Toshiba 15.6" laptop - $229 at Best Buy

[Kaido]

* Note: Has free bundle offers, read more in this post:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35710156&postcount=32


$229 at Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1219060689174

This is your basic sub-$300 laptop, same features as all the rest, just $50 cheaper than normal. I got an Asus version for my mom earlier this year and it's been working out fine. The screen isn't great but it works (low res + TN = meh). These are pretty much my default recommendation to replace people in the market for a new, basic computer or for a replacement when their old one dies. You can't beat the price, and the specs are good enough for your average non-power user. It can double as a desktop (VGA/HDMI out) or can be hooked up to an HDTV (cheap HTPC!).

Support info:

http://www.toshiba.com/us/computers/laptops/satellite/C50/C55-A5300

Model: C55-A5300
SKU: 1689021

Specs:
15" W x 9.5" D x 1.4" H
5.4 pounds
15.6" LED 16:9 1366x768

1.8GHz 1037U Ivy Bridge Celeron (note: modern Celerons are simply Core i chips, without Turbo or Hyperthreading, so they are just fine for basic tasks)
Intel HD graphics
4gb RAM (16gb max)
500gb 5400rpm hard drive
DVD burner

HDMI + VGA out
802.11n Wifi + 10/100 LAN
(3) USB 2.0 ports [Note: some laptops list a single USB 3.0 port; it does not appear to actually be USB 3.0]
HD Webcam & Microphone
Numpad
45w A/C adapter & 48Wh 6-cell li-ion battery

I have no idea how they are selling these so cheap, there must be tremendous pressure from the tablet/netbook/chromebook markets for them to push the price down this low as a non-sale item. Tray price on the CPU alone is $86:

http://ark.intel.com/products/71995/Intel-Celeron-Processor-1037U-2M-Cache-1_80-GHz

The Windows 8 OEM copy is $99 as well, so you're already at $185, haha. They're basically giving you the rest of the laptop for $45! :awe:

Upgrades:

The chip itself supports 32gb max RAM, but the laptop specs say it supports 16gb max. I'm not sure if there's one or two physical slots in this puppy; I'll post back once I find out. You can get a nice 120gb SSD upgrade for around $99 these days as well:

http://www.amazon.com/Mushkin-Chrono...dp/B005CGFU4I/

Not much to do beyond that...these are also handy to plug into your flat-screen TV with an HDMI cable; Best Buy actually sells a six-footer for a very reasonable $6:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/6-hdmi-c...dmi&cp=1&lp=10

Logitech sells the K400 wireless keyboard with built-in touchpad (on sale for $29), which is awesome for surfing from the couch on your TV:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/k400-key...k400&cp=1&lp=1

A home version of Office (download keycard) is $139:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/microsof...uId=1050001952

 

[The0ne]

Bought the first one as soon as the thread posted on SD. Removed the bloatware and installed applications and was very surprise how well it worked as a general laptop. It boots fast, doesn't lag on anything and hasn't crashed on me yet. Well, the first one couldn't hold a charge so I replaced it.

Works so well I went ahead and bought another one. They're for family members

 

[TwiceOver]

... Well, the first one couldn't hold a charge so I replaced it.

Works so well I went ahead and bought another one. They're for family members

Toshiba should really stick to what they were good at, making TVs. Their laptops are garbage.

Unless you have specific anecdotal or other evidence to present, this is threadcrapping. Please refrain.
admin allisolm

Should I take a picture of the pile of dead Toshiba laptops I have? Is that "anecdotal" for you?

No, but this is mod baiting.
admin allisolm

 

[Tsavo]

Toshiba should really stick to what they were good at, making TVs. Their laptops are garbage.

There are far worse ones out there.

I looked at these (models) the other day, and they were pretty decent for the price; this one's stellar at $230.

 

[Tsavo]

OP: it has two ram slots.

 

[Zap]

I had a BB GC so I bought one. I really wish it had USB 3.0 and gigabit NIC, but I guess not at that price.

