Tectra vs Satellite vs ASUS Build Quality

the is the better of the build qualities with toshiba, you can put a tecra through hell and back and it keeps on ticking. i know i have seen them like that and some of the other board members have thiers like that.

as for the satellite, in the last few years the quality has improved on them but still the tecra is better in my opinion. i would put a tecra just under the much desired ibm for actual build quality, in other words great. compared to the asus im sure it would at absolute least match it and likely in my opinion would top it for ultimate quality.

I agree with Fidget. I have dragged my tecras though hell and back with only minor glitches. I've been so happy with my previous 2 tecras that I recently picked up my 3rd and so far would definetely go with another as my next laptop. I'd consider an Asus, but I can't get them affordably here in Chile, and if I get one from a reseller in the US, I'd have to send it back there for service (should it need it). But I have heard great things baout their quality.

The satellites, as Fidget said, have gotten better, but I still get the impression that you get what you pay for. Don't expect the build quality of a budget laptop (<$700) to compare to a high end laptop (>$1300) even if they are in the same line (i.e. both satellites).

After looking at the product tour on toshiba's website, I'm convinced that the M100 and A6 share the same exact chassis. They look Identical.


Click on "product tour" under the customize button, then select the "tour" tab and look at the pictures. You can even open up both tours at the same time and compare them side by side.

Tecra A6 - http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...HO&coid=-30602

Satellite M100 - http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...HO&coid=-30598


They also both have dimensions of: 13.5" x 9.53" x 1.5" as stated in their detailed specs sheets

They've done that in the past (Tecra A4 are almost identical to the satellite M40/45) so it doesn't surprise me that they would be doing it again. Within the Tecra line, the M and S series' tend to be "true" tecras that have the modular optical drives and better build.

bingo, as well i do believe a little longer and more effort goes into the tecra A series lines than the satellite lines even using a common chassis. but still the point stands that the true tecras are the S and M series

Agent80, I highly doubt it. I don't think Toshiba would use different plastics in the same mold due since different plastics have different curing properties (expansions). To create another mold, specifically for a different plastic would cost many thousands of dollars, so it wouldnt make sense financially. My guess is that they use the same type of plastic, same motherboard, with different colors, and different upper keyboard flaps (for media buttons).

The A6 comes with an Nvidia quardo NVS, and I'm speculating that it's interchangeable with the M100's X1400. Does anyone have any comparison info?

The Tecra A6, however, does have the easy guard features, such as shock-absorbing pads for the HDD and spillproof keyboard

I don't think the chassis will be diffrent between the satellite M series and comparable Tecra A's. Also, I've never heard any complaints about the build quality on either and from the older versions that I saw in stores (M40/45 and Tecra A4) they felt pretty darn good, but the Tecra M (like the M2v I bought) and S are superior. The key feature that seems to separate the Tecra's from the Satellites is the Docking port that lets you connect the laptop to a docking station. These are great (I had one for my older Tecra 8100 and am looking to get one for my M2v) as they let you set up a desktop envorinment with KB, mouse, Externa Monitor, and several other periferals (including the AC adaptor) and when you arrive at your desk, you just slip the laptop into the docking station and everything is ready to go. The advantage is not dealing with the plugging & unpluging everytime you arrive. THis saves you the hassle plus helps the longevity of thelaptop by not wearing out the ports.

I would NOT hold my breath on the graphics card being interchangable. Granted they are similiar motherboards and use similar chassis, but until I hear that somebody has done it I wouldn't count on it. The few cases where I've heard of gpu's being interchanged in laptops that don't specify upgradable graphics (like some Alienware laptops) were in other manufacturer's (I remember a case inthe Dell formus) and always within a manufacturer of graphics card (The swapped an Nvidia card for a faster Nvidia card fromadifferent Dell laptop). I seriously doubt an ATI card will work in a laptop that originally sold with an Nvidia card. Remeber, these are not like desktop motheboards and graphics cards.