Toshiba laptop for $599 at bestbuy starting 8/1

[RossMAN]

I'm looking at the BB ad (from Sunday newspaper), it shows the $599 laptop on the last page.

Unfortunately it doesn't list detailed specs

 

[fooshkee]

i work at best buy and this deal is gonna be big... so if you want one, go tomorrow... $599 for a basic laptop is great... they're also offering a 2 year psp (extended warrentry) this week for $99 which is a pretty good deal as well... the only other time i've seen a laptop under $600 was black friday...

 

[clarkkent333]

I understand the value on this from a price standpoint but wouldn't it be better to spend around $100-200 extra for a lappy with a bigger hard drive, wireless, and a better overall configuration? You'd have to spend that much on upgrades anyways wouldn't you?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: clarkkent333
I understand the value on this from a price standpoint but wouldn't it be better to spend around $100-200 extra for a lappy with a bigger hard drive, wireless, and a better overall configuration? You'd have to spend that much on upgrades anyways wouldn't you?

I will probably buy this and the only "upgrades" I am planning on are RAM and WiFi.

 

[jrichrds]

Originally posted by: clarkkent333
I understand the value on this from a price standpoint but wouldn't it be better to spend around $100-200 extra for a lappy with a bigger hard drive, wireless, and a better overall configuration? You'd have to spend that much on upgrades anyways wouldn't you?

Different people have different needs...
When someone doesn't need better specs in a laptop, that extra $100-200 can go towards something else they can use.

There have been a few $599AR laptops this year, and they're all pretty much what you'd expect...heavy, desktop Celeron CPU, integrated graphics. But definitely good enough for your average user.

 

[SenorBiggles]

Originally posted by: clarkkent333
I understand the value on this from a price standpoint but wouldn't it be better to spend around $100-200 extra for a lappy with a bigger hard drive, wireless, and a better overall configuration? You'd have to spend that much on upgrades anyways wouldn't you?

I spent an extra $1500 (compared to this deal) on my laptop with that kind of thinking. At what point does the "it's just a couple hundred more for this feature" end? It all depends on what your idea of a hot deal is.

 

[clarkkent333]

I was mostly referring to the more standard features like wifi, bigger HD and so on. How is the screen on this thing?

 

[onenormalman]

For people want the deal at Microcenter B&M:

http://www.microcenter.com/specials/index.html


Only 5 per day so I'm thinking about getting in line at 7AM tomorow, the store will open at 10AM.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm

Originally posted by: allisolm
Does anyone know if the USB ports are 2 or 1? I looked and can't find anything. Thanks.

From the Toshiba site:

"Does my Toshiba PC have USB 2.0? How to tell.

Check the Detailed specs for your Toshiba PC:
If the published specs indicate USB 2.0, then your Toshiba PC is equipped with USB 2.0 capability. If the specs don't indicate USB 2.0 (or if they don't specify), then your Toshiba PC is equipped with USB 1.1 capability."

The specifications list "3 Universial Serial Bus Ports (USB)". Unfortunately, most likely not USB 2.0 compliant.

This Q&A probably survived unchanged from the days when USB2.0 was relatively uncommon compared with USB1.1 and Toshiba had a policy of always denoting USB2.0.

If you look at the product information and specifications for the entire Satellite Series, Toshiba uses the same generic "3-USB ports" or "3 Universal Serial Bus ports (USB)" for several models we know have USB2.0, such as the higher-end Satellite A70 and Satellite A75 line.

The Satellite A60/65 Series Resource Guide states "Supports USB 2.0 peripherals (3 ports)" under Features and Specifications. This document is stated by Toshiba to be applicable to the following models: A60-S156, A60-S1561, A60-S166, A60-S1661, A65-S1662, A65-S1064, A65-S1065, A65-S1062, A65-S1762, A65-S126, A65-S1261, A65-S136, A65-S1361, A65-S1063.

If Toshiba had some marketing policy of always denoting USB2.0, they have either forgotten about or retired it.

 

[CarrotStick]

People People People....The laptop HAS USB 2.0.... Why? Because like all laptops the USB ports are integrated into the chipset. The chipset in this laptop has USB 2.0 ports. Very simple. There is no question. This laptop HAS USB 2.0. Simple fact.

 

[allisolm]

People People People....The laptop HAS USB 2.0.... Why? Because like all laptops the USB ports are integrated into the chipset. The chipset in this laptop has USB 2.0 ports. Very simple. There is no question. This laptop HAS USB 2.0. Simple fact.

