Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Toshiba Satellite L515-S4925 14.0-Inch Laptop - Black/Grey Review
An affordable portable, the 14-inch Satellite L515 laptop gives you the essential tools for living life on the move, especially if you're on a budget. Light enough to carry, but powerful enough to keep you going, it's packed with innovative, eco-smart Toshiba advancementslike a brilliant HD TruBrite widescreen display and built-in Webcam with Face Recognitionto help you manage everyday tasks and have a great multimedia experience most anywhere. Perfect as a first laptop or portable addition for your busy lifestyle, it offers Intel dual-core processing power, great battery life and high-speed connectivity to make you more effective on the go. It's also encased in a handsome high-gloss Fusion finished case with a Breeze pattern in Graphite Gray.
Offering solid performance and impressive affordability, the Toshiba Satellite L515-S4925 is is a great choice for handling computing essentials at home, school or work--from surfing the web and downloading video to managing household finances or studying for finals. This all-purpose laptop features a stunning 14-inch display with 720p native high-definition resolution. And thanks to the built-in webcam and Toshiba Face Recognition software on this machine, you'll enjoy a more convenient way to communicate, log on or share your laptop among the family. To top it off, the L515 features a brilliant high-gloss Fusion Finish design with a Breeze pattern in Graphite Gray that's sure to turn heads.
 The Toshiba Satellite L515 laptop is tailor made for handling life's essentials at home, school or work. |
 A brilliant high-gloss Fusion Finish design with a Breeze pattern in graphite gray means you'll be multitasking in style. |
Key Features
- 14-inch high-definition display for amazing color depth and clarity (Learn more)
- 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium T4200 dual-core processor (Learn more)
- 320 GB Serial ATA hard drive
- 3 GB of RAM (800 MHz; upgradeable to 8 GB)
- Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with up to 1759 MB of dynamically shared memory allocated by the system (Learn more)
- 8x SuperMulti DVD drive with double layer support and Labelflash printing (See speeds)
- 1.3 megapixel with Face Recognition capabilities for added security (Learn more)
- Enjoy proactive PC health--without the worry. For your peace mind, this laptop comes with an innovative PC Health Monitor that constantly keeps tabs on things like your machine's power usage, temperature and hard drive--so you won't have to.
- Draft-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
- Fast Ethernet (10/100)
- Built-in stereo speakers
- Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium operating system (64-bit version) (Learn more)
- 6-cell (3700 mAh) battery
- 86-key keyboard
- Dimensions: 13.4 x 9.13 x 1.5 inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: 5.1 pounds
- Warranty: One-year limited hardware warranty
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
With its integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers). This notebook also provides Fast (10/100) Ethernet networking.
- 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
- Includes 1 eSATA/USB combo port with USB Sleep and Charge
- Analog video output: 1 VGA
- 5-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Multi Media Card, xD Picture Card
- 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
- RJ-45 port for 10/100 Fast Ethernet
- RJ-11 port for 56K modem
What's in the box
This package contains the Toshiba Satellite L515-S4925 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.
It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2009 (30-day trial), Toshiba PC Health Monitor, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Edition (60-day trial), Windows Media Player, Corel DVD Movie Factory, Google Toolbar, Google Picasa, PowerCinema, WildTangent Orb Game Console
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Learn More
14-Inch High-Definition Display
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Dual-Core Processing Power
The 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium T4200 dual-core processor delivers additional computing resources and help expand the PC's capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. And its Intel 64 architecture is also ready for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, and offers enhanced performance through improved virtual memory. Each core shares 1 MB of L2 cache (for a 2 MB total), and they have an 800 MHz front-side bus. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
8x DVD-SuperMulti Drive
This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD±R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It offers the following read/write speeds:- Write: 24x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 6x DVD-R DL (double-layer), 6x DVD+R DL (double-layer), 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+RW, 5x DVD-RAM
With the Labelflash functionality, you can burn high-resolution, high-contrast pictures on the label side of DVD discs using the same laser used for data recording. Enjoy transparency and high-quality not found in traditional printable media. All you need is a Labelflash DVD disc to start labeling without a printer.
Integrated Webcam with Face Recognition Capabilities
A 1.3 megapixel digital web camera built into the LCD's bezel lets you quickly snap photos and participate in live video chats. The integrated webcam does more than just video chats. It includes Toshiba Face Recognition capabilities--the ultimate hands-free, hassle-free way to log onto your laptop. Just show your face to the webcam--no keeping track of hard-to-remember passwords and no unnecessary typing. And if you're using one laptop for several users--say for the whole family or for a small business--Toshiba Face Recognition lets you switch profiles with one simple look.
Windows Vista Home Premium Operating System
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Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.
Buy it here now!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Toshiba PA3171U-1MPC TOS Satellite 802.11b Wireless LAN Mini PCI Expansion Card Review
Purchased this product even after others indicated that this would NOT work on a A15-S129, but for $8.00, worth a try. This product just plain works.. Installed and did some simple configuring and was able to see more access points than ever, and my own wireless network was recieved with better reception, and less errors than before. All in all -- a great product.
Buy it here now!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Toshiba SD7200 1080P Upconverting DVD Player, Black Review
16th of May 2009 Monterey Peninsula, California USA
My Family received this Item as a Gift from my Uncle for Easter. He also gave us a Yamaha Audio/Video Unit Receiver. Well we wanted to try the Toshiba DVD Player the other day to watch a Movie I had just purchased. Well to our disappointment the Unit didn't work at all. It did nothing. I phoned Toshiba's customer service and talk about the worst customer service I had ever gotten. (Toshiba is by far the worst) I also did research online about the other Toshiba DVD Players and it seems like all the reviews are poor and rated Toshiba at the bottom of the list.... BestBuy has alot of reviews on Toshiba and none are good. Everyone who commented on Toshiba had nothing but bad stuff to say.
Anyone who reads my review I am a big electronic buff. I like gadgets etc. I can't in good faith recommend Toshiba.. Run before buying this Garbage... My Samsung DVD/VHS Unit is over 10 years old and still works like new. Also my Panasonic DVD Players have been awesome..
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
Toshiba PA3611U-1ETC Silicone Keyboard Protector Review
I bought this to use on my Toshiba laptop. I like to keep the keypad areas clean. So far, this cover works really well. I don't feel the need to press the keys with extra power to make sure it punch out the correct character. It is easy to clean and have no problem in removing hair that got stuck on its surface. This product also really helpful in preventing the keys from popping out of its place. My number "3" key is constantly popped out for some reason. Ever since I use this cover, the popping out activity has been reduced a lot. Now, I can typing on the keypad without the worry of the dust, spill or popping out keys.
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Toshiba SD4200 Digital Progressive Scan DVD Player, Black Review
I needed an inexpensive DVD player for my playroom. This one does the trick.
Buy it here now!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Toshiba Satellite A355-S6930 16.0-Inch Laptop Review
Overall: After a bit over a month of steady usage, I am very pleased.
PROs: Very pretty, works well, speakers decent, keyboard nice, works well (did I say that already?), nice screen
CONs: Rotten battery life, dust and smudge attractor, runs a little warm, no hot button volume control, no recording audio from the internet
Overall--very happy:
Overall I am very pleased with my Toshiba so far. As a teacher, I use my computer A LOT! Everyday, typically at least a couple hours a day, and during summer study and research time, even a whole lot more. I need a highly reliable computer. As a missionary teacher, I cannot be replacing computers all the time--because of living in a country that places high import taxes on electronics, I cannot just buy another one, or even make good on any warranties. I need something that works! So far the Toshiba is pleasing me.
