P100-ST7211 custom-configured

[cyberbeach]

P100-ST7211 custom-configured:

T2600 at 2.16 ghz
2 gigs RAM
7200 RPM 100 gig drive
Blue
17" 1680 x 1050 screen
XP pro

There have been many improvements, including that it's thinner and lighter than the P25.

I formatted the drive and installed Windows XP Pro from my own disk. I had pre-downloaded and burned all the Toshiba drivers & s/w onto a cd, so I then installed from there.

The USB ports are scattered around - that's actually convenient.

I like the fingerprint reader - it works great.

Two biggest downsides with this system:

1 - Reflective screen is a problem in an normally lit office or daytime home setting (unless you need to shave at your desk). It's most obvious with black backgrounds.

2 - The keyboard is one of the "bad ones". Toshiba seems to alternate between great and lousy keyboards. I've had Toshiba's with bad keyboards before, but my P25 had a much better keyboard.

A) Numeric keypad: not necessary, it's like a floppy drive.
B) Very limited key travel.
C) Loud - you will be heard tap-a-tapping for 15-20 feet.
D) Tiny right-shift key, still can't hit it reliably.
E) Yes, the Windows key moved again (not a real biggy.)

[falcon99]

Can you tell me how long it took from ordering to final receipt?

Thanks!

[falcon99]

Just my $0.02 here. I just got my P100-9412 yesterday.

Pro:

Fantastic screen. I use it mainly in low light levels so the reflective screen does not affect me. WSAGA+ is the resolution to get IMO.
Finally a graphics card I can turn up the quality with. 3DMark05 = 8472.
Case quality is great. Very tight and solid. Size and weight much improved over the P25.
Getting use to the fingerprint reader. Now I know I'll forget passwords!
USB ports toward the back on the sides. Finally!
Numeric keypad; although it may seem archaic, I hop around from desktop keyboards to notebooks and it's nice to have the number on the side.
Received with remote control device, I did not see it mentioned on the T Direct site.
Synaptics device is nice, I like the scrolling feature, a la M2, missing on the P25.
Copper color is refreshing change, I love it.


Cons:
Keyboard, keyboard, keyboard . . .

The inclusion of the numeric keypad has cause serious lower right hand button shrinkage, the shift key being the worse.
The delete key has moved. After so many years with Toshiba I think many have complained that Tosh had the delete in the wrong place but I got use to it. Now it's up where the Dell has it.
Home and End are not easiily accessible. Either you have to turn off the numeric pad or use a function key combo.
Keyboard keys need more force (or my fingers are weakening!)


Overall, I would say except for the keyboard, Toshiba has got it right on everything else. DVD, antenna, USB, media card, volume control are just where (I think) they should be.

Every time I get a laptop or LCD monitor I cross my fingers on the pixel quality issue. So far Toshiba (notebooks) and Dell (monitors) have not let me down.

PS The blue speaker lights are distracting at first. Anybody figure out a way of disabling them?


P100-9412
T2500 2.0GHz
1GB RAM
100GB 7200 RPM HDD
NVidia 7900GTX 512MB
17" WSXGA+ 1690x1050