Toshiba Satellite A355-S6940 16.0-Inch Laptop
- Portable multimedia laptop with 16-inch screen for right 16:9 aspect ratio and native 720p high-def resolution
- 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor (Centrino 2), 500 GB capacity (dual 250 GB drives), 4 GB RAM (max), Labelflash dual-layer DVD drive
- Draft-N Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Quick Ethernet, Intel GMA X4500MHD graphics (up to 1750 MB whole available reminiscence)
- Connectivity: 4 USB (with 1 shared eSATA), 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, ExpressCard 54/34, 5-in-1 reminiscence card reader
- Pre-installed with Windows Outlook Home Premium with SP1 (64-bit version); Fusion end with Horizon pattern
For those who need a versatile, affordable lifestyle laptop equipped for brilliant gaming and other entertainment too, Toshiba presents this new and highly enteraining Satellite A355/A355D Series. Topped by an attractive high-gloss Fusion End, this laptop still has the reminiscence, storage space, and processor power for fantastic performance, helping people handle their busy lives. Yet when the day is done, it’s also ready to play, offering integrated and discrete graphics for exciting gaming, a brilliant 16-inch show for more memorable movies and photo editing, together with features like a Webcam, Toshiba Face Recogition and a high-classification sound port for more fun and experience. The Toshiba A355-S6940 ships with Real Windows Outlook Home Premium (SP1, 64 bit version), 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 Processor, 3MB L2 Cache, Mobile Intel GM45 Express Chipset, Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with 128MB-1759MB Dynamically Allocated Shared Graphics Reminiscence, Configured with 4GB PC6400 DDR2 SDRAM, 500GB(by 2 250GB(5400 RPM) Hard Drive (SATA), DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive with LabelFlash supporting 11 formats, 16.0 in (Diagonal) Widescreen TruBrite TFT LCD Show at 1366 x 768 Resolution, webcam and microphone built into LCD bezel, Intel Wi Fi Link 5100AGN /802.11a/g/n. Dimensions: 15.1 ” x 10.5″ x 1.36″ without feet, weight: Starting at 6.48 lbs.Replace your desktop PC with the Toshiba Satellite A355-S6940 laptop, featuring all the power and hard drive space you expect from a top-of-the-line desktop but in an easily mobile package. Stylishly designed, this Toshiba Satellite features a large, bright 16-inch LCD (1366 x 768)–with a right 16:9 aspect ratio and 720p native high-classification resolution. It’s also fantastic for by as a media center, with Toshiba’s Express Media Player enabling you to bypass the system and access CDs and DVDs with a touch of button. The dual-layer DVD±RW drive also burns CDs and offers LabelFlash print functionality. A 1.3 megapixel digital web camera built into the LCD’s bezel lets you quickly snap photos and participate in live video chats.
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The integrated webcam does more than just video chats. It includes Toshiba Face Recognition capabilities–the ultimate hands-free, hassle-free way to log onto your laptop. Just show your face to the webcam–no keeping track of hard-to-remember passwords and no unnecessary typing. And if you’re by one laptop for several users–say for the whole family or for a small business–Toshiba Face Recognition lets you switch profiles with one simple look.
It’s powered by the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor–with Centrino 2 technology–which boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. The 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 includes a quick 1066 MHz front-side bus and 3 MB of L2 cache, providing an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved multimedia and multitasking performance. It also includes Intel’s 5100AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. Other features include a spacious 500 GB of storage space (from dual 250 GB hard drives), 4 GB of RAM (most), 5-in-1 reminiscence card reader, Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11a/b/g/n), Intel GMA X4500MHD integrated graphics (with up to 1750 MB of dynamically shared video reminiscence), and Toshiba’s Fusion end with Horizon pattern.
This PC also comes preinstalled with the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows Outlook Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for rotary your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you’ll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Outlook also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.
This Toshiba notebook is Energy Star 4.0 certified and it is RoHS-compliant, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other unsafe substances.
