Review: Toshiba Satellite A100-JH2

[darkevil]

Processor
Intel® Centrino Duo Mobile Technology T2300 Each @ 1.66GHz (667Mhz FSB, L1 Cache 32KB/32KB, L2 Cache 2MB)

Memory
Standard Memory: 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 (512MB x 2)
Maximum Memory: 4GB PC2-4200 DDR2

Hard Disk Drive
100.0 billion bytes, 9.5mm height, S-ATA, 5400rpm.

Optical Drive
Built-in DVD Super-Multi Double Layer +-R Drive functions:

Display System
Type: TFT Active Matrix colour LCD display
Size (diagonal): 15.4” Wide XGA TFT with TruBrite™ Screen Technology

Graphics Controller
ATI Mobility Radeonl® X1600 with 128MB DDR dedicated video memory.

Sound System
Harman Kardon Stereo speakers.
Realtek ALC861 Software Sound 16-bit stereo; Built-in
stereo speakers, Direct 3D Sound, DirectSound, DirectMusic,
MIDI(playback).

Communication
V.92 56K Data/Fax Modem
10/100 integrated Ethernet LAN,
Intel Golan Wireless LAN (802.11ag)


Expansion
Two expansion slots total. Open slots, can be filled with 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB or 2GB PC2-4200 DDR2 modules, for maximum of 4096MB use; 2048MB + 2048MB.
1PC Card slot supports one Type II PC Cards; supports CardBus.
Ports: 5-in-1 Multimedia port (SD, Memory Stick®,
Memory Stick® Pro, MMC, xD-Picture Card™), 4 USB 2.0, RJ11, RJ45, IEEE1394, external microphone port, headphone port, RGB.

Keyboard
Full sized 85 keys with 12 function keys
2.7mm keystroke, 6mm height
Dedicated Windows Keys.
CD Control Function: Play/Pause, Stop/Eject, Previous, Skip/Next, Mode

Pointing Device
Dual Mode Pad

Physical Dimensions
Dimensions: (WxDxH) 360 x 267 x 40 mm
Weight: 2.72kg (5.98lbs)
Color: Peacock Blue

Battery
Battery Type: Removable, Rechargeable 9-cell
Lithium Ion (Li-ion) 10.8V x 6000mAh capacity
Battery Life: up to 3 hours
Recharge Time: Up to 4 hours off / 12 hours on
__________________

MY REVIEW

From what I have looked at, I have noticed the build quality is very much like the M70 series, similar locations for heat vents etc and size is comparable. The battery however sticks out from the back a bit because it has to accomedate 3 extra cells to keep the battery life comparable to the M70 series (2.5hrs) that i did not like at all (M70 has 6 cell battery, A100 has 9 cell even though Toshiba states 6 cells as well).

Very silent unit, didnt notice the fan turning on too often unless I had it sitting on the bed or sofa which in turn blocks the bottom exhaust vents. Screen, keyboard layout is very much exactly like my A70/M70 series so I have no complaints there. The only major complaint I have about this newer layout is the mousepad, it has a dual purpose. click on the top right corner of the pad and it lights up blue, then you can control the volume or shortcuts via the icons on the pad. I find that very annoying since i use the side scroll a lot to read long winded documents and as i use my finger to scroll down, it activates the secondary menu and stops the scrolling from working unless i turn the secondary menu off.

next up, I ran some 3dmark/futuremark bench tests to see how it performs and it scored a 2553 in 3dmark05 with factory drivers and I will install quake 4 and fable to see how it handles those games since it has an ATI RADEON MOBILITY X1600 with 128mb (despite what the toshiba site says, it is an X1600 not an X1400)

http://www.notebookforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8473&stc=1&d=1140932645

http://www.notebookforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8474&stc=1&d=1140932645

http://www.notebookforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8475&stc=1&d=1140932645

http://www.notebookforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8476&stc=1&d=1140932645

http://www.notebookforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8477&stc=1&d=1140932645

http://www.notebookforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8478&stc=1&d=1140932645

[TWLreal]

Thanks for posting this, man. I am thinking about buying the same model from Future Shop. It is at 1,999$CAD I believe.

Is that score from 3DMark05 or 06?

[darkevil]

i got lucky and bought this one at $1929 before the sale ended... that benchmark was done on 3dmark05.. i will do 06 later on but it seems like most people have been benching their computers with 05... anyhow.. be aware that as of yet it is very hard to find any optimized drivers for it.. i was hoping to get some modded drivers and get the 3dmark to be higher... also there is only 128mb frame buffer, the M70-FE5/SR6 come with 256mb X700 cards and it has been documented that they hit 2808 for a 3dmark05 bench.. all together it is fairly comparable to the M70's just with a faster bus speed and dual core processor. I may be returning this unit for the M70 if it doesn't push higher numbers

[TWLreal]

I see. It seemed a bit low for a 3DMark05 score. :|

I always somehow scored lower even on my desktop systems. But my games all ran beautifully, so I can't really say I would trust the benchmarks number completely.

