--I3 Processor combined with 4GB of ram results in laptop that is very fast for this price range. Passmark benchmarks show the I3 to be almost half again as fast as the best CPU's from Intel and AMD found in comparably priced laptops.
--Comfortable keyboard w/numeric keypad.
--Numeric keypad makes the computer a little wider than my HP without a keypad. Still fits in my zip up laptop case though.
--Screen is also a little wider, but it does not distort anything displayed.
--Graphics are good. Fine for viewing DVD movies and editing photos. Maybe not so great if you play a lot of demanding games. If so, proceed with caution. Test it or get an opinion from someone who has played the games you are interested in on the computer.
--No HDMI port. I won't miss it. Probably a statement by Toshiba that this is not a game machine.
--Can't comment on the built in camera or the face recognition--haven't tried them yet.
--Card reader only accepts Memory Sticks, MultiMedia Cards or SD cards (standard size only, you need an adapter for the smaller ones). Does not take XD cards which sucks for me because that is what my Olympus camera uses. As long as I don't lose the USB cable that came with it I can still connect through a USB port.
--Onboard speakers are very tinny sounding. Sound can be improved some if your software has an equalizer but only to the point of being just acceptable. Music sounds pretty good through headphones and can be tailored nicely if you have an equalizer. Volume of on board speakers is reasonable but since the speakers point directly at the ceiling, it helps to tilt the screen to about a 45 degree angle so the sound bounces off of it. Can't use the computer for anything else while the screen is tilted.
--Wireless download speed is very good, much better than my desktop, even though it is connecting through a G router.
--Amount of bloatware doesn't seem excessive.
--Getting use to Windows 7 64 bit. Very fast boot speed. Have been able to load most of my software without a problem. Windows 7/64 is ok with the 32 bit software but balks at the older 16 bit. One of my all time favorite programs was Micrografx Picture Publisher but it is one of the 16 bit programs--oh well.
--Top of the computer and most of the inside surfaces are a high gloss finish over a textured surface. Not really wild about it. Shows finger prints and smudges easily. Will show scratches readily if and when they occur. Would have done much better if they had just gone with the textured surface.
--Lid has no latch and I would like it better if it did.
--Battery life seems to be very good. I would estimate 3-4 hours. Haven't used it continuously for that long so it is just an estimate. When it powers down after not being used for a period of time the drain on the battery is very, very low.
--Overall, I don't think you will find a better machine for the price. The processor is very robust and the feature set is good. I wish it had a dedicated video processor, but since my game playing is limited to the likes of solitaire, I don't think it will cause me any problems.
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I bough this Laptop in November of 2010. At that time similar laptops with exact same hardware were selling for 600+. I bought this laptop during a 3-day Best Buy sale for 449 +tax. Excellent value for the money.Here are some pros and cons.
PROS:
+ Great value for the price! Much less than comparable laptops with same hardware.
+ Comes with one of the fastest budget laptop processors, the Intel Core i3 370M clocked at 2.4 Ghz.
+ 4GB of memory (64 bit Operating Systems are able to take advantage of the 4GB memory, while 32-bit systems can only use up to 3GB).
+ Under normal use, you can expect, on average, about 4 hours of battery life.
+ Great mouse and keyboard, very conveniently placed and the mouse pad has a lock feature.
+ Doesn't come with too much bloat-ware.
+ At 5.48 lbs, it is very light for its size.
+ Nice and sleek design, though feels a bit plasticky. No biggie though.
+ Has the numpad, something that HP laptops of similar size (15.6") tend to lack.
+ 320 GB, 5400 RPM hard drive is spacious and reasonably fast.
+ Compared to similar laptops with AMD processors, this laptop runs significantly cooler (temperature wise)! This was the major reason why I did not choose to consider AMD equipped laptops. Over time AMD equipped laptops tend to run so hot that it becomes unbearable to keep it on your lap. This Intel equipped laptop runs cool and quiet. The fan turns on to high only if you do some heavy work on the computer and keep it on a surface that doesn't dissipate heat as well (i.e. your bed). Normally, very quiet, very cool. Thank you Intel!
As great as this laptop is, it does have several, but minor cons:
CONS:
As mentioned before, feels a bit plasticky compared to other laptops in the price range. The plastic is also of the type that leaves fingerprints. However, much less fingerprints show if compared to my HP Pavillion dv-1400.
The webcam quality is sub-standard, but you can still skype with people without a problem. Just doesn't seem to pick up colors as vividly as other laptop webcams (i.e. HP).