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The Basics
- Processor: Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and incredible battery life with the 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor featuring Intel Centrino 2 technology. This processor has a 2.4 GHz processor speed, super-sized 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a superfluous-large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a better L2 cache can help speed up your system’s performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a quicker front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
Formerly codenamed Montevina, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology improves upon every facet of a laptop’s main features, including performance and battery life via new processors and chipsets, quicker draft 802.11n wireless, and new business-class manageability capabilities. The new hafnium-infused circuitry–which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors–conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet.
The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It’s optimized for multitasking and it can run multiple demanding applications–such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications–while downloading composition or running virus-scanning security programs in the background.
- Hard Drive: This laptop provides an superfluous-large 500 GB storage space capacity from dual 250 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives (5400 RPM)–perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. These SATA hard drives also quicken the pace with a higher speed transfer of data–akin to Firewire and USB 2.0.
- Reminiscence: The 4 GB of installed RAM (PC6400, 2 x 2 GB) maximizes the capacity of this notebook, and it also offers an ultra-quick 800 MHz speed.
- DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer Labelflash DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD±R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data–fantastic for backing up your MP3 collection or your most vital ID. It features the following speeds: 6x for both DVD±R DL, 8x for both single-layer DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, and 24x/16x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.
With the Labelflash functionality, you can burn high-resolution, high-contrast pictures on the categorize side of DVD discs by the same laser used for data recording. Delight in transparency and high-quality not found in traditional printable media. All you need is a Labelflash DVD disc to start labeling without a printer.
- Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers a launch button for the Express CD/DVD media player and control buttons (play, stop, next, previous) as well as a volume control dial.
Screen, Video & Audio
The 16-inch WXGA LCD has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels–perfect for surveillance movies in their intended 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500MHD, which uses shared video reminiscence (up to 1750 MB allocated from the system reminiscence) and provides Windows Outlook Aero interface support and enhanced 3D graphics performance–delivering over 2x scores on 3DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced make pleased on progressive displays.
This notebook also features an integrated audio card and two Harman Kardon stereo speakers.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated quad-mode Intel Wireless 5100AGN Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It’s also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range–fantastic for closed office environments).
It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard card slot (replacing the PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, quicker, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage space, and security features. It comes with the following external connectors:
- 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals–from digital cameras to MP3 players (including 1 eSATA/USB combo port)
- 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
- Video out: VGA
- 1 ExpressCard 54/34 slot
- 1 headphone jack (with SPDIF digital productivity for 5.1-channel surround sound)
- 1 microphone jack
- 5-in-1 reminiscence card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Reminiscence Stick, Reminiscence Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)
- 10/100 Quick Ethernet networking
- 56K modem (V.90)
Operating System
The 64-bit version of Windows Outlook Home Premium (with SP1) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for rotary your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for surveillance DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment make pleased. Computers that include Windows Outlook Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow show will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also simpler than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.
Every journal of Windows Outlook provides the elemental tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Outlook include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any vital personal data. And, all Windows Outlook editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family’s use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.
Preloaded Software
Microsoft Works 9.0, Google Toolbar, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5, Norton 360 All-in-One Security (30-day trial), and Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Journal (60-day trial).
Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 15.1 x 10.5 x 1.52 inches (WxDxH, and it weighs 6.5 pounds.
Power
It comes with a 4000 mAH lithium-ion battery pack for superfluous-long battery life.
What’s in the Box
This package contains the Toshiba Satellite A355-S6940 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.
Rating: 
(out of 49 reviews)
Satellite Notebooks review
This is my second Toshiba laptop. Number one is around 4 years ancient and still works well.
This review is more about the A355 chassis, than this exact spec laptop, and should apply to just about every one of the laptops in this series whether they run AMD or Intel chips.
The first view is that the materials are just plain flat out gorgeous. From the shiny exterior, to the semi rounded base, the two large chrome mouse buttons, the nicely integrated Harmon Kardon speakers, the illuminated touch areas, the huge gorgeous monitor, and those shiny keys. Yes this is one very pretty computer.
