Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)We tested a variety of Toshiba Satellites - and it's very confusing, because there are so many model numbers that are so similar.
We highly recommend the Toshiba Satellite, just not this model (C655-S5134). The problem is, it's using one of the SLOWEST processors on the market today. It's roughly 10-year-old technology.
To make matters even more confusing, after testing a dozen different Toshibas, we actually bought another Satellite C655 model (the C655-S5048) for the same price. It's almost identical in every respect, except the processor on our model (AMD P320) has a clock speed of 1,261. The clock speed on the C655-S5143 has a clock speed of (get this)... 350! That's nearly 1/4th the speed!
This was all very confusing to us, but here's the "short cut" - when you're shopping around for laptops, write down the name of the processor, and look it up at: CPUbenchmark-net
You will see some ridiculous inconsistencies, and you will be an informed consumer. Just poke around on Amazon for a few minutes - you will find plenty of Toshiba laptops for under $400, with processor speeds over 800-1,000 (which should be considered the bare minimum).
Don't think for a second that a faster processor will cost more. We also reviewed some of the more expensive Satellites ($599-$699) and found slow processors in that price class as well! And this is consistent with pretty much all computer manufacturers - the problem is that Intel, AMD, etc., invest a lot of money in marketing, and consumers demand chips they don't know anything about. But you can be a more informed consumer, and feel really good about your purchase.
Here are some general comments about the C655-series Toshiba Satellites:
PRO:
-Keyboard is an excellent size, and numeric keypad on the side is excellent for us. We use it all the time.
-Screen is fantastic - love it, no complaints. (I would not recommend the Toshiba models with the Trubrite screen - models with the TruBrite cost a minimum of $100 more & it picks up lots of glare/reflections.)
-Stays very cool (even when playing videos), and the fan rarely kicks on.
-It's light weight & durable. My 12-month old will pound on the keys occasionally, and it holds up just fine.
-Comes with built-in antivirus software. I recommend also installing Avira, and every computer/laptop you own should be running Hostsman.
-The battery isn't shabby, although this model has a slightly cheaper battery than the one I bought. The battery on the C655-S5048 lasts at least an hour longer.CON:
-No built-in camera or mic.
-Sound is not great. Most people assume it's cheap speakers, but it's not. Speakers are fine - but the sound driver itself is the problem for some reason. You can uninstall the driver & have Windows install a generic driver that will boost your sound levels by 50% (easier said than done in Windows 7).
-We have some general complaints against Windows 7, not Toshiba's fault (a discussion for another day). The biggest problem is, with the 64-bit version of Windows 7, we could not port any of our software from our previous Satellite to our new one.
Bottom Line: (1) Don't buy this model - it's a very nice laptop, but the speed is too slow. (2) You don't have to be a techie to be an informed consumer. It only takes 5 seconds to look up the speed on the site provided above (again, 800-1,000 should be considered the absolute minimum). (3) Unless you need a super-computer for specialized programming, you should be able to find a Toshiba Satellite with a great processor & all the amenities you need for under $400, right here on Amazon.
Please don't get frustrated in your search - I give this laptop 5-stars except for the speed. This is a good brand (Satellite) and a good price (under $400). But there are at least 5 other models that are 3-4x faster for the same price. If you're looking at this product, reading this review, you are definitely on the right track. Hope this helps, and enjoy your new laptop!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Satellite C655D-S5134 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
Toshiba Satellite C655D: Affordable Mobile Computing
A nicely affordable, easy-to-use PC for basic productivity at home or in the office, the Toshiba Satellite C655D (model C655D-S5134) gives families, students or small and home-based businesses the essential power and workspace to study, tackle budgets with a handy 10-key pad, keep up on Facebook and Twitter, or simply do more at their desk.
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