The built in speakers are pretty bad. The sound quality that comes out of them is sub-standard as well, in my opinion. My iphone 3Gs has better speaker sound. When set to max volume, the noise makes the entire computer vibrate slightly so keeping your hands on it while playing a loud song or video becomes a bit irritating. However, the problem can be easily sold with some headphones. =)
The LED screen is nice and large, but I can identify individual pixels sitting a typical distance away. It's not that big of a problem, but I thought Toshiba could have built this laptop with a much better screen.
Does not have an HDMI output but with the build in wireless internet card and Intel MyWiFi technology, you can get an adapter to connect to your TV which allows you to connect your laptop to the TV without any cables.
Has the Intel HN55 chipset, which means that it has an integrated graphics car. It is ok for every day use and, but not if you plan to do any major, graphics-intensive gaming.
So to sum it up, I love the laptop. I got it for my girlfriend and it will be kinda hard to gift it to her on Christmas, because I like the laptop so much. It is fast, and very capable. Despite several minor drawbacks, I think this is a great value for the money. Now, if I had to pay $630 instead of the $449 dollars for it, I would definitely go with something else, possibly even a laptop with Core i5 at $630+ price.
Best Deals for Toshiba Satellite L655-S5117 15.6-Inch LED Laptop (Fusion Finish in
Great Laptop! Very affordable and look at everything you get...Nice processor--Intel Core i3
4GB Ram--upgradable to 8GB
A decent integrated graphics card
A numeric key pad
Windows 7 Home Premium
Great battery life (approx. 5 hours personally--just doing some basic stuff, not gaming...)
A great brand name
I use this laptop for work and for light gaming. I play World of Warcraft. If anyone out there is wondering if this integrated card will run WoW, well let me tell you, IT DOES! It will run on low and fair settings. I have not tried it in a raid such as ICC. I have ran a few 5 man dungeons and it worked just fine. It ran through Dal extremely smoothly. This was pre-cata, but just a couple of weeks before with all of the pre-cata updates so I assume it will do fine post-cata as well. I'm including this info because in researching new laptops, I became very frustrated with the LACK of info about the graphics cards for these newer laptops. You can look up info on some integrated cards (AMD cards are easier it seems), but others are hard to dig up info on. If you are wanting to play games on this laptop that are very demanding in the graphics department, then this laptop may not be for you. Research the card and the games you wish to play as much as you can before making your purchase.
Other than gaming, I am running office on this machine and using it for internet browsing. I also hook it up to a projector from time to time. Programs and web sites load quickly and run smoothly. I paid $450 for it a couple of weeks ago and I am very pleased with my purchase. I am not seeing the intel version available at my retail location anymore, but it's available here on amazon now. There is an AMD version available if that's more your style for the same price I paid. Shop around. If you need a bigger hard drive, you can pay a bit more for that model as well.
Honest reviews on Toshiba Satellite L655-S5117 15.6-Inch LED Laptop (Fusion Finish in
Computer experience: Intermediate/AdvancedI bought this laptop about 3 months ago for $449+tax at Best Buy, and I have nothing but good things to say about it. Its design is nothing short of immaculate, the L655-S5117 is an extremely aesthetically pleasing little piece of technology (as long as you don't mind wiping fingerprints off from time to time). As far as performance goes, I use mine mostly for watching videos, word processing, and a little casual gaming. Though many reviews comment on the L655's lack of 3D capability, it is capable of some playing some relatively advanced 3D games without a hitch, older MMORPG's (EQ, WoW) run just fine on it.
The Intel Mobile HD graphics system is excellent for watching streaming videos on your favorite TV (you have to buy a separate receiver), however it is not designed for playing games--there is about a 2 second lag between the laptop and the television. This lag is unnoticeable when watching video.
The display on the L655 is vivid and responsive, though as another reviewer remarked, it is possible to notice individual pixels at a relatively close distance. At 15.6" the display size is pretty big.
And who can go wrong with a full-sized keyboard with a number pad?
This computer may not be for you if you are a serious gamer, but the casual gamer need not be too discouraged. It has a very efficient cooling system, and according to the Toshiba PC Health Monitor that came installed on it, the CPU never goes above about 55% it's maximum safe temperature even with 3D games running.
For the price, I couldn't be happier. It's a beautiful little machine and it does its job well for a budget laptop. Every time I look at it I feel all warm and fuzzy (guess I'm a little materialistic!).
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