Under that pretty hood are some fascinating specs. It used to be incredibly rare to see an eSATA port on any computer, let alone a laptop. Well this one has exactly that – an eSATA port that doubles as a USB port. Nice option to hook up external hard drives. It also includes an iLink, Firewire, or IEEE-1394 port – an incredible rarity (even Apple dropped this port). The audio ports and volume control are on the front, nicely placed. There’s absolutely no ports on the rear. There’s also an express card slot (not a PCMCIA slot, but EXPRESS card slot) and a multi flash reminiscence card reader (they’ve dropped CF from the list). It does not include Bluetooth – a very weird omission since every single bluetooth adapter uses the Toshiba stack to run. Use any of these adapters, they work perfectly: IOGear GBU421 Bluetooth 2.0 USB Micro Adapter or Cirago BTA3210 Class 2 Micro Bluetooth Adapter (Black Tip) – both are outstanding miniscule adapters.
Toshiba stuffed 4Gb of RAM and a 320Gb hard drive into this huge baby. Those are some pretty nice features in a laptop this inexpensive. Those Harmon Kardon speakers sound very nice.
You’ll any despise this or like it, and fortunately you can turn this off if you despise it. The Toshiba name, a small band above the irritating navigation pad, and the media buttons all light up white (pretty bright at that). I reflect it looks pretty cool, but others have despised all those lights.
The monitor, oh that monitor is gorgeous. Movies pop, they look absolutely fantastic on this computer. It’s a nice huge screen. Yes it is a gloss end and you do get some reflections here or there, but generally it’s not terrible.
The keys are all glossy and the fanatical among you force not like all the visible fingerprints, but I reflect most will get over that quickly. There is just a ton of room to place your hands to type and use the computer. That surface in front is sweet for a palm rest.
Function-wise, this computer is a decent performer. Nobody is buying this to run heavy games or render video – it won’t do those things. But for the occasional game, the occasional video edit, you’ll score well here.
Do note, this computer runs Windows Outlook Premium 64-Bit. Delight don’t be worried of that operating system. I’m running 64 bit on two computers and it runs just perfectly. There is nearly no new hardware that won’t run under 64 bit these days. It’s a rock solid platform. And that OS allows all 4Gb of reminiscence to be seen and used (32 bit tops out at 3Gb). And if you don’t judge me, type this into google – pcmag 64 bit computing. Read the first article in that hit list.
This is no lightweight computer. It’s a huge, pretty heavy laptop. Fantastic for around the household. Not something you would travel everywhere with. But it is portable. Heat generation is nothing extreme. It does pull air in from not more than, so be precise about couches or beds plugging those holes.
It’s a excellent solid quick computer. There’s a bit of fan noise, nothing huge, but you will know the machine is running. I despise to comment on battery life, that’s so dependent on how bright you make the screen, processor speed settings and the like. I got a excellent solid 2 hours of hitting it very hard at max everything. You may possibly probably get a excellent 3 hours, possibly 4 at more conservative settings.
Something to keep in mind, Toshiba ships all their laptops full of balloon-ware. It’s a really excellent thought to remove it all. Nearly none of it is necessary. There are two websites that will clear all that garbage out of your computer. It’s clarified in a fantastic article at PCMag. Type this into google, PCMag make the most out of your new pc. The first hit will be a fantatstic article on how to remove the garbage.
Overall, this is a huge, gorgeous, excellent sounding, heavy, hard working, well priced laptop.
June 2009 Update – well my son managed to crack the screen. He has no thought how this happened, but it’s certainly not Toshiba’s fault. I will admit the top is somewhat flexible, but that’s not how this broke. He probably fell asleep and rolled over on top of it and doesn’t remember that. I am super pleased I bought the 3 year no fault warranty. Just a word to the wise, displays in general have gotten more fragile. Use care or buy a warranty (just be sure it’s backed by the right kind of company).
This Toshiba Satellite replaced a four-year-ancient Dell Inspiron. As a writer, I use my laptop every day and wanted a comfortable keyboard and touchpad. This Satellite delivers with a sturdy keyboard, enough space to rest your palms comfortably while typing and a textured touchpad.
The touchpad has touch scrolling on both the right side and bottom (handy for scrolling along large spreadsheets), so you don’t have to hold down the left-click button to scroll–much simpler on the hand. The touchpad scrolling settings are adjustable and can be removed.
The click buttons are large and placed so that your palms don’t brush them while you type.
