Toshiba laptop for $599 at bestbuy starting 8/1

[hevnsnt]

PICS?

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
It is but I'm used to being spoiled with a 15.0" SXGA (1400x1050) so it's VERY difficult "settling" for XGA (1024x768).

Everything is SO DAMN BIG!

Can certainly empathize, as am now very used to a notebook with a UXGA (1600x1200) display. Lower resolutions now feel the equivalent of everything typed in caps (with a size 24 font).

 

[CarrotStick]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm

Originally posted by: RossMAN
It is but I'm used to being spoiled with a 15.0" SXGA (1400x1050) so it's VERY difficult "settling" for XGA (1024x768).

Everything is SO DAMN BIG!

Can certainly empathize, as am now very used to a notebook with a UXGA (1600x1200) display. Lower resolutions now feel the equivalent of everything typed in caps (with a size 24 font).

It must suck reading text on a 15" screen at 1600x1200 resolution. Man you must have good eyes!

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: CarrotStick
It must suck reading text on a 15" screen at 1600x1200 resolution. Man you must have good eyes!

It's 16", actually. The real estate is rather worth it. Personally don't find the text difficult to read at all, but perhaps that is merely personal preference.

Have terrible vision, btw; but wear corrective lenses (contacts) most hours of the day.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: CarrotStick

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm

Originally posted by: RossMAN
It is but I'm used to being spoiled with a 15.0" SXGA (1400x1050) so it's VERY difficult "settling" for XGA (1024x768).

Everything is SO DAMN BIG!

Can certainly empathize, as am now very used to a notebook with a UXGA (1600x1200) display. Lower resolutions now feel the equivalent of everything typed in caps (with a size 24 font).

It must suck reading text on a 15" screen at 1600x1200 resolution. Man you must have good eyes!

Agreed. I wish I had eagle vision but my eyesight sucks. SXGA is the perfect medium for me.

Not too large not to tiny, just right. Oh well I keep reminding myself $599 $599 $599 with combo drive. $599, say it with me.

 

[CarrotStick]

For the people who bought this laptop I would suggest you turn Clear type OFF. I did this on my a45-s121 and everything looked SO much sharper. I hate clear type.....

 

[Corporate Thug]

just closed up my BB store, we still have plenty in stock. 6 in the laptop change that i can count, 14 according to our system

 

[nj873]

Bought mine yesterday - today "exchanged" and got rebate receipts..
Seems like good one...

 

[jolycu]

I got me one! I'm upgrading from an HP ZE1115--1.1ghz Duron, 14" screen, DVD player, no burner--so I am pretty happy. I was the first one through the door this morning, and there was a guy right behind me wanting one. Good thing we were early--they only had four in stock! They were all gone within an hour.

 

[RossMAN]

I'd like to upgrade the RAM from 256 to 768MB.

1) What kind of SODIMM does this take? Can someone link to it on NewEgg.com for me?
2) How easy/difficult is it to upgrade RAM?

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I'd like to upgrade the RAM from 256 to 768MB.

1) What kind of SODIMM does this take? Can someone link to it on NewEgg.com for me?
2) How easy/difficult is it to upgrade RAM?

200 pin, PC2100 (266MHz) or PC2700 (333MHz) DDR, 2.5v, Unbuffered. Takes about 2 minutes to install. You find the correct orientation of the module by matching up the keyed edge with the memory socket, insert it at a 45' angle until the leads seat into the socket, then press it down flat until the retainer clips snap in place.

Either PC2700 or PC2100 is acceptable, because spec for the memory bus in this notebook is actually PC1600 (100MHz base clock x 4 = 400MHz Celeron BUS).

Any of these should work:

A-DATA/V-DATA 200-Pin 512MB DDR SODIMM PC2700

Kingmax 200 Pin 512MB DDR SO-DIMM PC2100

SimpleTech 200 Pin 512MB DDR SO-DIMM PC2700

 

[Dnana]

I decided to go have a look at this laptop but walked away rather than buy at this point.

First, I played around with the display model and tried the sound - I thought the built-in speakers were very weak. I know laptop sound is not that good anyway but I can't imagine how I'd enjoy listening to music or a DVD with this thing. I would be interested if anyone has a contrary opinion.

Second, I clicked on Quicken to look at it and I noticed it took awhile to load. Maybe it is the 256MB of ram but should a 2.7 Celeron have noticeable lag when switching between programs?

I keep waiting for some featherweight laptop with a Mobile Pentium chip to come down under $1,000 but I guess I have a long wait on that.

I would probably buy this if I really needed a laptop for just the basics like browse, email and type up letters.

-Tom

 

[RaistlinZ]

Yay, another fun-filled week of selling $599 laptops. :roll:

I hope to god that the BB store I work at sells through all of these damn things before I go back to work on Tuesday. Selling cheap laptops below cost with absolutely no attachments makes me sick to my stomach.