My laptop history:
I have had mostly Dells (a Mac once, and a MicroExpress for my very first laptop). My last Dell laptop just physically fell apart. I wanted to try something completely different. After extensive research of customer reviews, I decided to go with a Toshiba (boy, that sounds a lot easier than it really was).
Amazon:
I decided to order via Amazon because Amazon is so nice to accept an order from another country, where I am residing and working now. I had it delivered to the place I am visiting in the U.S. this summer--ready for me to pull out and beat on as I normally do (and take advantage of a decent internet connection to download and order everything I needed for it). Thanks, Amazon!
Performance:
The Pros and Cons above summarize my comments, but let me get specific on a few things and talk about a couple others. Running Vista64, even with the RAM and MHz power, performance isn't the greatest. This may be a Vista issue.
If they're going to give you the advertising, why can't you take advantage of it???!!!:
Which reminds me, I just checked the Toshiba Direct thing today, which showed two things that I would have LOVED to have taken advantage of from them, but alas I got my computer a couple weeks too early: a free upgrade to Windows 7, and a free carry bag. As a missionary teacher I can tell you that the price of "FREE" really fits the budget well. Ah, well...they must have known I would have jumped on that. That disappointed me a lot, I have to say.
Screen size:
The screen is great. It's nice to have even a bit more real estate for working with several applications (had a 15.4" before).
No internet audio recording:
Realtek sound card does not support recording audio from the internet--even with the right software for doing that. As far as my research has shown, it's not possible. I tried all the suggestions people made that I could find. No can do. I guess that makes a little sense from a proprietary standpoint, but it's still disappointing.
Cursor freeze:
Upon occasion the mouse cursor freezes--not sure if this is Vista or the mouse software causing this. Sometimes it recovers itself, sometimes just using Ctrl-Alt-Del to get to the Task Manager is enough to unfreeze it.
Smudgi- and dustiness:
I know that just about everyone has commented on the smudginess and dustiness of the Satellite. This is oh, so true. I am currently in a fairly dustless environment in the U.S.--I can only anticipate what a hassle it's going to be when I'm back next week in my super-dusty, pollution-ridden environment--cracks in the wall, windows, and doors environment, no insulation (oh, the trials and tribulations of living in the tropics...it is mostly quite pleasant--if you close your eyes so you don't see the garbage all around and put clothes pins on your nose to close out the exhaust and burning garbage fumes, the ever-blooming flowers, giant green trees, and lovely palm trees are a true pleasure).
Recovery Disks:
Oh, another little issue I had was that I could not get the recovery disks to burn properly...I don't think it's a DVD drive thing...it's a utility issue, I believe. Not sure why... If I did, I would have fixed it and tried again. I have not used the burn facility on the DVD drive much--yikes! I hope it works. I have used the DVD drive for quite a few other things though--works fine.
CAPS LOCK light:
Oh, another little thought I had was that the little light they have for CAPS LOCK is impossible to see unless you are pretty much directly above it. The idea of having the light right on on the CAPS LOCK key is brilliant. They just need to adjust the angle of it a bit.
Vista and Office 2007 (NOTE: the Satellite comes with MS Works):
I really like Vista way better than XP. I haven't had a program yet that hasn't worked in Vista64--even one old utility that came with my cell phone that advertised itself as supporting only up to XP.
Performance:
Not what I would like to see, I have to say: With a new computer, the performance isn't as bad as my old XP computer yet, but it already occasionally has its long pauses, and I haven't even used the thing for much more than a month.
Usability:
Maybe I like Vista so much because I am coming in at the tail end of its life, right when Windows 7 is gearing up. I ordered Office 2007 and have used OneNote and Word 2007 a lot. My first project on this Toshiba was a table-intensive one in Word 2007. I loved it! Yes, it takes a little getting used to the new interface, but it has a lot of little changes that make it so nice, such as instant preview. Sweet stuff! I feel like I'm the only one I know who really likes Vista and Office 2007...but, I really, really do!
Can't wait to see what Windows 7 comes up with--but alas, that won't be for a few years, because I'm sure my Toshiba will last me for several years to come (it better!!).
Buy it here now!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with ClearScan 240, Black Review
Got this at a great price. Free shipping. Ordered on Sun. Got it on Thursday. Best video ever. So sharp and clean, colors are brillant. Gaming on Xbox 360 fast and on the PS3, its the best gaming ever. Going to 1080p, is like going from 800x600 to 1920x1200. Its so much fun to watch tv in HD. And the bluray, is the most incredible imaging. I recommend this tv to anyone who is looking at HD. Easy to set up. One thing it doesn't have, is Picture in Picture. Otherwise, best tv I have seen yet. Sony hasn't even released their 240 hz tv's yet. Toshiba beat them on price and speed.
One feature that I have noticed since owning this hdtv, is the remote control is programmable, it can control my home audio system, dvd player and is very easy to set up.
I really like how there are 4 HDMI ports, and a PC port which I don't use because my computer has a HDMI port so watching facebook on this 55" HDTV is so much more fun.
With the use of my computer as a multimedia center, I can stream video from HULU and Netflix right on the tv.
The SD video card reader is a plus. I love to take photos and then I can view them right on the tv. As sharp as it is, the photos look like you were there on the screen as you view them.
I did notice that watching a movie on my PS3 vs using my older dvd player which is also hooked up HDMI, the PS3 is much sharper and has more detail. I didn't realize how much of a difference the quality of a movie is played back on the player. So I watch all my movies DVD and Blu ray on the PS3. I am looking at getting a dedicated Blu Ray player, I don't want to burn out the drive on my PS3 like I did to my PS2.
Nate Stephens
Kearney, Nebraska
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Sunday, August 9, 2009
Toshiba Ballistic Nylon - carrying case ( PA1389U-1NCS ) Review
I've owned this carrying case for three months now, and I really like it. First, it's functional w/o a lot of bulk; the last thing I wanted was a huge tote bag kind of thing. I mean, they have their uses, but I was looking for a laptop case, not a gigantic piece of luggage. This case will hold your laptop & accessories just fine, and a few personal items too. The balistic nylon construction is A-1 top notch and provides adequate protection from dings. The padded shoulder strap is comfortable, as are the thick padded carry handles. There are plenty of pockets, and even internal pockets/dividers within the two larger pockets. There is one drawback to this case, however. When I bought it, I thought it had more room than I would _ever_ need or use; but it seems to have filled up rather quickly, and things are a bit cramped in there right now. Just to give you an idea of its capacity, mine currently has in it: 15.4" laptop (and that's as big as will fit in it, BTW), AC power adapter, cooler fan, web cam, headset w/mic, mouse, USB hub, card reader, USB flash drives in protective case, external hard drive in protective case, wireless-N adaptor, my prescription glasses, a couple backup memory modules (in clamshell cases), and other misc items like cables, CDs, documentation, etc. I could still squeeze in a little more, but not much; and really, it's the headset that's the problem (those dang ear muff pieces that don't fold). Remove the headset and the usable space increases significantly. Even with the headset, however, everything still fits into a compact portable package. If I was travelling, I could put tickets & other paperwork into the document pouch on the backside, too, plus it has a strap to slide over your suitcase's pull handle. It's a nice case. Grab one while you can, because it looks like Toshiba might have discontinued the item, because it's no longer available on the Toshiba Direct website at the time of this review.
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Saturday, August 8, 2009
Toshiba 90W Global AC Adapter Review
I am using Toshiba Satelite A105-4324 laptop since last 2 years .