I mean, sheesh, it's still an x1600 128 MB in there.

[darkevil]

well i am having trouble getting the shadows to work properly in FABLE.. and these drivers are the newest ones lol... I am gonna check out the M70 with the X700 to really see if there is a major difference in performance... I do very much like the dual core... damn.. if only the x1600 was 256mb instead haha

[darkevil]

tried the OMEGA Driver set and it worked, my 3dmark05 benchmark went up to 2790 and the shadow problems i had in fable is gone.

[TWLreal]

Nice to know.

Are you able to play smoothly at maximum details at the native resolution? I believe it's 1280*800.

[Waw]

I am trying to decide on buuying a Toshiba Satalite or Sony FE11, both similiar specs.

Any advice on which is the better choice?

[suddste223]

http://sfx-images.mozilla.org/affiliates/products/firefox/upgrade_1_5_120x600r.jpg

[darkevil]

Nice to know.

Are you able to play smoothly at maximum details at the native resolution? I believe it's 1280*800.


yeah.. Fable runs pretty decent as long as you don't have really high anti aliasing and max shadows bogs it down as well..

[darkevil]

crap.. i forgot to post on here about STAPLE's sale on this unit, it was $1899! i got my price match on it but damn! great price.. so far i had to exchange mine once because my dvd burner was rattling while spooling up DATA discs.. i got another one and it is pretty quiet,... as for display quality.. no dead pixels or stuck pixels, there is the odd micro white dot in two places only when the background is dead black.. I noticed that almost all lcd screens have this including the one i just returned and my old A70, can't see it unless you looook super hard and right up closed lol.. also I have some issue with the screen going off after one minute via the power settings but then i can't get it to light back up unless i put the computer in hibernation or standby etc... hitting keys or moving the mouse has no effect. hopefully just a bug in the software

[Arvin]

Are you in Canada?

Toshiba-USA says the A100 has an X1300.

[fender-boy]

Darkevil, thanks for the review. I think you will find that your graphics card has probably been underclocked to improve battery life and reduce heat. I think that comparable systems with the same 128mb x1600 will be higher clocked. If you aren't happy with your performance, you could possibly try overclocking your card. If I were in your position, I would not return it for an M70 with the older technology, the x1600 is by far superior to the x700.

[evanfotis]

Hi all,
just a notice.
I can't undestand why toshiba doesnt equip their laptops with equivelant specced parts, for their models.
For instance this machine , although has core duo, up to 4GB Ram(very rare for laptops) great vga card etc, has a measly XGA res screen. A person buying this kind of laptop, a designer, modeler, artist, would propably want an UXGA 1900x1200 res screen. I find this somewhat rediculous.
They should at leat offer and option for higher res screen at a price.

[Arvin]

Hi all,
just a notice.
I can't undestand why toshiba doesnt equip their laptops with equivelant specced parts, for their models.
For instance this machine , although has core duo, up to 4GB Ram(very rare for laptops) great vga card etc, has a measly XGA res screen. A person buying this kind of laptop, a designer, modeler, artist, would propably want an UXGA 1900x1200 res screen. I find this somewhat rediculous.
They should at leat offer and option for higher res screen at a price.

Bingo.

[Cool_Breeze]

Ya i agree, if toshiba made a much better screen and maybe increased the x1600 to 256 mb then i would get it in a second. Currently i'm thinking if i should get this toshiba laptop (A100-jh2) now or wait until the e1705 is offering a better graphics card.

[YP5 Toronto]

Hi all,
just a notice.
I can't undestand why toshiba doesnt equip their laptops with equivelant specced parts, for their models.
For instance this machine , although has core duo, up to 4GB Ram(very rare for laptops) great vga card etc, has a measly XGA res screen. A person buying this kind of laptop, a designer, modeler, artist, would propably want an UXGA 1900x1200 res screen. I find this somewhat rediculous.
They should at leat offer and option for higher res screen at a price.


Because DESIGNERS make up less than 1% of who actually buys notebooks for design purposes.

[thehustlerose]

Because DESIGNERS make up less than 1% of who actually buys notebooks for design purposes.

I'm a designer, and I bought this laptop (except with 1GB Ram, 80GBs hard drive, and Centrino Solo), and so far it's pretty awesome.

[BookerT25]

the toshiba A100-SK9 is a new model pretty much based on this one exept that it has an nVidia Go 7600 256mb vid card, 120GB HDD space and a T2500 2.0GHz intel core duo processor, its like an upgraded version of this one, it cost like 100$ more that the JH2 cost right now I think