Originally posted by: jolycu

Does anyone know if they'll be offering no interest financing on this?

Yes, this week there is 12-month no-interest financing w/ Best Buy card.

 

[allisolm]

Selling cheap laptops below cost with absolutely no attachments makes me sick to my stomach.

But buying cheap laptops below cost with absolutely no attachments (what "attachments" does a laptop have anyway?) makes us very happy!

 

[tcsenter]

Second, I clicked on Quicken to look at it and I noticed it took awhile to load. Maybe it is the 256MB of ram but should a 2.7 Celeron have noticeable lag when switching between programs?

The Quicken program may have been configured to check for updates during start-up, resulting in a lag while the program tried to negotiate an open connection. Celeron isn't going to be as zippy as a P4-M, but I didn't think either Celeron 2.80GHz notebooks I've owned were by any means 'slow'. Except when I was on battery power, then there seems to be a more aggressive power management scheme invoked because it does seem slower compared with AC power.

My major complaint with cheap notebooks is the awful battery run time. My HP Rebate Special Notebook is supposed to have a run-time of about 3~3.5 hours on full charge, but that seems to be true only if its sitting idle most of the time.

I did a large (5 GB) file transfer from a desktop computer to my HP Pavilion Rebate Special via 100Mbps Ethernet on a full battery charge (high utilization of the CPU and HDD). The battery was down to 12% after only 1.5 hours.

 

[rickon66]

First Impressions-
1. Beautiful display!
2. Solid build quality.
3. A little slow, but I am used to working with a P4 3.0 with a Radeon 9800.
4. For the price, it is a steal.

I almost felt sorry for the Best Buy sales guy, he was like a whipped dog when I told him I wanted the laptop only and did not want warranty, virus protection, software, cables, blank cd-r, etc. They have these poor sales people seriously brainwashed about overly pushing this stuff. How many times do you need to say no? The makers of the Manchurian Candidate could take a lesson from BB supervisors.

 

[aphex]

They have these poor sales people seriously brainwashed about overly pushing this stuff

They aren't brainwashed, the employees are just trying to keep their job. If they didnt offer it, they would be fired.

 

[EvilYoda]

Hmmm, this might be a good way for my sister to get a laptop for college...and we'll have money left over for a desktop too, or a 17" LCD...

 

[rickon66]

I have no problem with them offering me the stuff, but I do have a problem when I make it clear that I am not interested and they keep pushing anyway. I worked at Best buy for 4 or 5 weeks in the computer dept and quit over how they treated customers who did not want to buy the extra stuff and how they wanted you to misrepresent the warranty coverage.

 

[JoPh]

eeek. almost 8lbs. to heavy for me.

 

[Dyre]

The question I always wonder is why people come in to get just the laptop, and get mad when they have to deal with me- Just use bb.com- No sales people, same price, never leave the house, free shipping....

Im convinced people WANT to come in and be the asshole that blows my numbers- So I'm going to be the asshole that makes sure you don't return for the next 'great deal'. Selling under-cost items at cut-throat rates in a B&M store doesn't make for a profitable company- If we arent profitable, im not going to have a job too long.

But I'm also not going to be selling a Media Center with a 1500AVR to the little old lady that needs a new comp to check her email. If you read this website, why would you ever set foot in a BB, CC, CompUSA, or similar store for a computer? YOU KNOW whats going to happen, and YOU KNOW you can get the same deal online without the hassel...

I too hope we blow through the 1062's before I get back tommarow.

Greg
856
1-1-1 MTD July 04 PCHO

 

[lotust]

Originally posted by: JoPh
eeek. almost 8lbs. to heavy for me.

wuss

 

[Dyre]

Originally posted by: lotust

Originally posted by: JoPh
eeek. almost 8lbs. to heavy for me.

wuss

Heavy Ass notebooks suck.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: Dyre
Im convinced people WANT to come in and be the asshole that blows my numbers- So I'm going to be the asshole that makes sure you don't return for the next 'great deal'. Selling under-cost items at cut-throat rates in a B&M store doesn't make for a profitable company- If we arent profitable, im not going to have a job too long.

Have found often what makes for a profitable retailer is repeat business - and one of the easiest ways to generate repeat business is excellent customer service. Often purchasers will pay a premium price for exceptional service rather than purchase elsewhere.

While I cannot speak for everyone, would personally not return to a retailer where the above attitude towards customers was so readily displayed. Perhaps something to keep in mind as a retail employee when dealing with customers in the future; in the end, it may prove more vital towards keeping one's retail job than any other factor.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: aphex

They have these poor sales people seriously brainwashed about overly pushing this stuff

They aren't brainwashed, the employees are just trying to keep their job. If they didnt offer it, they would be fired.

ummm, actually we are told not to push this product at all as the profit margin is little to none