 

[Tsavo]

I had a BB GC so I bought one. I really wish it had USB 3.0 and gigabit NIC, but I guess not at that price.

Post up some thoughts, if'n ya'd be so kind.

 

[Kaido]

OP: it has two ram slots.

Excellent, thank you for the confirmation! It looks like 8GB sticks are in the $80 range. Gskill has one for $75, so 16GB for $150:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231699

Add in an SSD and you've got a solid little machine :thumbsup:

 

[Kaido]

Bought the first one as soon as the thread posted on SD. Removed the bloatware and installed applications and was very surprise how well it worked as a general laptop. It boots fast, doesn't lag on anything and hasn't crashed on me yet. Well, the first one couldn't hold a charge so I replaced it.

Works so well I went ahead and bought another one. They're for family members

Ah nice, found the thread here:

link removed
Please link to the site offering the deal not to 3rd party deal sites. Thanks.
admin allisolm

Notes from the SD thread:

1. Free special offers available (Skullycandy headphones & cloud storage)
2. Looks like it may be mislabeled and may actually have USB 3.0 ports
3. Use a 16GB USB stick to create a recovery installer
4. Some tips to fix the sound
5. Change the default F-key access by Function key by pressing the Windows key, typing in "System Settings", click on Keyboard tab, selecting Standard F1 to F12 mode, and rebooting
6. Installing Windows 7 doesn't look like a hassle if you want to downgrade

Corsair has a ValueSelect 16GB kit for $139:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820233370

I like StartMenu8 to add the Start Button back into the desktop taskbar:

http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php

 

[TwiceOver]

There are far worse ones out there.

I disagree. Apple could build the whole laptop and as soon as Toshiba slapped their name on it, everything would start falling apart.

 

[Kaido]

I disagree. Apple could build the whole laptop and as soon as Toshiba slapped their name on it, everything would start falling apart.

Strangely, I cannot dispute this :|

In my experience, Toshiba is the most garbage computer brand available. I'd rather have an Acer! However, (1) this is only $229, (2) people seem to be having luck removing the malware/doing USB-stick reinstalls/installing Windows 7, and (3) this appears to be the same chassis as all of the other ~$300 basic laptops on the market (decently thin & light, numpad, 15.6" crap-resolution screen, etc.), which is actually pretty decent. Not as bad as Acer's garbage plastic laptops of yesteryear. I've had the weirdest problems with Toshiba, but heck, this is dirt-cheap and looks about the same as the other models, just $50 cheaper, so why not? Throw DeepFreeze on it & use it as a cheap Chromebook, haha!

 

[Roland00Address]

Don't waste money upgrading this computer to 16 GB, it has one good 4gb at 1333 MHz you can get a second 4gb for about $40 from newegg for a total of 8 gbs

Use the extra money on an ssd, a bigger ssd, or save your money for later.

This 3rd gen core I ulv (17w) celeron derivative is similar in performance as my 1st gen core i3 that has a 35w tdp

This cpu
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Celeron-1037U-Notebook-Processor.87692.0.html
My cpu
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i3-330M-Notebook-Processor.23753.0.html

 

[Kaido]

Don't waste money upgrading this computer to 16 GB, it has one good 4gb at 1333 MHz you can get a second 4gb for about $40 from newegg for a total of 8 gbs

Use the extra money on an ssd, a bigger ssd, or save your money for later.

This 3rd gen core I ulv (17w) celeron derivative is similar in performance as my 1st gen core i3 that has a 35w tdp

This cpu
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Celeron-1037U-Notebook-Processor.87692.0.html
My cpu
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i3-330M-Notebook-Processor.23753.0.html

Yeah, even with virtual memory on an SSD it's still pretty snappy. I tell everyone SSD is the way to go for the first upgrade for sure!

 

[Sohaltang]

60$ skull candy earphones for free! I just purchased it. My wife will get the laptop for xmas and my kid the ear phones

 

[cubeless]

60$ skull candy earphones for free! I just purchased it. My wife will get the laptop for xmas and my kid the ear phones

huh?

ok... see the add in...