I also wanted a laptop with brilliant video quality for surveillance DVDs and Play Now features from NetFlix. Videos are crisp and colorful on this 16-inch screen and it’s simple to see from several angles (unlike my ancient LCD-screen where the screen had to be at an angle just exactly right to avoid the black shadow effect).
If you like to watch movies in bed on the computer with your honey, this computer is fantastic for that since both people can see the screen without black shadowing. The light-up DVD controls on the top of the keyboard are also a fantastic feature for surveillance DVD’s in bed.
The speakers are very excellent quality, with brilliant range and can be turned up loud enough to delight in composition or watch a movie from another part of the room.
My most favorite feature of this computer is the volume control. Located on the front, next to the 5:1 reminiscence card reader and headphone jack, is a small veer that turns left and right, like the volume control on a radio.
It’s so simple, it’s brilliant! When you have composition blasting and the phone rings with a call from a client, a quick flip of the dial and the sound is turned down or off. No more hunting on the keyboard for the Function Key + a picture of a muted speaker.
The Satellite has a built-in webcam that is easily activated with a click. The webcam controls appear whenever your mouse hovers near the left side of the screen.
Speaking of hovering controls, whenever you press the FN (Function) key, a large legend appears at the top of the screen with function controls, which is handy when you don’t have your glasses.
All four USB ports are on the sides near the front, as is the network port. It is simpler to plug and unplug components, but it’s also simpler to bump my USB drive when picking up something from my desk.
Did I mention that this computer is blazingly quick? Wow! Need to have five different programs running plus several web pages open? Not a problem for this zippy laptop.
I’ve been very pleased with the Toshiba Satellite and would highly recommend it.
I spent way tooooo long researching and reading and thinking about which laptop to buy and then bought the Toshiba. I’m sure other choices would have worked for me as well, but I’m VERY pleased with the Toshiba.
It looks excellent, which, while not a huge factor, is a nice bonus. It’s quick. I’ve used a number of other PC’s running Outlook and they’ve all been pretty slow, so I reflect the 4GB of reminiscence is a huge help. This laptop has built-in DVD control buttons in the housing above the keyboard and while I wouldn’t have bought it because of this feature, it turns out to be REALLY simple to use and helpful!
I’ve been surprised at how much I like it! I’ve used harvest from Dell, HP, Compaq, IBM, Lenovo, Apple and Sony and this Toshiba is, so far, better for me than anything I’ve used before.
Warranty limitations of Toshiba were made to avoid exchange or repair one laptop if it has few terrible or hurt pixels (dead black pixels, always white or colored pixels…). I did not know this when I bought my laptop and I am thinking never more buying one by Internet (it is better see in the store if it has some hurt pixels)
I am an international consumer. I bought this Toshiba from Amazon and I am out of US in this moment. I have used a lot of HP computers without problems and this was the first time I selected a computer of other brand. I did this because of the “Toshiba international warranty” – [..]
But my computer has an UGLY white top in the screen. I bought it for photo and video processing and I am very disapointed. You can read a lot of information (other customers with the same problem) searching in google toshiba dead pixels. The computer performance is excellent (4.9 Outlook score) but this problem with the screen caused my laptop to be a waste of money… BE CAREFULL BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER FEW DAMAGED PIXELS TO BE ACCEPTABLE!!!
I bought this machine a month ago because its hardware config looked excellent at a excellent price, I thought. I thought I can live with Outlook, possibly upgrade to XP7 later this year. I rated it highly at Toshiba’s web site and here at Amazon. Now, after a month’s experience, I have buyer’s regret.
Toshiba’s pricing strategy of near-zero pre-loaded software (Outlook only) means a lot of the cost of ownership is ‘shifted forward’ meaning you have to buy nearly everything, including a bluetooth stack. This is an brilliant example of nickel and diming customers to death — not a excellent marketing strategy.
This machine does NOT come with bluetooth support, you have to add a dongle. But I thought that like Windows XP SP2, Outlook has the stack built-in. Sadly, no, it is not right. The circumstances gets worse. Toshiba does not use the ‘standard’ Windows stack but has a proprietary stack. If it detects a non-Toshiba dongle, the Toshiba OEM license expires. You have to uninstall the Toshiba stack and find/install a compatible stack. Sigh.