During warranty period itself , I had to sent my laptop for service 2 times because of faulty Adapter . They had replaced it for Free on both occasions as it was covered under warranty .
But last year adapter got failed again . I purchased adapter for $20 but it was little loose I had to hold it in specific position always so that it can charge the laptop battery .
Thus I went to Toshiba website to find out OEM Adapter model suitable for my laptop which is this adapter I purchased. ( I found price much lower on Amazon as compared to Toshiba website ).
I was really excited as I was expecting that with this adapter , I will not have to hold it in specific position to charge laptop .
But I was wrong !!!
This adapter was worst . It was also not perfect fit . Infact it is worst that aftermarket one
My suggestion is stay away from any Toshiba products .
All got very poor quality.
Only good thing was Amazon Service
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Friday, August 7, 2009
Toshiba PA3555U-1ETC USB Data Link Review
I needed to copy files from the IBM Thinkpad T43 (XP) to a Dell Latiitude E6400 (Vista) and thought this USB transfer cable would enable me to do so. After plugging one end to one machine and the other end to the other machine, the XP machine was able to open the application (EasyCopy) that was embedded in the cable. The Vista showed an error, indicating that EasyCopy stopped working. "A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available." The Vista was brand new and hasn't had any issues.
After finding the equivalent product on Toshiba's website, I called its support number, which, by the way, is not available on the weekends. When I reached their Support and explained the situation, they didn't bother to troubleshoot the error. Instead, they would rather send me a replacement cable, as long as I send the cable that didn't work. I was assured that I didn't need to pay for the shipping. After filling out an online form and getting their RMA (return merchandise authorization), its directions indicated that you need to print two copies and affix one of them on the outer package and use UPS to ship it.
This was not a label accepted by UPS. I would have to pay out of pocket $7.00 to ship it back to Toshiba. After I tried to contact Toshiba about not having to pay for the shipping, I got such a run-around by various people I spoke to. It was not their area. Then I was transferred to the Claim Department, where you had to leave a voicemail and they would return your call in 1-2 business days.
I'd rather stick to copying files from the XP to an external hard drive, disconnect the external hard drive, connect it to the Vista, and copy the files onto the Vista. I didn't want to go through another hassle in the event the replacement cable still doesn't work and get more runaround by Toshiba support.
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Thursday, August 6, 2009
Toshiba PA3457U-1BRS Primary High Capacity 8-Cell Li-Ion Battery Pack Review
This battery is wonderful, it last forever compared to the standard battery that came on my laptop. I am able to get through full movies and then some before i need to recharge it. I would definatly reccomend that you get this battery over the smaller cell battery, you will not be dissapointed.
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Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Toshiba REGZA 52XV645U 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Black Review
After reading, exploring, researching and hands on comparison I do not regret the purchase of this Toshiba LCD TV. I feel it is an outstanding value for a 52 inch lcd class tv. Toshiba's new 5 gig processor combined with the 120Hz smooth's action transitions as well as delivering outstanding darks and vibrant colors. My family room is well lit with sunlight during the day and there is no screen glare. The picture is very clear and sharp as well. The set is extremely impressive with an HD signal. It does almost as well with just a regular digital signal from cable/antena. I also hooked up a older JVC DVD player using just the old RCA cables and was extremely surprised at how good the picture looked. very close to looking as good as HD. I am getting Toshiba's upscaling DVD player, its on order, and will be using it soon. The remote is a breeze to use. Its simple to find which format to use for displaying the signal. Toshiba has done their homework. They should get back some of their market share that they lost to Samsung. I would stack this LCD against any other 50+ inch LCD HDTV out there. I also am using a Philips home theater sound system and the audio is outstanding. The onboard speaker does an good job for every day viewing but won't compair to a home theater system. I would buy this product again, hands down. Look closely at this TV if you are looking at 120Hz LCD HDTV's. I also consitered the 55 inch 670U with the simulated 240Hz. Even if it was a true 240Hz I would have still opted for the 645U 120hz. I believe the 240hz to be over kill combined with the cost difference between the two. Over all I am extremely happy and well satisfied with this product.Toshiba REGZA 52XV645U 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Black
July 4th, 2009
I have used Toshiba's XD-E500 Upconverting 1080p Extended Detail DVD that I ordered from Amazon several times now. I am very pleased with this Toshiba product as well. The picture looks outstanding. HD quality. i am so pleased that I didn't get a Blue Ray player but opted for an upconverting unit instead. At $64.00 the Toshiba is at the top of its game. I did purchsase the 2 year replacement policy as some of the reviewers stated that they have had failures with theirs. All in all I am enjoying watching tv and movies at home like I have never before. The Ragza link also enables the use of one remote use for both the LCD tv and the DVD player. Nice. Look at these products if you are researching before buying. Just an awesome home entertainment center paired together. I never thought I would enjoy staying home to watch movies more than going to a theater. My family loves movie night with us or their friends. Again, very pleased with both of these purchases and they both perform beyond my expectations.
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Toshiba Mini NB205-N313/P 10.1-Inch Posh Pink Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Review
I've had the blue Toshiba netbook for three days now and mostly love it. The keyboard is surprisingly easy to use, the screen is gorgeous, the wizard made getting on my home wireless network a breeze (and I was nervous about that given some of the earlier reviews), and the touchpad is no problem at all (maybe the other most recent reviewer got a bad one). The unit definitely feels more substantial than most on the market, and so far, it appears the battery will, indeed,go for 8 or 9 hours.
Of course, given the size, there are some things to get used to. Yes, the bezel is wide, but that's no big deal. But the wide but not very tall screen means you have to scroll a lot to see enough of text and web pages to do any meaningful work. Yeah, that's probably a universal netbook problem, but it's a bit annoying. And my unit does indeed get pretty warm. I added a 2GB RAM card, and this baby gets downright hot right where that RAM's located. Doesn't seem to affect battery life, but I'm wondering if I need to get a chill pad. And of course, I had to get the external CD/DVD player-recorder, too, which brought total price to within shouting distance of a modest full-sized laptop.
On balance, this will be great for travel and general basic computing.
PROS:
--Stylish, substantial case
--Beautiful screen
--Easy internet connectivity setup
--Great battery life
--Great keyboard
--Good trackpad
CONS:
--Needs more screen resolution choices
--Gets hot
--Price, including 2GB RAM and external CD/DVD player isn't exactly "mini"
Buy it here now!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Toshiba Gigabeat U-Series 2 GB Portable Media Player (Black) Review
I have had this for over a year and I am very pleased with the excellent sound and ease of use. I prefer to use windows drag and drop over windows media for transferring music files but either will work. Battery last a long time between charging which is done simply by connecting to usb port of pc. Only real drawback I have found is that I have not been able to get it to play continuously through all music directories but only one directory at a time. Not a deal killer at all.
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Sunday, August 2, 2009
Toshiba 10.1-Inch Netbook Soft Sleeve (Black) Review
Designed to fit Netbooks and MiniNBs with screens up to 10.1-Inch, the Toshiba Neoprene Sleeve is a multifunctional sleeve that can be used as a stand-alone carrying case for those everyday bumps and grinds or easily fits into any other case for added protection. Whether you use it for carrying your Netbook or MiniNB back and forth to meetings or use it in your backpack for school, the shuttle gives that added protection with its double-sided neoprene and helps prevent scratches from everyday use. The heavy-duty neoprene stretches for a form fitted look.
