I did regret having bought them. It is a car that looks good and has a good engine, but has an annoying sound system, a lot of unnecessary gadgets (Vista) that reduce performance and speed and you will find difficult to remove, a noise cabin, and a not-so-funny habit of waking up your neighbors with a loud horn in the middle of the night.

Buy Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617

Now Just $1858.84 Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617 Laptop - 15.4-Inch (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5500, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium)

Toshiba Satellite A205-S4617 Laptop Pictures