Toshiba Satellite L755-S5258: Solid Performance, Cheap Parts

The Toshiba Satellite L755-S5258 looks like a budget laptop, but it really is acquired a good punch under its belt. Sadly, the low-cost exterior and low-cost development (the Purpose key on our assessment product did not work) may not be plenty of to generate up for its in any other case reliable efficiency.

Our review unit, priced at $690 (as of 9/27/2011), arrives full of a second-generation Intel Core i5-2410M processor, 4GB of RAM, plus a 640GB difficult generate (spinning at 5400 rpm). The Satellite L755 also functions built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, a built-in webcam and microphone, and an HDMI port. It includes the 64-bit version of Windows seven Residence Premium put in.

In WorldBench 6 benchmark assessments, the L755-S5258 scored an appropriate 115. That score is nowhere close to the very best in the charts, specifically in the all-purpose laptops group to which this model belongs, but it's still rather excellent for a sub-$700 notebook, and is only two points beneath the scores from the HP Pavilion dv6 as well as the Toshiba Satellite M645-S4118X, two related, but somewhat pricier, machines.

The L755 has no discrete graphics card--it relies on the built-in graphics of its Sandy Bridge processor. So graphics functionality leaves one thing to be wanted: In Filth 2, as an example, it manages a hardly playable frame charge of 19.6 frames per 2nd (utilizing high-quality settings and a resolution of 1024 by 768). This really is typical for integrated graphics; as well as the aforementioned HP Pavilion dv6, which features a low-end discrete graphics card, maintained only a somewhat better frame charge of 24.3 fps in this check.

The visual kind of the Satellite's layout is exciting, to say the least. The notebook includes a rounded, shiny plastic cover that's light grey which has a subtle criss-cross pattern. A sizable, pale silver Toshiba logo is printed within the center, as well as the whole cover is clean. The criss-cross pattern carries over to your keyboard deck as well. The inside has rounded insets for different capabilities, including the speakers and trackpad buttons. General, these design particulars make the laptop computer look like a futuristic cartoon item, rather than within a great way. Although it can be not my type, probably it will charm to some.

Regardless of the unattractive design and style, the device is sturdy and lighter than it looks. It weighs five.7 kilos, which can be common to get a fifteen.6-inch laptop, and it is just below one.five inches thick at its thickest point.

The Satellite does pretty nicely with its ports, specially offered its very low price tag. Within the left facet is actually a 10/100 ethernet port, a VGA port, an HDMI port, microphone and headphone jacks, a Kensington lock slot, plus a USB 2.0 port with Sleep and Cost engineering. The latter function enables you to charge your USB units even though the laptop is in rest mode. The proper side has the DVD-SuperMulti drive together with two added USB two.0 ports (without having Sleep and Charge). A memory card reader, as well as numerous status lights, is around the front edge.

The keyboard and touchpad are good for the fifteen.6-inch laptop. The keyboard's flat, smooth keys are extremely cozy to kind on. (And I really do imply smooth--the keys are so slick that I practically need to just run my fingers above them.) Fortunately, this smoothness just isn't a lot of the hindrance to speedy typing. The keyboard also features a 10-key range pad--a great addition to a fifteen.6-inch notebook.

Our assessment design did have a single situation: the Perform crucial refused to work, even after keyboard motorists had been reinstalled. A lot of keys are intended to function with all the Fn crucial on this laptop or computer, and so the fact that it is not doing work is definitely a problem.

The touchpad is actually a little less extraordinary, even though it can be easy to use and responsive. It is just a tiny, raised square, just marginally rougher than the encompassing wristpad. Two big, discrete buttons are below it, the two simple to press. The one problem I had with all the touchpad, besides its aesthetics (I dislike textured squares rather than effectively denoted pads), is always that it really is tiny. The Satellite L755-S5258 has a large amount of wristpad real-estate, so it really is disappointing that Toshiba failed to make use of it successfully. For instance, the buttons beneath the touchpad are incredibly huge and take up considerably more room than needed. The trackpad does help multitouch gestures, however you hardly have plenty of place to perform them.

The Satellite's glossy fifteen.6-inch LCD display screen has a native resolution of 1366 by 768. The screen is great to have a look at, but it really is not ideal. It really is usually somewhat dimmer than I usually like, and shades are inclined to appear washed out. Multimedia playback is smooth, however you will see some blockiness and sound, especially in darkish scenes. Speakers are normal laptop computer quality--very comfortable for this measurement of machine. On the as well as facet, the audio coming from the speakers--what small you'll be able to listen to of it--is crisp.

Don't permit the Toshiba Satellite L755-S5258's very low cost fool you: This lapdop can be a sound performer. Sadly, the remainder of the style is not as solid--the notebook appears and feels cheap, the Purpose important, at least on our test unit, would not work, as well as the trackpad is incredibly small. All Toshiba has to do is make sure its areas are operating and enlarge the trackpad (which needs to be easy--they had adequate room for any quantity pad, soon after all), along with the Satellite L755-S5258 would be an excellent price range device