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Saturday, August 1, 2009
Toshiba Satellite A355-S6943 16.0-Inch Laptop Review
I bought this machine a month ago because its hardware config looked good at a good price, I thought. I thought I can live with Vista, maybe upgrade to XP7 later this year. I rated it highly at Toshiba's web site and here at Amazon. Now, after a month's experience, I have buyer's regret.
Toshiba's pricing strategy of near-zero pre-loaded software (Vista only) means a lot of the cost of ownership is 'shifted forward' meaning you have to buy almost everything, including a bluetooth stack. This is an excellent example of nickel and diming customers to death -- not a good marketing strategy.
This machine does NOT come with bluetooth support, you have to add a dongle. But I thought that like Windows XP SP2, Vista has the stack included. Sadly, no, it is not true. The situation gets worse. Toshiba does not use the 'standard' Windows stack but has a proprietary stack. If it detects a non-Toshiba dongle, the Toshiba OEM license expires. You have to uninstall the Toshiba stack and find/install a compatible stack. Sigh.
It gets worse. I was pretty unhappy that I was unable to install the official Microsoft Office Suite. After going a few layers deep in hardware configuration dialog boxes, I find that the CD-ROM driver is in error, it could not find a fix and, maybe this is a separate problem, the system cannot detect the drive!!!!! No driver download available from Toshiba's tech support web site. Talking to a live agent, she pointed me to a secure site where I was able to download a filter that seemingly fixed the problem. This is NOT the way a new PC should be. I have never encountered such a problem before, in 20-some years of using computers.
I now rate this PC only 2 stars because of the stupid Toshiba policy of NOT including a free to the end user, perpetual end user license to its bluetooth stack. The CD-ROM driver problem worsened my opinion. BTW, a third-party driver diagnostic program detected 26 out-of-date or erroneous drivers.
Toshiba's stupid marketing made two more bad mistakes:
1. The license to the stack is for the manufacturers of bluetooth dongles, not for end-users like me, so end-users are at a dead end. I suppose I could buy a new dongle that has a Toshiba license instead of using the dongle I already own.
2. End users who are not IT-savvy won't know what the hell this licensing esoterica means. There is no link from Toshiba's 'expired' message to ANY help for end users to solve this problem. On Toshiba's user forum, the question "How to buy a license..." is posted, but 'locked' so no one can post comments. There is NO ANSWER given, such as "buy xyz dongles because they have the necessary Toshiba license." That's a missed opportunity to co-market with OEMs that have bought a Toshiba license. I've searched the web and THERE IS NO ANSWER elsewhere.
Fortunately, I know that BlueSoleil, a vendor of bluetooth software, will support the dongle that I already have. After registration, I downloaded BlueSoleil 6, a stack that does all the things that the Toshiba stack does. And it doesn't seem to conflict with the Toshiba stack which I did not uninstall. Unfortunately, BlueSoleil is available for free for only a 15-day trial after which BlueSoleil will transfer files of up to 2 MB. The good marketing practice demonstrated by BlueSoleil is it gives you a link to its online store where you can buy a license for $29.99. They help you to solve the problem, not like Toshiba.
I am shocked and disappointed that Toshiba, a well regarded consumer electronics brand, does such a poor job of end-user marketing and support.
Oh, while I'm at it, let me warn you that Toshiba tech support, while free, is NOT AT ALL KNOWLEDGEABLE. F'instance, I called to say that I couldn't find the pre-loaded free trial of Microsoft Office. My call got dropped, no call-back. Had to go through the n-level deep voice messaging, call another number, again, to get to another random support person who suggested searching the hard drive for hidden sectors. The software was there. AND, after hassling the guy for a recovery disk, threatening to talk to his supervisor, he said he'd waive the rules and send me one. A month later, no disk arrived. Finally, a friend told me that that I don't need to buy Toshiba's recovery CD because the machine has a utility for you to create your own recovery CD. Sigh.
Buy it here now!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Toshiba Mini NB205-N311/W 10.1-Inch Frost White Netbook - 9 Hour Battery Life Review
This is a very nice and very neat machine. At this time (July 2009)
it is clearly the most powerful Netbook I could locate. The battery life is
wonderful. They advertise 9 hour, and I think it is possible. I used mine nearly
all day from 7:30AM until 6:30PM, and still had 37% battery life left. The full
keyboard is a major plus.
It did not come with full instructions, and being an Apple Computer guy (Apple doesn't make a netbook or I would have purchased one), I found the entire setup
confusing. There was a simple set of instructions to get it going, and major books on warranty and safety, but no full instruction manual or even notice that one
existed. After, 2 days of frustration and one call to customer service, I found the instructions located deep in a folder on the hard drive. They could have at least
either printed them out, or told you where to find them on their little setup sheet. The machine came with the wireless turned off manually on the keyboard. I had to
call customer service to find out how to turn it on, and it was not easy to figure out all the triple function keys without instructions.
I had one major crash the first week I had it, and I'm not sure it was the computer's fault. I tried to erase various startup programs (it came with a lot of B.S. adds)
and during that effort, I erased the touch pad's control center. Bummer, I had to do a
complete system reinstall. But, the Toshiba customer service was great. They really worked with me to solve the problem. That is one of the best features of this machine is
Toshiba Customer Service. They are located in the Philippines,and speak English very well. They are almost as good as Apple Computer customer service.
I didn't buy the HP, because I saw several of their machines at Costco and they were poorly made. Also, to say HP has bad customer service is like telling
Custer there are just one or two indians over the hill. They are AWFUL!!!!!!! HP has the worse customer service on the planet! Never buy anthing from them
if you ever expect to have to call them. If you hate someone give them an HP computer, or anything else these bums make. Then stand back and watch the laughs.
Now that I have the Toshiba properly setup, it works great. I purchased Microsoft Office and updated Adobe Acrobat. I also installed Norton 360 and AOL: all
run with no problems. The Toshiba does not run Vista, but will run the new Windows 7 coming out later this year. The screen is very bright and the black
one looks like it's made of carbon fiber: it's also $50 cheaper than the other colors. I got the Samsung DVD portable drive Model SE-S084, and it works great.
It does use two USB ports to drive the thing, as it requires no other power source. A little hassel, but no real problem in order to eliminate power cords.
The touch pad works well (but no two finger scrolling like on a Mac), and it has many available options. The machine is a hit around my office and draws a crowd
when I pull it out.
I highly recommend this machine, at least until Apple releases a Netbook of their own: probably at the September Apple Convention where I expect to see
Steve Jobs show up and announce some new killer machines.
Buy it here now!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Toshiba PA3283U-5ACA 75W Global AC Adapter Review
Seller was quick to respond. It was an easy transaction. The power adapter works like it's suppose to. No problems. Thanks for having a replacement for the one that was stolen.
Buy it here now!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Toshiba 22LV611U 22-Inch 720p LCD TV with Built in DVD Player, White Review
I'm really enjoying my new 22" Toshiba dvd/combo white flat screen. I have an all digital white euro themed room.
So this flat screen fits just perfect with my style and digi stuff. My TV arrived promptly and was easy to operate and it's play dvd's perfectly. Also I connected my laptop to the TV and it's really cool. For surround sound you can also connect the Toshiba dvd/combo to a Cambridge Soundworks through aux or a Bose system. Enjoy!
Buy it here now!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Toshiba 32AV502R 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV Review
This is a great TV, excellent picture and functionality; however, the first TV was "dead on arrival" - nothing worked except the power light. Obviously I was disappointed, but J&R Music (seller) took it right back and sent a replacement which functions as it should. I was pleased with the service and now have another great Toshiba TV.