 

[Sohaltang]

huh?

ok... see the add in...

Its a pretty good bonus IMO. Sealed the deal for me. Good reviews on the web for the head phones

 

[nasttcar]

Just got one. My next steps are to put 16gb of memory in this and swap out hard drive for SSD.

However, the big question is how do I get the operating system over on the SSD without having to buy it again. Hopefully there is a post on this.

 

[Roland00Address]

Just got one. My next steps are to put 16gb of memory in this and swap out hard drive for SSD.

However, the big question is how do I get the operating system over on the SSD without having to buy it again. Hopefully there is a post on this.

Whatever you do make backup disks before you install the ssd

3 ways I see though I have not tested any of them and I am about a year out of date and windows 8 change some of this
1) Trying to install from backup disks (it will probably not align your partition with the ssd though so you won't get true ssd performance)
2) Use a version of acronis meant for ssds and windows 8, this is the best option, you used to be able to do the same with ghost but Norton discontinued ghost after version 15.
3) Download windows 8 by following the directions here
http://www.redmondpie.com/download-windows-8-iso-x86-x64-file-directly-from-microsoft/
To my understanding it will not ask for a product key if your windows is activated online due to how windows requires prebuilt laptops OEMS to keep the key code as part of the bios now with windows 8. Download the iso. Install from the iso.

I am not responsible for any borked laptops! Just trying to get you guys in the right direction.

 

[Kaido]

Just got one. My next steps are to put 16gb of memory in this and swap out hard drive for SSD.

However, the big question is how do I get the operating system over on the SSD without having to buy it again. Hopefully there is a post on this.

Either reinstall from a 16gb recovery stick (which you provide), or use Macrium Reflect to clone from drive to drive: (assuming you have a USB to SATA adapter, or a desktop that can take a pair of SATA drives)

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

If you need to shrink the drive, EaseUS Partition Master can shrink it:

http://download.cnet.com/EaseUS-Partition-Master-Free-Edition/3000-2248_4-10863346.html

 

[senseamp]

Is the computer a good gift for mother in law in Eastern Europe?
Are the headphones a good gift for brother in law in Eastern Europe?
Is the Pope Catholic?

 

[cubeless]

this is a great little box... doing this while watching hd netflix on the tv at 1080p...

the headphones fit my big head weird, and are worth a couple bux, definitely brother-in-law present class hardware...

 

[eng2d2]

great deal thanks

 

[senseamp]

If I am understanding correctly, the return policy is till Jan 15 during the holiday season.

Extended Holiday Returns

Gift purchases made between November 3, 2013, and December 31, 2013, qualify for our Holiday Return and Exchange policy. Products (goods) purchased as gifts may be returned through January 15, 2014.

EXTENDED HOLIDAY RETURNS: Gift purchases made between November 3, 2013 and December 31, 2013 qualify for our Holiday Return and Exchange policy. Products (goods) purchased as gifts may be returned through January 15, 2014. Terms of our standard policy (including, but not limited to "non-returnable items" and "photo identification required") apply. Carrier contracts for mobile phones and other third party service providers (e.g., DirecTV contracts) do not qualify for the holiday gift policy. Geek Squad® Protection/Trade-In Plus plans returned after 30 days from date of purchase will be refunded at a pro-rated amount. No restocking fees.

 

[The0ne]

$5 for coverage on the headphones, 2 years

 

[ibex333]

Not trying to poop on anyone's parade, but isn't it better to buy a used laptop with similar specs but with an i3 or i5 for $300? It's not very difficult to find a descent machine for around that much.

That celeron really irks me. I would be surprised if it can handle anything remotely serious like gaming or multitasking. Maybe I just dont know much about Celerons or my knowledge is very outdated?

Also.. Windows 8.


DO I NEED TO SAY IT AGAIN?!

Windows 8!!!