Toshiba M40-JM3 with NVIDIA FX Go 6600 - Page 3

Sonoma is the latest version of the intel centrino line of mobile processors, it offers an increased cache size and a faster bus speed (533mhz as compared to 400mhz). In realistic terms this means that the processor can go through its cycles faster than the comparably spec'd 400mhz bus version. This is the latest version and therefore will offer the best upgrade potential for the future as compared to an older version of the centrino series.

Pci-express is the latest graphics chipset which offers 16 pixel pipelines as compared to the 8 offered in the older AGP chipset. this means that it is theoretically twice as fast as the older AGP model. However it must be noted that most games currently out there don't even fully utilize the power of AGP and PCI-express is somewhat overkill. The thing about it is that AGP is basically at its end, intel is pushing a hard trasition over to Pci-express and AGP will fairly soon be no more. Pci-express is the new standard and offers the promise of more upgradeability in the future, definately look for this feature in any new notebook you purchase.

As for your tasks specifically i think the M40 would be a great system for what you are doing with plenty of power to handle it. The graphics card should handle those programs without any trouble at all. The only thing is that the battery life on the M40 is not as long as other centrino platforms, i have heard about 2 hours and a bit depending on workload and such... But if your at home it should really not be a problem, besides the battery charges quickly and i am sure that additional batteries will be available from toshiba. Personally i would go for the M40 it is a great machine and will meet all your needs.

Hey fidget, thanks for the reply. It's nice to get support at this point in the game. I am serious considering picking up the RG1 this evening. The rating is Up to hours so in reality, it probably means 1.5 hrs. That P4 + 17inch really hogs battery power.

So you think I should wait till my local store brings in the M40... versus buying the RG1 tonight? I love the screen size and worry about it's size for working around the house. I love the longer battery life of the M40 vs the RG1 though.

is it possible to get cold feet for purchasing a notebook? I am a moron

Longer battery of the M40 may not be necessarily true. I got about 2 hours running it under protable power settings. (800Mhz low load, 1.6G heavy load) Under full power, it seems that you can only get about an hour and a half or so. That's one of the reasons why my M40 went back. Just not what I expected at all.

Thanks for the post Chuck.

30 min on full load! yikes. I was truly ready for brining the power socket with em for the RG1. That beast has a 'Up to 2 hours" power rating. The Toshiba sales rep in reality, you would get around 1.5 hrs. With WIFI running, I guess I would get 1hr?

So, I am still leaning towards the RG1
- 17inch
-Pentium® 4 Processor 532 supporting Hyper-Threading Technology (3.06 GHz, 533MHz FSB, L1 Cache 12KB/8KB, L2 Cache 1MB)

Versus the M40
- 15.4 inch
- Pentium® M Processor 730 (1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, L1 Cache 32KB/32KB, L2 Cache 2MB)

So the P4's don't allow auto variable power settings? (ie only boost it up when you need it)?

The designs doesn't look too hot though

smilepak: the design is pretty butt ugly I must admit. No where near what the Apples or I9200 looks like. But that is what you get for not wanting to pay more. In my opinion, the outside blue covering looks better than the inside part of the RG1.

it is the higher powered graphics card on the m40 that hogs the power...

as for getting the rg1 tonight or waiting, personally i would wait but that is just me, i can't speak to your requirements for it really and if you need it right away then get the RG1 but if you can wait i would do that. The RG1 is a good machine, but it is kinda bulky (ugly imho) its alot heavier, and well...you wouldn't want to have it spending too much time in your lap. The M40 is lighter, and won't roast your legs when you use it in your lap for an extended amount of time. The battery life seems about equal, so no real need to compare there. the screen on both are really high quality. But i find that the 15.4 is a great size for 99% of uses, the 17inch beasts can get oversized for real mobility if your going to be using it outside of the house, and are especially not the greatest size if your in an airplane. For your uses the 15.4 is likely going to be more than enough for you. go look at the 15.4inchers out there and make your choice based on that, if you really cant take the 15.4 then just get the RG1 but if a 15.4 looks like something you could do then seriously i would say wait for the m40.

Yes you can get cold feet, they are expensive and big investments, you are doing your research and you are doing the right thing asking your questions. Please don't go asking the idiots at bestbuy/futureshop for help on this stuff they are more useless than a sack of door knobs. Ask your questions here get second opinions, and make an informed decision with your money. You are on the right track, and i would say just keep on doing what you are doing. and whatever you do don't get rushed or pushed into one by a salesperson, make the buy when if feels right for you, then you won't have regrets about what you get.