Buy it here now!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Toshiba 19LV611U 19-Inch 720p LCD TV with Built in DVD Player, White Review
This TV has a very nice picture but the sound even at max volumn can hardly be heard from 5 feet away. We purchased it for our boat but even in the small space of our cabin it was not acceptable. DVD's were even worse. Definitely would not recommend buying this television. We purchased another one locally and it works great and it was less money.Toshiba 19LV611U 19-Inch 720p LCD TV with Built in DVD Player, White
Buy it here now!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
TOSHIBA TDP-XP2U DLP Mobile Projector Review
This projector was needed to project video/slide show images on a stage screen in theater production. It had to front- or rear-project and be easy to use, because kids run tech on most of our shows. It had to be flexible and portable and projected cleanly in a variety of different environments. In the 1st show it rear-mounted 10' from a hi-threadcount flat king-sized bed sheet screen and created a 6'x7' image that could be seen clearly 100' away and 70 degree viewing angle. It allows you to choose the projection mode (rear, front, top-mount, normal-mount).
Problems:
Spare/replacement bulbs cost nearly half the whole projector!
Remote (very small) only works from the FRONT of projector and then only a few feet away - nearly impossible/impractical on rear-projection.
I had difficulty fine tuning the resolution for a close-up view, which made it hard to read the setup screen from close-up, though it was quite clear from 20' away, and the setup screen was very hard to read in rear-projection or top-mount modes.
Overall, it was a good, solid projector for the price and worth it for most normal projection needs.
Buy it here now!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Toshiba Satellite M305-S4920 14.1-Inch Laptop Review
This is a copy of an email sent 05/27/2009, no response from amazon to date.
Recently received this item, Issues are as follows:
1. Battery is speced as the 7200 mAH, which is a 9 cell LI, recieved the 6 cell battery with toshiba part # PA3634U-1BRS, which is a 4200 mAH.
"Power
It comes with a 7200 mAH lithium-ion battery pack for extra-long battery life. "
2. Spec sheet shows a 56K modem port v.90, No modem port is on this computer.
" * 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (including 1 eSATA/USB combo port)
* 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
* 1 ExpressCard 54/34 slot
* Video out: VGA
* 1 headphone jack (with SPDIF digital output for 5.1-channel surround sound)
* 1 microphone jack
* RJ-45 port for 10/100 Ethernet connection
* 56K modem port (V.90)
* 5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card) "
3. Also there is only 3 USB ports, not 4 as speced.
I had to purchase a modem for $79.00 locally as I needed to connect to conduct my business, while I was unhappy with this omission, I generally liked the computer. When I went to connect the modem (USB type) I found there were only 3 USB ports. Now, I am starting to get pissed, you know, but decided that I really liked the computer and still did not complain, and purchased a USB hub, cheap enough. I thought I was good to go, then the battery issue came up. There is a major difference between the two batteries as far as power is concerned. Ok, strikes one, two, and now three. I had thought that buying this from Amazon directly, and not one of the amazon vendors I would not have this kind of problems, I was wrong. I understand you can't add a modem port to the computer, I understand you can't add the forth USB port to the computer, but you sure as hell can supply the correct battery or credit the cost of the battery (from Toshiba $149.00) Please respond as soon as possible, I have purchased a lot of items from Amazon and have had zero problems to this point. I am not spending any more money to bring this machine up to the specs I was supposed to get to begin with. Be advised a copy of this email will be posted and your actions to correct also. Sincerely L C Brooke
06/08/2009 addition:
Posted previous about issues with this item. Amazon appears to be addressing the faulty spec sheet, via their suspension of sales of this item. They also made good on my complaints and corrected all issues. While I am concerned that this problem occured, I am very impressed with their interest and desire to correct this problem. Sometimes the value of a company is not evident when all goes well, but when a problem arises and how they deal with it. The only possible complaint is the customer service folks tend to speak a little too fast for my old ears. At a time when a lot of companies are cutting back on customer service, Amazon stands strong. For all the people that assisted me in resolution of this issue a big thank you and great job. L C Brooke
Buy it here now!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Toshiba 22AV600U 22-Inch 720p Portable LCD HDTV, Black Review
Portable 720p HD LCD TV
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Thursday, July 23, 2009
Toshiba DVR620 DVD/VHS Recorder, Black Review
Unit doesn't come with HDMI cables, which is normal, so I used my own and plugged it into my Samsung HDTV. It plays my old VHS wonderfully! I can actually hear the sound on my old Disney movies ... a problem I was having with my old Panasonic VHS.
I then tested it on recording/dubbing my old home videos on VHS to DVD. I had problems because I got the red circle with the slash through it. So I called up Toshiba customer service and after a few button pushing of 1's, 2's, and 3's, I was connected to a representative who told me to skip step #7 on page 50.
Step 7 is the "press [dvd], then press [rec mode] ..." I basically skipped that step and went straight to the press dubbing button and everything works perfectly!
The catch with not being able to use step 7 is I have to sit and watch the entire VHS so I can hit the "stop" button again. But if I do fall asleep dubbing, the VCR to DVD duplication automatically stops if it senses no image for more than 3 minutes. So it's not that bad.
And one more tip the Toshiba rep gave me is that I must be in L1 mode. There is an L1, L2, and L3 mode (you can change by pushing the input button on the top left of the remote control). I haven't explored the rest. But she said I must stay in L1 mode to dub VHS to DVD. Which is the mode you first get when you plug in the unit ... so as long as you don't change it, everything is fine.
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I must have the remote control to eject the VHS. No remote, the VHS is forever in the unit. There's only 2 buttons on the entire unit ... 1) eject DVD button and 2) power button. If they had a 3rd button to eject the VHS, I would have given it 5 stars.
I will revise my review if I experience any more problems with the unit. But overall, I'm very happy with it.
Buy it here now!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Toshiba REGZA 42ZV650U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with ClearScan 240, Black Review
I bought this TV online after going to Best Buy and taking a look at it. I didn't want to buy a TV without seeing it in person first...and not having to pay sales tax was a big plus as far as getting it online ;) It was ordered 6/5/2009, and it was delivered in perfect shape on 6/12/2009 (way to go Amazon!).
I was blown away when I went to see it at Best Buy, and I'm still blown away by the fact that there's one downstairs in my living room. The contrast is amazing: I just finished watching The Empire Strikes Back, and I was shocked to see Vader's mask and cape actually being totally black!
I also bought a Blu-ray player the day this TV arrived, and I got The Dark Knight (one of the new Batman films) to see how it'd look. In short: it was amazing. The color was crisp and the response time being 8 ms made no discernible difference to me. I was thinking that might be a downer in scenes with a lot of quick motion (Dark Knight was a good tester for that), but it was not a problem. It was just as clear on the fast-motion fight scenes and the flyover city-view panning as it was on the slower scenes with just dialog. I was impressed. 120Hz is just beautiful (silky smooth)! I believe the TV also emulates 240Hz, but I didn't really notice that if it was enabled; I figure that not a whole lot of stuff out right now makes proper use of 120Hz, let alone 240Hz.
One reviewer knocked the aesthetics of the TV, and I have to respectfully disagree with his assessment. The pedestal stand with which it comes is perfectly sized, and the charcoal-gray bezel looks good. The lit "Toshiba" at the bottom-center of the bezel is a nice touch, and it can be disabled in the settings if it becomes bothersome. I like it as a good power-on indicator.
The menu system is well-thought-out. Amazingly, it actually made sense when I was casually playing around with it. I was able to customize the picture settings to my liking without getting into the manual...and when I did get into the manual (just to see what it was like), I was surprised to find that it was actually well-written and easy to understand. I was expecting something that had been machine-translated from Japanese, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that was not the case...or else the folks at Toshiba have made a darn good machine translator.
