Toshiba Satellite C55-B5300 15.6-Inch Laptop (Intel Celeron Processor N2840, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive, Windows 8.1)

CUSTOMER REVIEW



It's a perfect "light-duty" computer.



We bought it for home office/back-up machine.

We don't need to carry it around like a tablet, and keyboard is a must for long e-mails.

Getting used to Windows 8.1 was confusing at first.

But after downloading a free word-processor from Apache (OpenOffice), we were good to go.

For WiFi, 3 walls and 1 floor away from router antennas, I get 4 bars out of 5.



For off-hours, we use it for Skype, Netflix and web browsing.

With Celeron N2840 (2.16Ghz)'s rather weak processing power and integrated graphics, I'm not even going to try games like Bioshock Infinite.

Skype is smooth.

Netflix movies are smooth...as long as you don't fiddle with other apps/programs.

Playing a Netflix movie takes about 40-55% of processing power of Celeron N2840.

Opening task manager or even other folders would make the processor usage jump to 100% and flash player will be jerky for a moment.

(Intel Core i7 would use only 5-10% for watching movies, in comparison)

On the other hand, writing a report while playing Youtube music videos in the background is perfectly doable.



And Please Toshiba, hire somebody who can name your products!

Our neighbor had told me about $250 Toshiba.

When I looked up, there were half a dozen laptops in that range with confusing array of names.

I went to Best Buy but I returned home even more confused (but I did remember "something-5300").

After more research, I still got confused and bought C55-B5300 instead of intended C55-A5300.

By dumb luck, "B5300" happened to be better than "A5300" at the same price range.



Imagine a conversation:

"I'm interested in BC55-B5202, but is it faster than S55-B5289?"

"It's comparable to L75-B7270, but not as good as C55-B5298"

"Really? you are saying it's as good as C55-B5299?"

"Yes Mam, it even beats S55-B5258."



Sadly these are all actual models of "Toshiba Satellite."

Above conversation wouldn't make sense because S55-B5258 might be one of the fastest.

But there in lies the problem.

With names like that, you'd never remember the name of the one you want, let alone compare it amongst other models.

These numbers might be convenient for engineers, but I think Toshiba should try selling computers to people outside of Toshiba R&D labs.

But I digress.



Tiny speakers sound as if I'm listening to other people's ear buds from a foot away.

I'm exaggerating, but you get the idea.

(Edit: I found that I can select from 2 dozen sound profiles and adjusting it made it decent enough for Netflix)

There is only one socket for headset/microphone.

For quiet Skyping, we cannot use existing mic and a separate headset.

We'll need to get a mic-headset with just one combined jack.

(On second thought, just using a headset might work with built-in mic)

Touch pad is almost seamless with surface of the machine, and I often found my fingers wandering (bad fingers!).



Even with a naming scheme dreamed up by Mad Hatter, and resulting confusion at purchase,

Toshiba C55-B5300 is a good "light-duty" computer.



It's best strength is price.



At $250, it's cheaper than many tablets.

Even if we get a new one every 2 years, it's only $125 a year.

As far as electronics go, that's almost disposable.

It's not a Ferrari, it's a cheap scooter.

But as a scooter, it gets used.

For that, C3PO, I mean C55-B5300 gets 4 stars.



from MIZON http://ift.tt/1rpljfl

via IFTTT