Good luck man, enjoy the new lappy whichever one you decide on.

Personally I would wait a while. Decent Sonoma based laptops with dedicated graphics are only now starting to show up en masse so it would be slightly foolhardy to jump on the first decent looking one. I did it and regretted it so I'll be waiting it out a little while longer too. A quick decision is almost never the best one, as I have found the hard way. I'm not trying to scare you off, just that there is honestly a better time to be buying what you're looking for.

they got a faster version now!!! Pentium M 1.86, 80gb hdd @ 5400!!! check it out!
http://www.toshiba.ca/web/specificat...4070&part=2874

For $400 more though!

yeh, am notgetting mine till june, you know, for college and all that, so thats cool with me. maybe wait for a while longer, see what other models they come up with.

you can wait forever, there will always be a better model just around the corner.....

but some people need to have a laptop, and that means that trying to always be on top is not possible, and constantly waiting for another model is pointless, if you are needing one and going to use it, get the best you can today with the money you have and then replace it later when you have the money to or when it no-longer is capable of doing what you need it to. If waiting because you won't need it till later for college or university does not bother you then by all means wait, but waiting when you need it now is pointless.

Thanks everyone for your input! In addition to the technical support, thank you for the moral support. Especially to fidget!

Guess what, I am using the RG1 wireless in my living room to make this post. I can't believe the size of this thing. Yes, not the best looking notebook but it the screen looks fantastic. Threw in Toy Story 2 and it makes my TV look a little fuzzy hehe.

Got one dead pixel but nothing Toshiba can't fix. They actaully have a depot in the same city!

Fantastic people. THANK YOU!

your welcome man

glad to help, and enjoy your new lappy....

Thanks Fidget. I will come back and post IF I have any trouble getting the screen repalced because of the 1 deal pixel.

I have to say, Wireless kicks butt. Network and Internet is much smoother than my desktop PIII with a Wrieless G pci-card. Much much smoother.

No. It's the screen that is the big draw. The glossy screen laptops all suffer from lower battery life than their normal brethren. Look at the current reviews of laptops such as the Acer 8104 that uses the SAME video card and is getting 3.5 hours or so on battery. The same occurs between the A series sony with comparable specs vs a 9200 etc. etc.

I'm kind of in the same situation myself, I can't really decide between the m40 and the P30. So I went to futureshop myself to look at the 2, and of course the guy barely had any idea what he was talking about. Anyways my needs for it would be schoolwork, games, movies, war driving around and letting my mom use it the odd time. The only time I would be without an a/c source would be at an airport because I fly a short distance about once a month to my gf's city (it's about a 45min-1hr flight)

So I guess I am leaning towards the p30, the big screen is nice and I've heard ok things about the mobility radeon 9700, but just wondering how it stacks up against the geforce6600 Go? I have a feeling I'd end up getting the p30 even if the 6600 is better because I just bought a wicked desktop for games and thus it's not a huge priority for my notebook choice.

I just found it interesting that they're the exact same price $1899 at futureshop/bestbuy/staples and none of those retards selling them could tell me why. The only thing the guy at futureshop said that made sense is the battery life isn't as long on the p30.

ok, the Go6600 is far superior to the mobilit 9700....hate to break it to you but that is the truth, the m40 has the superior graphics of them.

From what it sounds like, both would suit your needs just fine, but i would get the m40, the expandability for the future of it is significantly better, along with the better graphics of it. The screen size is better for use on an airplane, since unless you fly business or first class you won't be able to use your lappy if the person in front of you decides to recline their seat if you buy the P30. However with the smaller screen on the m40 you will not have to have that problem. Also the m40 won't roast your nuts if you have it in your lap for any length of time, the p30 will roast them good if you have to use it in your lap. Plus if you are moving it around your house and possibly even using it in class at school the better battery life on the m40 is a definate bonus.

The reason they are the same price, well part of it is that the m40 is on sale right now, but the p30 is not... Overall the m40 has a much higher value for money equasion. It has the superior graphics and the more modern processor, it is just plain out a great machine for the price. Yes the P30 is good, but really, imho the m40 is better. Overall the decision is yours, just don't rush it, and make the one that is right for you.

enjoy whichever one you decide on.

thanks for your opinion FIDGET, your point helps me alot . if you find any lap better than this with the same price . Please us know
i'm appreciate to discuss with you

Agreed. Not like this is peer pressure or anything but there is no reason to go for old technology when newer AND better gear can be had at the same price.