All in all, I think this was a very good buy. You get more screen size and better features for less $$ than other brands, so it's a no-brainer. I know I initially had qualms with not getting a well-known brand like Sony or Samsung, but I can say without reservation that such concern has no basis in reality.
For those who want a quick up-or-down on this TV: two thumbs waaaay up!
Buy it here now!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Toshiba SDP93S 9-Inch Portable DVD Player, Silver Review
This is a new product for Toshiba. I got confused and did not know the logo on top of the player is backwards. You have to turn the player around and then lift the lid to use it, no latch, so simple but can drive you crazy if ignorant. It took 2 different technicians at Toshiba to learn this, and the first tech didn't have a clue. There is no comment about how to open the player in the book. Once you get the lid to open you can use it. It does all you can expect this price player. The sound is not the best but the picture is OK. There is a lot to learn to get all you pay for with this player. I think it is easily a 4 star product.
Buy it here now!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Toshiba Satellite A355-S6935 16.0-Inch Laptop Review
I bought this machine a month ago because its hardware config looked good at a good price, I thought. I thought I can live with Vista, maybe upgrade to XP7 later this year. I rated it highly at Toshiba's web site and here at Amazon. Now, after a month's experience, I have buyer's regret.
Toshiba's pricing strategy of near-zero pre-loaded software (Vista only) means a lot of the cost of ownership is 'shifted forward' meaning you have to buy almost everything, including a bluetooth stack. This is an excellent example of nickel and diming customers to death -- not a good marketing strategy.
This machine does NOT come with bluetooth support, you have to add a dongle. But I thought that like Windows XP SP2, Vista has the stack included. Sadly, no, it is not true. The situation gets worse. Toshiba does not use the 'standard' Windows stack but has a proprietary stack. Sigh.
I now rate this PC only 2 stars because of the stupid Toshiba policy of NOT including a perpetual end user license to its bluetooth stack. Imagine my surprise when a dialog box popped up saying the Toshiba stack's 30-day trial license has expired and I have to buy a license, but Toshiba's stupid marketing made two more bad mistakes:
1. The license to the stack is for the manufacturers of bluetooth dongles, not for end-users like me, so end-users are at a dead end. I suppose I could buy a new dongle that has a Toshiba license, but which ones do?
2. End users who are not IT-savvy won't know what the hell this licensing esoterica means. There is no link from Toshiba's 'expired' message to ANY help for end users to solve this problem. On Toshiba's user forum, the question "How to buy a license..." is posted, but 'locked' so no one can post comments. There is NO ANSWER given, such as "buy xyz dongles because they have the necessary Toshiba license." That's a missed opportunity to co-market with OEMs that have bought a Toshiba license. I've searched the web and THERE IS NO ANSWER elsewhere.
Fortunately, I know that BlueSoleil, a vendor of bluetooth software, will support the dongle that I already have. After registration, I downloaded BlueSoleil 6, a stack that does all the things that the Toshiba stack does. Unfortunately, it's available for free for only a 15-day trial after which BlueSoleil will continue to work only in a greatly limited mode. The good marketing practice demonstrated by BlueSoleil is it gives you a link to its online store where you can buy a license for $29.99. They help you to solve the problem, not like Toshiba.
I am shocked and disappointed that Toshiba, a well regarded consumer electronics brand, does such a poor job of end-user marketing and support.
Oh, while I'm at it, let me warn you that Toshiba tech support, while free, is NOT AT ALL KNOWLEDGEABLE. F'instance, I called to say that I couldn't find the pre-loaded free trial of Microsoft Office. My call got dropped, no call-back. Had to through the n-level deep voice messaging, call another number, again... to get to another random support person who suggested searching the hard drive for hidden sectors. The software was there. AND, after hasseling the guy for a recovery disk, threatening to talk to his supervisor, he said he'd waive the rules and send me one. A month later, no disk arrived. Finally, a friend told me that that I don't need to buy Toshiba's recovery CD because the machine has a utility for you to create your own recovery CD. Sigh.
Buy it here now!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Toshiba 19LV610U 19-Inch 720p LCD TV with Built in DVD Player, Black Review
I purchased this TV after reading the reviews of poor volume. Well, the reviews were right on. The highest volume level is still quite low. Luckily this TV is for my bedroom only and I only watch it alone, so the volume really hasn't prohibited me from hearing my TV/DVDs quite well. I wouldn't recommend it for a large room or for a room near another sound source. The picture is beautiful and the remote and set-up are very user friendly. If you don't need loud volume then this TV is fine. I really like mine. Best of luck in finding the TV that's right for you!
Buy it here now!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Toshiba 19LV506 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with Built-in DVD Player, White Review
I am hooked on the Toshiba/DVD units. The picture is great, sound is great, and the size of this 19" unit is awesome. The screen resembles a monitor- and snuggles in to small spaces easily. I was surprised at the packaging--just the slim box with a label on it were at my front door in 2 days. HOWEVER, it went together easy and was operational in minutes.
This is the 3rd tv like this we have purchased. The other 2 were the smaller model and we have enjoyed them for years--lots of hours on them with the DVD feature. Nice remotes, they light up in the dark.
Buy it here now!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Toshiba 26LV610U 26-Inch 720p LCD TV with Built in DVD Player, Black Review
Like all Toshiba TV's, the picture quality is top-notch. I compared this TV to a Samsung of similar size. Toshiba's color was a tad better than Samsung, but the Samsung was excellent also. Built in DVD player is a plus when space is limited for a separate player. We use this TV in our bedroom and the 26" size is perfect, almost bought Toshiba's similiar TV in 22" size, glad I picked went for the 26", bigger is always better...
Two gripes, you cannot tilt the TV downward. We have ours on a 5 drawer dresser and we have to look up to watch the TV when laying down in bed. If you do not tilt the TV downward the picture quality goes away, and I mean away, so dark you can't even watch it. I made a wedge out of some molding I had laying around to raise the rear of the TV so it tilts down. No having the screen tilt is a big mistake by Toshiba, the smaller screens sizes of this similar TV DO tilt, I cannot see why Toshiba did not use the same tilt feature in the 26" model. Very bad design for Toshiba on this one. The other gripe is the sound amplifier could be a tad stronger if the TV is used in a room other than a bedroom. The best bet would be a set of amplified speakers if the TV is used in a noisey enviroment. Yes I know you shouldn't have to go out and buy external speakers, but this is a common problem with ALL flat screen LCD TV's, there is not enough room for quality speakers in the thin case design.
Overall this a great TV for picture quality and the built in DVD player is a plus.
To solve the tilting problem, I would suggest mounting the TV on a wall with a wall mount that will enable you to tilt the TV to any desired position. I am thinking of doing that myself.
I would highly recommend this TV/DVD combo.
Additional comment: Wall mounting was simple and easy, but you do need 2 people of course to do this safely. Find at least one stud in your wall, the spacing of the mount does not allow you to screw the mount into two studs of course. Use winged Toggle Bolts for the side without the stud if mounting on sheet rock with a hollow wall behind the sheet rock. If stud mounting is not acceptable, the use of the winged Toggle Bolts can be used to attach the mount to the wall. Make sure your mount has full tilt capabilites of many degrees.
