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Toshiba S305 or IBM T30?

GroundedSailor

GroundedSailor

Platinum Member
Looking at buying a laptop:
1. Toshiba Satellite Notebook P4 2.4GHz Model: 2455-S305
At best buy
$1650 - 200 rebates = $ 1450

2. ThinkPad T30 P4-M 1.8GHz
At PC Connection
$1350

Either machine will be for office/home use - no gaming - maybe video conferencing, running office apps and surfing the net. Plan to add a Wifi card to either later on.
What do you guys suggest? Need to decide pretty quick.

Thanks




Key Specs:
Toshiba:
Processor
P4 2.4GHz

Display Type
15" XGA (1024 x 768) TFT

System Bus
533MHz

Cache
512KB integrated on die Level 2

RAM
512MB DDR SDRAM Expandable To 1.0GB

Hard Drive Size
60.0GB

DVD-ROM/CD-RW Drive
8x - 16x10x24

Diskette Drive
No

Graphics
32 MB DDR nVidia GeForce4 420 Go

Modem
56 Kbps* ITU V.92 *Capable of receiving 56 Kbps downloads.

Networking
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)

Audio
AD1981B codec chip; Direct 3D sound

Speakers
Built-in stereo speakers

PCMCIA Slots
1

USB Ports
3 USB 2.0

IEEE 1394 FireWire Ports
1

Parallel Ports
1

Serial Ports
0

Game Ports
0

Battery Type
Lithium-ion (LiIon)

Pointing Device
Touchpad pointing device

Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition

Included Software
Microsoft Works, Intuit Quicken Basic 2001, Norton AntiVirus 2002, AOL, Adobe Acrobat Reader, AT&T Worldnet Service (1 month), Microsoft Internet Explorer, Toshiba Custom Utilities

Dimensions
1.9"x 11.6" x 13.4"

Product Weight
7.9 lbs.

Warranty Term
1 year Parts & Labor

------------------

IBM

Product Description
IBM ThinkPad T30 2366 - P4-M 1.8 GHz - 14.1" TFT

Manufacturer Warranty
3 years warranty

Dimensions (WxDxH)
12 in x 9.8 in x 1.5 in

Weight
5.7 lbs

Processor
Intel Pentium 4-M 1.8 GHz

Hard Drive
1 x 40 GB

Networking
Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet

Power
AC 100/240 V ( 50/60 Hz )

RAM
256 MB (installed) / 1 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM - 133 MHz

Graphics Controller
ATI RADEON 7500 - 16 MB

Audio Output
Sound card

Cache Memory
512 KB - L2 cache - Advanced Transfer Cache

Optical Storage
DVD-ROM - plug-in module

Battery
Lithium ion

Display
14.1" TFT active matrix - 24-bit (16.7M colors)

Telecom
Fax / modem - CDC - 56 Kbps

Input Device
Keyboard, touchpad, TrackPoint

Average Run Time
3 hour(s)

Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

(1) EPP/ECP parallel
(1) RS-232D serial
(2) USB
(1) RJ-11
(1) RJ-45
(1) Display
(1) Headphone
(1) Line in
(1) Line out
(1) AC adapter jack
(1) Microphone
(1) S-video out
(1) Expansion bus
(1) UltraPort connector
 
id go w/ the toshiba comparing the specs.....yeah IBM's have great repuation, but ive never heard bad things about toshiba either, and its def. the more powerful laptop for the price.
 
T30. Why, I'll tell you.

The Toshiba apparently uses a desktop chip, I don't like desktop cpus in laptops.
IBM is cheaper. But the Toshiba has more ram and a dvd/cdrw. The ram you can put in easy & cheap yourself. If you need a cdrw, you can either sell the dvd and buy a dvd/cdrw, or just buy some external cdrw drive.
Toshiba has a bigger hd. I only use 20gb, so it wouldn't be a problem for me.
I think XGA gets to big on a 15".

And the most important thing in my mind, 3 vs. 1 year warranty. Could come in handy, as notebooks can be very expensive to repair.

Besides these points, the IBM T series is really sturdy laptops. IMO IBM are the uber laptop maker, if your are not looking for a crazy multimedia laptop with the latest and greatest video card.


There is a hotdeal in the hotdeals forum (surprise!). You can get a T23 for $999 at PCConnection, you probably know this, but in case you don't, you do now.
 
Yes I know about the T23 - which is where I found the T30.

I'm leaning towards the toshiba for it's better specs. If the specs were comparable the IBM is a better choice - no question.

But more RAM, 533 FSB, faster processor, bigger HDD, CD-RW included, Firewire, USB 2.0 all for $100 more is a much better deal. (Best buy is clearing these toshiba's hence the rebates)

I agree the 3 year warranty is something to think about. Buying it for a family friend who is going to Europe for a couple of years and I don't see her abusing it in any way. Also I dunno if in Europe they will honor the warranty on US bought machines. (My personal experience after living there many years is not good). Her husband has an old Think Pad which he likes but he too feels at this time the Toshiba is a better deal.

