Posted to Notebooks 2011-01-05
You don't need to spend a thousand dollars on a premium-quality laptop, or at least that's what the Toshiba Satellite L635-S3050RD notebook seems to indicate. Exclusively offered in the Helios Red finish, this sleek, feature-laden computer is best suited for home users or individuals who will not travel for extended periods of time. Despite having a relatively below-average battery life, this Satellite notebook is still one of the better-valued models currently available. With an average display size of 13.3," this model measures approximately 12.95" x 8.7" x 1.4" and weighs 4.8 pounds. If you are looking for something light and power-saving, then this is probably not the laptop for you. The mobile processor helps alleviate power consumption, but all the extra features tend to weigh down the watts and shorten battery life to barely reach 3.4 hours. In an age of notebooks with 5-8 hour battery life, this Toshiba is forced to take the edge with features and performance rather than portability and power salvage.
FeaturesThanks to the Intel Core i5-460M processor, you can enjoy 2.53GHz speeds and 2.80GHz performance when you need it the most. This model comes with 4GB DDR3 RAM (expandable to 8GB), as well as integrated Intel HD graphics that utilize shared memory. Because there is no dedicated graphics chipset, game-savvy users will want to check out Toshiba's other notebooks. Other features include Bluetooth capability, a 500GB hard drive, DVD-SuperMulti optical drive with Labelflash, memory card reader, USB 2.0 ports, combo eSATA/USB port, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Ethernet, and more. The Dolby Digital Advanced Audio is a must-have for users who want the best audio experience, and the included Toshiba software is a great start for new customers. PerformanceAlthough the battery life isn't the greatest, users will find that the Core-5 processor packs computing power with relatively little energy consumption. Sadly, graphics performance falls a little short- part in blame being the integrated chipset with shared memory. Fortunately, there is 4GB DDR3 RAM on board, plus room for more, so this is a relatively small concern. In general, the overall laptop experience is very enjoyable, and the added features are a bonus to an already-valuable Toshiba Satellite notebook. SummaryUnless you plan to travel frequently, most likely the Toshiba Satellite L635-S3050RD is a safe candidate for your notebook needs. The battery life is far from great, but if you get an extra capacity battery, then it is good for the road. Probably the only other major complaint refers to the built-in graphics chipset, which is Intel standard and hardly powerful enough for modern gaming. Needless to say, the networking features, SuperMulti optical drive, and powerful processor make up for any minor faults. If you want a solid, multi-tasking notebook for under $1000, then consider this model. Pros
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