Buy it here now!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Toshiba 19AV600U 19-Inch 720p Portable LCD HDTV, Black Review
First let me say that I own several Toshiba products so I didn't think twice about Toshiba quality before purchasing this set. What a mistake. The set comes shipped with its base turned 90 degrees so it will fit in a smaller box. I was unable to get the stand turned back to its normal position. I couldn't even remove the base if I wanted to mount it on a wall. No instructions in the manual. No inserts in the box. Nothing on the web site. I'm a fairly resourceful and tenacious person, but I finally gave up. I assume it was defective but I'll never know.
Very disappointing experience.
Buy it here now!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Toshiba 26AV502R 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV Review
Note: I purchased this 26" LCD TV one week ago. As I am waiting for the cable company to upgrade my service, this set is simply receiving a standard cable signal without benefit of a converter box or High Def signal. Many LCD owners consider the signal source a major factor in image quality -- so I want to be clear on this point at the outset. Also, my DVD player is more than 5 years old and does not upconvert.
PROS:
Easy to install base pedestal. Four screws (provided) and a phillips head screwdriver are all that's needed. Instructions were clear and straight forward. Hooking up the coax cable took only a minute.
Superb remote control. Layout is intelligent and intuitive -- a pleasure to use. Glows in the dark (bright!) Sleep timer button is well placed on the upper corner and easy to access without even looking. Easily one the best designed remotes on the market and a pleasure to use.
Picture and sound set-up controls are very easy to understand. Owners manual instruction very clear and straightforward.
Sound is excellent. Very good quality and volume. Treble, Bass, and Balance controls are easy to use if you choose. For it's size and likely application -- a bedroom or a small den -- the sound is really quite good. This set has forward facing speakers -- not down firing as many LCD sets have.
Picture is fair to good. Live TV broadcasts such as news programs and talk shows appear brighter and with better, cleaner colors than movies -- especially films with dark scenes. DVD programs appear much better. (Please note again the standard coax cable signal source I am presently receiving)
2 HDMI inputs and multiple others. More than enough for most applications.
CONS:
Picture not as sharp as I would like, especially broadcast TV as opposed to DVD (standard DVD). Also, I am noticing scenes go from to light and back for no apparent reason. This could be due to a setting which may be improperly set .. but I've tried it both ways but see the same effect.
One other frustrating sceanrio for example: multiple camera shows. For example, a news program where you have an anchor in the studio and a reporter in the field. The anchor looks pretty good but the field reporter might look a bit green or orange. Other sets even this out, the Toshiba does not.
Conclusion:
For the money, this is probably the best value on a 26" LCD TV on the market today. Prices under $[...] are out there. If you are an "average" TV viewer, you may find this set to be just the ticket for your bedroom. But, if you have a critical eye, you may find the tuner or signal processing unit on this set a bit under par compared to Sony and Samsung -- perhaps more sophisticated technology, but which also carry price tags of $[...] and more higher.
Once I get a better cable signal, I may amend this review. Indeed, I will decide whether I am keeping the Toshiba or spending the extra money for the Samsung 26". So please "stay tuned".
UPDATE: Yesterday I installed a Panamax PM8-HT 8-Outlet Power Line Conditioner and Surge Protector. The image quality of this TV increased markedly! Panamax PM8-HT 8-Outlet Power Line Conditioner and Surge Protector
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Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Toshiba TDP-ET10U Projector Review
For $329.00, I thought this projector was probably going to be too good to be true. I don't know much about projectors, so I did some research to try to learn more about contrast ratios, lumens, resolution, DLP vs. LCD... I learned as much as I could to try to make an informed decision. This projector is not just less expensive than other competitors, it's a LOT less expensive than competitors. The closest comparison that I considered buying had only VGA and composite inputs, yet it was over $100 more than this one. After a few weeks of debating and considering options, I finally took the plunge and ordered this. If it was truly too good to be true, the best way to find out was to test drive it. I was afraid that the price would go up or it would not be in stock by the time I settled on my decision.
This projector is not "too good to be true"... it's very very good and all that you are reading here from the other reviewers and me IS true. This projector would probably not satisfy the true audio/videophile, but I imagine that even someone that tech savvy would say you got a great deal for $329.
The two things that matter more than I thought they would are the short-throw lens and the location of the inputs on the front of the machine. If you do not have the ability to place the projector 4 feet or less from your screen and/or do not plan to place your dvd player, game unit, etc. on the "lens side" of your projector, this projector may be inconvenient for you. I had no real master plan for the room that has ended up being my home theater, so I had to set up the room to accommodate the projector. I'm surprised how well that ended up working for me, but your situation may differ. If you don't have the flexibility to (re)arrange things to accommodate the projector's design, you may want to bite the bullet and buy something else. Oddly, now that I've set everything up and see how practical this projector's design is, I'd consider this design to be an "upgrade". If this projector ever breaks, if I cannot replace it with the exact same thing, I will look for this type of design in the future and would pay more to have it. In a room that otherwise would only have gotten maybe a 50-60 inch projection (I used someone else's projector in that room as part of my research) I am getting 100+ inches of "screen". I'm going to paint one of my walls white and use the entire wall as the screen. Since the projector is going to sit only 4 feet from the wall, having the inputs in the front works really well because I can easily unplug everything and store the projector on the same shelf as my stereo pieces. This is, in my opinion, the type of smart design that comes from real life use.
The fan is quieter than I expected. It's not "whisper quiet", but you have to pay bigger bucks for a quieter fan. I'd be able to live with a louder fan for this price, so the sound level of the fan is a plus in my book.
The picture, in general, is great. The contrast is excellent. Blacks are nice and dark, whites are bright, etc. I am still figuring out my settings, the best placement of the projector, screen size, etc. A 100+" image is a bit harder to get in perfect focus and lacks a bit of crispness, but the novelty of having such a large image is still so much fun that I blow the picture up as big as my wall will fit. I'll figure out how to make the picture a little more crisp and clear once I stop messing around with the settings. I've had it a little less than a week, so I'm still playing around with it.
One of the menus shows the signal quality and it says the picture is 1080i when I plug my PS3 and Apple TV in via HDMI, so for those wondering about whether or not it's HD, I can say that much. I compared the picture via HDMI vs. component video and I prefer HDMI.
The variety of inputs is awesome. I've primarily used the HDMI input, but having composite, component, S-video and VGA also means this is like the swiss army knife of projectors. Audio inputs are also varied, but I do find it rather odd that they have a yellow composite input for video, but not the corresponding red & white inputs for audio. Instead there is a stereo jack, coaxial digital input and the HDMI for audio. One nice feature of this projector is the ability to mix & match the audio and video inputs. So, you can do HDMI for video and coaxial digital for audio, and other mix & match like that.
The speakers are pretty good. You won't replace your surround sound system with these speakers, but for "on the go" purposes the speakers are solid and convenient. I plan to use this outside for outdoor movie nights, and the speakers are great for that type of use. For home theater use, you'll probably just bypass these speakers entirely and hook up a home theater worthy sound system.
All in all, I consider this machine to be an outstanding value. It's worth much more than the $329 that Amazon is currently charging. Since Amazon is online only and this product is exclusive to Amazon, there's no way of seeing it in action before purchasing it. I read the other reviewers comments a few times before making my decision to buy it and found them very helpful in making my decision. Hopefully this review helps inspire someone else to take the plunge! Get while the getting's good.
Buy it here now!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Toshiba PA3290U-3ACA 120W Global AC Adapter for Toshiba Laptops Review
Works. No sign of trouble other than my 8-cell battery isn't lasting much longer than my practically dead 4-dead cell used to. Word of advice; avoiding turning your laptop sideways as you can irreparably damage the metal pin inside of the charger that connects to your Toshiba.