 
I pretty much use my system for the same. Office use, surfing, email and some very light gaming (mostly SimCity), and I would still pick the IBM if it was me. 2.4ghz or 1.8ghz, I really don't care. 1.8 is plenty for my usage.

I can't imagine IBM refusing to honor their warranty, even if it is bought on the other side of the planet. AFAIK IBM have worldwide warranty (not sure if cover all models or only the T). Don't know about the Tosh though.

Btw, where is this family friend going? Just curios, as this T30 is cost half of what it does over here (Europe).
 
Originally posted by: JZilla
I pretty much use my system for the same. Office use, surfing, email and some very light gaming (mostly SimCity), and I would still pick the IBM if it was me. 2.4ghz or 1.8ghz, I really don't care. 1.8 is plenty for my usage.

I can't imagine IBM refusing to honor their warranty, even if it is bought on the other side of the planet. AFAIK IBM have worldwide warranty (not sure if cover all models or only the T). Don't know about the Tosh though.

Btw, where is this family friend going? Just curios, as this T30 is cost half of what it does over here (Europe).
Click to expand...

True 1.8 & 2.4 are not much different for normal apps, but it's the combination of better specs that make the diff. Toshiba's are good laptops too. I've had 2 since 1991 and they have been rock solid as long as I used (or rather abused) them.

I'm not sure about warranty as I have been refused a worldwide warranty in UK, but hopefully there will be no need to get any repairs done to this machine.

They're moving to UK & France.

 
Difintely go with IBM.

1. Raw CPU speed means notyhing in laptops. In fact, if you are at all concerned with battery life, ThinkPad should be an obvoius choice since it's using Mobile CPU. The heat dissipation will be better too.

2. As someone already pointed out, RAM is cheap.

3. If you have a desktop with a CD burner, do you really need one in a laptop as well?

4. Last but not least, if you're going to carry it around much, 2lbs difference will be felt, I promise.
 
Originally posted by: AnyMal
Difintely go with IBM.

1. Raw CPU speed means notyhing in laptops. In fact, if you are at all concerned with battery life, ThinkPad should be an obvoius choice since it's using Mobile CPU. The heat dissipation will be better too.

2. As someone already pointed out, RAM is cheap.

3. If you have a desktop with a CD burner, do you really need one in a laptop as well?

4. Last but not least, if you're going to carry it around much, 2lbs difference will be felt, I promise.
Click to expand...

1. Raw CPU speed by itself may not mean anything, but combine that with faster FSB + more default RAM and you will see a difference . Not that it really matters with office apps & surfing the net. It may help during video apps (the tosh has more video RAM too). Battery life is not an issue as it will rarely be used on the go.

2. Yes RAM is cheap but built in is better!

3. No desktop, this will be the primary machine and will go from office to home - on days that it will not be working from home. Which is why the specs like CD-RW, firewire etc are more useful.

4 Not much carrying around - only home to office & back. She usually works from home 2 or 3 days a week.

I would normally recommend IBM in a heartbeat but in these circumstances the tosh is a better deal.

 
Originally posted by: GroundedSailor
Originally posted by: AnyMal
Difintely go with IBM.

1. Raw CPU speed means notyhing in laptops. In fact, if you are at all concerned with battery life, ThinkPad should be an obvoius choice since it's using Mobile CPU. The heat dissipation will be better too.

2. As someone already pointed out, RAM is cheap.

3. If you have a desktop with a CD burner, do you really need one in a laptop as well?

4. Last but not least, if you're going to carry it around much, 2lbs difference will be felt, I promise.
Click to expand...

1. Raw CPU speed by itself may not mean anything, but combine that with faster FSB + more default RAM and you will see a difference . Not that it really matters with office apps & surfing the net. It may help during video apps (the tosh has more video RAM too). Battery life is not an issue as it will rarely be used on the go.

2. Yes RAM is cheap but built in is better!

3. No desktop, this will be the primary machine and will go from office to home - on days that it will not be working from home. Which is why the specs like CD-RW, firewire etc are more useful.

4 Not much carrying around - only home to office & back. She usually works from home 2 or 3 days a week.

I would normally recommend IBM in a heartbeat but in these circumstances the tosh is a better deal.
Click to expand...

Well, it's sounds like you didn't need out opinion after all. Don't get me wrong, Toshiba makesa very nice laptop, so if you feel strongly go with it.
 
Just an update to let you guys know that we went for the IBM. Personally I'm a Toshiba fan but advice to a friend has to be impartial! right?

 
Originally posted by: GroundedSailor
Just an update to let you guys know that we went for the IBM. Personally I'm a Toshiba fan but advice to a friend has to be impartial! right?
Click to expand...

LOL, nice to know our words were not in vain 😀 Great choice!
 
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