Toshiba M35-S320 Laptop Review
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The M35 boasts Intel Centrino Mobile Technology, extended battery life, and wide-screen XGA display, making it a top-notch yet affordable notebook great for home, student, business power, and even some multimedia users. It's quiet but hot, has 60 GB of storage space, but is not suitable for the latest gaming, according to this review. Read on for the in-depth review, including testing.
Introduction
For a long time notebook computers have been thought of as inferior to desktops. But as clock speed, memory size, and hard drive space continue to increase for both desktops and notebooks, the amount of power available to the user in a notebook computer is often times sufficient enough for whatever applications are being run. Advances in mobile CPU and graphics technology have really boosted the performance of these portable personal computers, and now it is up to the consumer to decide where his preferences lay.
There are several different notebook user types. CNET groups users by home, student, frequent flier, business power, and multimedia. Home users use notebooks as a second or third computer in the house. Students are on a tight budget and need value and durability in a notebook. Frequent fliers look for ultraportables - notebooks that weigh less than four pounds. Business power users need both power and mobility to work on a variety of applications both at home and work. Finally multimedia users like authors or gamers are looking for desktop replacements.
Today, Dev Hardware will review the Toshiba M35-S320 laptop. The M35 is one of many Toshiba Satellite laptops. Satellite notebooks fall into three groups: A-Series, M-Series, and P-Series. A stands for desktop replacement, M stands for mobile productivity, and P stands for multimedia performance. The M35, boasting Intel Centrino Mobile Technology, an extended battery life, and wide-screen XGA display, is a top-notch yet affordable notebook great for home, student, business power, and even some multimedia users.
Specifications and Features
Weighing in at 6.2 pounds, this mainstream notebook packs quite a few features at a relatively low price. Retailing for $1599 after $100 MIR, the M35 has 512MB DDR memory, a DVD/CD burner, integrated high speed Wi-fi 802.11g wireless Ethernet, integrated 10/100 Ethernet, integrated V.92/56K modem, a 15.4" 1280x800 display, a strong 1.5GHz Pentium M, and a decent GeForce FX go5200 GPU w/ 32MB video ram. The M35's display and processor gives it a significant advantage over similarly priced competition.
| Processor | Intel Pentium M 1.5 GHz |
| Data bus speed | 400 MHz |
| Chipset type | Intel 855PM |
| RAM installed | 512 MB DDR SDRAM |
| Max Supported Size | 2 GB |
| Cache size - Cache type | 1 MB L2 cache Integrated |
| Hard drive | 60 GB IDE Portable Internal (4200rpm) |
| CD / DVD type | CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo |
| CD / DVD read speed | 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD) |
| CD / DVD write speed | 24x |
| CD / DVD rewrite speed | 10x |
| Floppy drive | None |
| Removable storage type | None |
| Removable storage capacity | None |
| Input device type - form factor | Keyboard, Touchpad |
| Keyboard included | Yes |
| Key pitch | 2.7 mm |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs |
| Form Factor | Portable |
| Display size - technology - form factor | 15.4 in TFT active matrix |
| Max resolution | 1280 x 800 |
| Color support | 16M colors |
| Built-in camera | None |
| Video RAM installed | 32 MB |
| Max resolution (external) | 2048 x 1536 pixels |
| Video output | AGP Graphics card |
| Graphics processor | NVidia GeForce FX Go5200 |
| Supported display graphics | 1280 x 800 |
| Audio input | Microphone |
| Audio output | Internal PCI Sound card |
| Sound output mode | 16-Bit stereo |
| Compliant standards | DirectMusic, DirectSound, DirectSound3D |
| Type | Network adapter |
| Data Link Protocol | Ethernet, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet |
| Transport Protocol | TCP/IP |
| Modem | 56 Kbps Fax / modem Internal PCI |
| Analog Modulation Protocol | ITU V.92 |
| Cable(s) included | Power cable |
| Expansion slot(s) total (free) | 2 Memory, 1 (1 free) PC Card Type II, 1 (1 free) SD Memory Card |
| Port(s) total (free) / Connector type | 1 Parallel IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP), 1 Display / video VGA, 1 IEEE 1394 (FireWire), 1 Infrared, 3 USB, 1 Display / video S-video output, 1 Network Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T, 1 Modem Phone line, 1 Microphone Input, 1 Headphones Output |
| Expansion bay(s) total (free) | 1, None |
| Battery installed | 1 Lithium ion |
| Max supported qty | 1 |
| Mfr estimated battery life | 3:46 hour(s) |
| Power supply device | External 75 Watt Power adapter |
| Voltage Required | AC 100/240 V |
| Humidity range | 20 - 80% |
| Min operating temperature | 41 —F |
| Max operating temperature | 95 —F |
| Max operating altitude | 9840 ft |
The Toshiba M35 also includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft OneNote, 3 USB 2.0 ports, i.Link IEEE 1394 port, FIR port, S-Video port, Secure Digital slot, 10/100 Ethernet, V.92/56K modem, and an ECP Parallel port. Its key features are Intel Centrino mobile technology, wide screen display, harman/kardon stereo sound, and 1-year parts and labor/1-year battery warranty.
Next: Display and Exterior >>
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