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Sunday, July 12, 2009
Toshiba PA3399U-2BRS Primary 6 Cell Li-Ion Battery Review
By reading various review , I decided that I will go with Toshiba battary instead of cheap replacement battary .
So I purchased it from Amazon last Oct .
It was working okay (although the total battary hours were just 1 hr ) .
since I always connected to Power outlet , I was little comfertable with it .
But last week , suddenly battary started getting charged . Eventhough , I kept it connected to power for 24hrs without doing any activity , my laptop was always showong that it got charged 0%.
When I contacted toshiba customer care support , it was pathetic .
Everybody was transferring my call to the other person . I had to talk to 7 different people before I could get the actual person .
Anyway I had submitted my claim and I am hopeful that they will approve it .
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
Toshiba 26LV610U 26-Inch 720p LCD TV with Built in DVD Player, Black Review
Like all Toshiba TV's, the picture quality is top-notch. I compared this TV to a Samsung of similar size. Toshiba's color was a tad better than Samsung, but the Samsung was excellent also. Built in DVD player is a plus when space is limited for a separate player. We use this TV in our bedroom and the 26" size is perfect, almost bought Toshiba's similiar TV in 22" size, glad I picked went for the 26", bigger is always better...
Two gripes, you cannot tilt the TV downward. We have ours on a 5 drawer dresser and we have to look up to watch the TV when laying down in bed. If you do not tilt the TV downward the picture quality goes away, and I mean away, so dark you can't even watch it. I made a wedge out of some molding I had laying around to raise the rear of the TV so it tilts down. No having the screen tilt is a big mistake by Toshiba, the smaller screens sizes of this similar TV DO tilt, I cannot see why Toshiba did not use the same tilt feature in the 26" model. Very bad design for Toshiba on this one. The other gripe is the sound amplifier could be a tad stronger if the TV is used in a room other than a bedroom. The best bet would be a set of amplified speakers if the TV is used in a noisey enviroment. Yes I know you shouldn't have to go out and buy external speakers, but this is a common problem with ALL flat screen LCD TV's, there is not enough room for quality speakers in the thin case design.
Overall this a great TV for picture quality and the built in DVD player is a plus.
To solve the tilting problem, I would suggest mounting the TV on a wall with a wall mount that will enable you to tilt the TV to any desired position. I am thinking of doing that myself.
I would highly recommend this TV/DVD combo.
Additional comment: Wall mounting was simple and easy, but you do need 2 people of course to do this safely. Find at least one stud in your wall, the spacing of the mount does not allow you to screw the mount into two studs of course. Use winged Toggle Bolts for the side without the stud if mounting on sheet rock with a hollow wall behind the sheet rock. If stud mounting is not acceptable, the use of the winged Toggle Bolts can be used to attach the mount to the wall. Make sure your mount has full tilt capabilites of many degrees.
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Friday, July 10, 2009
Toshiba 19AV600U 19-Inch 720p Portable LCD HDTV, Black Review
I purchased this TV after much comparison shopping and reading of reviews of various models on Amazon and other web sites. I settled on this model and am very pleased. I use the TV in our kitchen and it has an excellent picture (given the price) and I have not encountered any issues with sound volume. The sound could be criticized as being a little "tinny", but, that said, I would not count this as a material criticism. Frankly, you might consider getting the 22" model if it fits both your budget and the space that you have. In conclusion, you should not hesitate to purchase this TV. Note, however, that I found the TV at a slightly cheaper price at Fry's (in-store price not on-line price).
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Thursday, July 9, 2009
Toshiba TDP-ET10U Projector Review
For $329.00, I thought this projector was probably going to be too good to be true. I don't know much about projectors, so I did some research to try to learn more about contrast ratios, lumens, resolution, DLP vs. LCD... I learned as much as I could to try to make an informed decision. This projector is not just less expensive than other competitors, it's a LOT less expensive than competitors. The closest comparison that I considered buying had only VGA and composite inputs, yet it was over $100 more than this one. After a few weeks of debating and considering options, I finally took the plunge and ordered this. If it was truly too good to be true, the best way to find out was to test drive it. I was afraid that the price would go up or it would not be in stock by the time I settled on my decision.
This projector is not "too good to be true"... it's very very good and all that you are reading here from the other reviewers and me IS true. This projector would probably not satisfy the true audio/videophile, but I imagine that even someone that tech savvy would say you got a great deal for $329.
The two things that matter more than I thought they would are the short-throw lens and the location of the inputs on the front of the machine. If you do not have the ability to place the projector 4 feet or less from your screen and/or do not plan to place your dvd player, game unit, etc. on the "lens side" of your projector, this projector may be inconvenient for you. I had no real master plan for the room that has ended up being my home theater, so I had to set up the room to accommodate the projector. I'm surprised how well that ended up working for me, but your situation may differ. If you don't have the flexibility to (re)arrange things to accommodate the projector's design, you may want to bite the bullet and buy something else. Oddly, now that I've set everything up and see how practical this projector's design is, I'd consider this design to be an "upgrade". If this projector ever breaks, if I cannot replace it with the exact same thing, I will look for this type of design in the future and would pay more to have it. In a room that otherwise would only have gotten maybe a 50-60 inch projection (I used someone else's projector in that room as part of my research) I am getting 100+ inches of "screen". I'm going to paint one of my walls white and use the entire wall as the screen. Since the projector is going to sit only 4 feet from the wall, having the inputs in the front works really well because I can easily unplug everything and store the projector on the same shelf as my stereo pieces. This is, in my opinion, the type of smart design that comes from real life use.
The fan is quieter than I expected. It's not "whisper quiet", but you have to pay bigger bucks for a quieter fan. I'd be able to live with a louder fan for this price, so the sound level of the fan is a plus in my book.
The picture, in general, is great. The contrast is excellent. Blacks are nice and dark, whites are bright, etc. I am still figuring out my settings, the best placement of the projector, screen size, etc. A 100+" image is a bit harder to get in perfect focus and lacks a bit of crispness, but the novelty of having such a large image is still so much fun that I blow the picture up as big as my wall will fit. I'll figure out how to make the picture a little more crisp and clear once I stop messing around with the settings. I've had it a little less than a week, so I'm still playing around with it.
One of the menus shows the signal quality and it says the picture is 1080i when I plug my PS3 and Apple TV in via HDMI, so for those wondering about whether or not it's HD, I can say that much. I compared the picture via HDMI vs. component video and I prefer HDMI.
The variety of inputs is awesome. I've primarily used the HDMI input, but having composite, component, S-video and VGA also means this is like the swiss army knife of projectors. Audio inputs are also varied, but I do find it rather odd that they have a yellow composite input for video, but not the corresponding red & white inputs for audio. Instead there is a stereo jack, coaxial digital input and the HDMI for audio. One nice feature of this projector is the ability to mix & match the audio and video inputs. So, you can do HDMI for video and coaxial digital for audio, and other mix & match like that.
The speakers are pretty good. You won't replace your surround sound system with these speakers, but for "on the go" purposes the speakers are solid and convenient. I plan to use this outside for outdoor movie nights, and the speakers are great for that type of use. For home theater use, you'll probably just bypass these speakers entirely and hook up a home theater worthy sound system.
All in all, I consider this machine to be an outstanding value. It's worth much more than the $329 that Amazon is currently charging. Since Amazon is online only and this product is exclusive to Amazon, there's no way of seeing it in action before purchasing it. I read the other reviewers comments a few times before making my decision to buy it and found them very helpful in making my decision. Hopefully this review helps inspire someone else to take the plunge! Get while the getting's good.
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