It gets worse. I was pretty miserable that I was unable to install the official Microsoft Office Suite. After going a few layers deep in hardware configuration dialog boxes, I find that the CD-ROM driver is in error, it may possibly not find a fix and, possibly this is a separate problem, the system cannot detect the drive!!!!! No driver download available from Toshiba’s tech support web site. Talking to a live agent, she pointed me to a secure site where I was able to download a filter that seemingly fixed the problem. This is NOT the way a new PC should be. I have never encountered such a problem before, in 20-some years of by computers.
I now rate this PC only 2 stars because of the stupid Toshiba policy of NOT including a free to the end user, perpetual end user license to its bluetooth stack. The CD-ROM driver problem worsened my opinion. BTW, a third-party driver diagnostic program detected 26 out-of-date or erroneous drivers.
Toshiba’s stupid marketing made two more terrible mistakes:
1. The license to the stack is for the manufacturers of bluetooth dongles, not for end-users like me, so end-users are at a dead end. I suppose I may possibly buy a new dongle that has a Toshiba license instead of by the dongle I already own.
2. End users who are not IT-savoir-faire won’t know what the hell this licensing esoterica means. There is no link from Toshiba’s ‘expired’ message to ANY help for end users to solve this problem. On Toshiba’s user forum, the question “How to buy a license…” is posted, but ‘locked’ so no one can post comments. There is NO ANSWER given, such as “buy xyz dongles because they have the necessary Toshiba license.” That’s a missed opportunity to co-market with OEMs that have bought a Toshiba license. I’ve searched the web and THERE IS NO ANSWER elsewhere.
Fortunately, I know that BlueSoleil, a vendor of bluetooth software, will support the dongle that I already have. After registration, I downloaded BlueSoleil 6, a stack that does all the things that the Toshiba stack does. And it doesn’t seem to conflict with the Toshiba stack which I did not uninstall. Unfortunately, BlueSoleil is available for free for only a 15-day trial after which BlueSoleil will transfer files of up to 2 MB. The excellent marketing practice demonstrated by BlueSoleil is it gives you a link to its online store where you can buy a license for $29.99. They help you to solve the problem, not like Toshiba.
I am shocked and disappointed that Toshiba, a well regarded consumer electronics brand, does such a poor job of end-user marketing and support.
Oh, while I’m at it, let me warn you that Toshiba tech support, while free, is NOT AT ALL KNOWLEDGEABLE. F’instance, I called to say that I couldn’t find the pre-loaded free trial of Microsoft Office. My call got dropped, no call-back. Had to go through the n-level deep voice messaging, call another number, again, to get to another random support person who suggested searching the hard drive for hidden sectors. The software was there. AND, after hassling the guy for a recovery disk, threatening to talk to his supervisor, he said he’d waive the rules and send me one. A month later, no disk arrived. Finally, a friend told me that that I don’t need to buy Toshiba’s recovery CD because the machine has a utility for you to make your own recovery CD. Sigh.
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It is now about 6 months after writing the review above. In all this time, I have used this computer for more than 10 hours a day, every day.
The system has never crashed which is excellent news. I’ve cleaned and defraged it unfailingly. (The auto-defrag calendar doesn’t work. Have to manually initiate defrag each time.)
New problem: the touchpad is unreliable. It often gets hung during which you can only go around by by the arrows and ‘enter’ key. Mostly, it recovers after a few minutes which is a very long time. There are no updated drivers and no help for the touchpad. Judge me, I’ve looked.
Another glitch that’s the REALLY really ANNOYING is the cursor jumps to another area because it’s picking up charge from your thumb or some such. About 3 layers down the touchpad’s ‘advanced’ settings is a checkbox that should involuntarily deactivate the pad while typing. Guess what? The cursor jumps around anyhow. So if you’re a touch typist like me who sometimes isn’t looking at the screen, you force be typing jibberish and not know it.
The touchpad’s ‘tap’ feature is often ‘inoperative’ and I must resort to double-clicking the button. That button is hard to click. This means I have to do it with my index finger. So, in order to operate the touchpad, I have to use fingers from both hands.
I’ve removed the touchpad’s ‘special areas’ such as left upper corner for ‘back,’ etc. because it’s so unreliable that it’s not worth it.