How nice it would have been if you had written that yesterday instead of the smartass "The USB ports are USB 2.0. Come on now what kind of question is that? USB 1.1 has long been replaced years ago. Just look on the toshiba website. Its USB 2.0. Simple fact. "

Since I know that USB 1.1 was NOT replaced years ago in a great many notebooks (I have a Toshiba purchased less than 2 years ago that does NOT have usb 2), the rest of your response lost any validity. I DID look on the website, as did many others here, and the information there is, in some places, that it is NOT usb 2 and, in others, that it is. Simple facts are not always so simple.

 

[AUGrad]

Originally posted by: CarrotStick
The USB ports are USB 2.0. Come on now what kind of question is that? USB 1.1 has long been replaced years ago. Just look on the toshiba website. Its USB 2.0. Simple fact.

Glad to hear this one is USB 2, but don't assume that all new stuff is. I bought a Dell 1600SC server last month (new from Dell), and couldn't use my USB DVD-R with it because it was USB 1.1.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: CarrotStick
People People People....The laptop HAS USB 2.0.... Why? Because like all laptops the USB ports are integrated into the chipset. The chipset in this laptop has USB 2.0 ports. Very simple. There is no question. This laptop HAS USB 2.0. Simple fact.

Well, not so fast. How are you so sure what "chipset" this model has?

My HP Pavilion notebook uses the ATI Mobility Radeon (IGP340M) "chipset", but that is just the AGP to CPU bridge (e.g. northbridge). Its the southbridge that provides the USB ports. The IGP340M is coupled with an Acer Labs (ALI) Southbridge that offers only USB1.1. However, instead of USB1.1 ports, I have three USB2.0 ports. How?

Care of a discrete VIA USB2.0 Controller chip (e.g. VT6202 or VT6212). So I have an ATI IGP Northbridge, an ALI Southbridge, and VIA USB controllers. Neat, eh?

Browsing the driver downloads for the A65-S1062 on Toshiba's support site, I find a download for "ATI Chipset, Display, and IDE Driver". The PCI-IDE ports are also provided by the southbridge, so this model may use an ATI IXP Southbridge instead of a third-party chip. If that is the case, the ATI IXP family supports USB2.0.

 

[CarrotStick]

Ok this will remove all doubt from everyone.

Here is the official manual of the a65-s1062 Click here

Page 54 lists the specifications of all the ports. The USB ports are 2.0.


Also one more thing. If anyone is going to buy this laptop sign up for Reward Zone. Its $10 but you will get almost $40 as a gift certificate in the mail.

 

[sianews]

Does anyone know if this will work with a clean install of Windows 2000?

 

[RossMAN]

Is this a desktop Celeron or Celeron-M?

 

[usernamemax20charact]

Originally posted by: fooshkee
i work at best buy and this deal is gonna be big... so if you want one, go tomorrow... $599 for a basic laptop is great... they're also offering a 2 year psp (extended warrentry) this week for $99 which is a pretty good deal as well... the only other time i've seen a laptop under $600 was black friday...

Extended warranty? How can I lose?

 

[RossMAN]

Just got back from BB with one of the last Toshiba laptops.

There was a line of people waiting for this laptop, I wondered if anyone in line was a fellow AT/FW'er?

Pictures coming soon

 

[CarrotStick]

These laptop should an 8mb cache harddrive also.

 

[rickon66]

I snagged one at the local Best Buy. Business seemed a little slow and they told me that the had only sold 2 of the $599 laptops. I figured that there would be a run on them as soon as they opened. I have been shopping for a cheap laptop for awhile and was looking at the $699 Compaq that OfficeMax was selling, but was put off by the USB 1.1. During my shopping I usually try to see what kind of components are in the machine and it seems kind of ironic that the Compaq had a Toshiba hard drive and the Toshiba has a Fujitsu hard drive. I wonder why Toshiba does not use their own drives?

 

[MasterChief]

Good deal, thanks for the heads up!

 

[kerokeroppi82]

just got mines, have to admit its pretty nice for a cheap laptop

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: kerokeroppi82
just got mines, have to admit its pretty nice for a cheap laptop

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!

 

[lotust]

very nice

 

[allisolm]

Just got back from BB with one of the last Toshiba laptops.

Finally gave in, eh, Rossman? Enjoy!