Toshiba Satellite A505-S6973 16.0-Inch Laptop – Black/Grey
- 2.1GHz Intel Core2 Duo T6500 Processor
- 1.3 megapixel with Face Recognition capabilities for added security
- 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive, DVD SuperMulti Drive
- Microsoft Windows Outlook Home Premium
- 16″ Diagonal Widescreen TruBrite HD Edge-to-Edge Show
- 6-cell (4000 mAh) battery
- Warranty: One-year limited hardware warranty
For composition, videos, games and more, the upscale Satellite A505 laptop gives you style, advanced entertainment performance and desktop-like versatility across a 16-inch diagonal HD TruBrite widescreen show. A fantastic communications suite and advanced A/V ports keep you well connected, with bounty of freedom to expand and share. Toshiba “Smart” Features like a touchpad with multitouch control and USB Sleep and Charge help you do more. While advancements like a power-saving Eco Button and an LED-backlit show keep you energy smart. And it’s all wrapped up in a stunning Fusion End with Sonic pattern in Black Onyx so that it really stands out in a crowd.Replace your desktop PC with the Toshiba Satellite A505-S6973, which features a 16-inch diagonal HD TruBrite widescreen LED-backlit show, touchpad with multitouch control, power-saving Eco Button to help reduce power consumption based on your needs, USB Sleep-and-Charge ports, and a dual-layer DVD±RW drive that burns CDs and offers LabelFlash print functionality. The bright 16-inch LCD (1366 x 768) offers a right 16:9 aspect ratio and 720p native high-classification resolution, and the A505 is fantastic for by as a media center with the touch-sensitive media keys placed above the keyboard. And it’s sure to stand out in the crowd thanks to the stunning Fusion End with Sonic pattern in Black Onyx.
The A505′s brilliant high-gloss Fusion end with a Sonic pattern in black onyx is sure to turn heads. |
The 16-inch A505 has a 104-key keyboard (with 10-key pad) and lighted, touch-sensitive multimedia controls (see better image). |
With the multitouch-enabled touch pad, you can pinch, swipe or rotate images on the show screen with the brush of your fingers. |
The built-in Harman Kardon speakers bring an added dimension to composition, movies and gaming with rich, immersive virtual surround sound. |
It’s powered by the 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 processor, which boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. It also offers a quick 800 MHz front-side bus speed and 2 MB L2 cache. 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 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB of installed RAM (upgradeable to 8 GB), 1.3-megapixel webcam, Harman Kardon speakers, 5-in-1 reminiscence card reader, HDMI audio/video productivity as well as SPDIF digital audio productivity for 5.1-channel surround sound, and 64-bit version of the Microsoft Windows Outlook Home Premium operating system.
This Toshiba notebook is Energy Star 5.0 certified and it is RoHS-compliant, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other unsafe substances.
Key Features
- 16-inch widescreen TruBrite HD LED-Backlit show not only renders stunning visuals, but it’s more environmentally friendly as it uses less power (Learn more)
- 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 processor for brilliant multi-tasking (Learn more)
- 500 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
- 4 GB of RAM (800 MHz; upgradeable to 8 GB)
- Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD with up to 1759 MB of dynamically shared reminiscence allocated by the system (Learn more)
- 8x SuperMulti DVD drive with double layer support and Labelflash printing (See speeds)
- 1.3 megapixel with Face Recognition capabilities for added security (Learn more)
- Sleep-and-Charge USB port allows you to charge your mobile phone and other devices even when the notebook is asleep or off.
- Touch pad with multitouch control gives you a whole new dimension of freedom–the ability to pinch, swipe or rotate images on the show screen with the brush of your fingers.
- 104-key keyboard with 10-key pad
- Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11a/b/g/n) for greater speed and range
- Quick Ethernet (10/100)
- HDMI-CEC audio/video productivity lets you control additional media players with just a single remote.
- Harman Kardon stereo speakers bring an added dimension to composition, movies and gaming with rich, immersive virtual surround sound
- Brilliant Fusion end with Sonic pattern in Black Onyx (Learn more)
- Microsoft Windows Outlook Home Premium operating system (64-bit version) (Learn more)
- 6-cell (4000 mAh) battery
- Dimensions: 15.1 x 10.2 x 1.61 inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: 6.5 pounds
- Warranty: One-year limited hardware warranty
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
With its integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range by 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It’s also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range–fantastic for closed office environments). This notebook also provides Quick (10/100) Ethernet networking.
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 (see a view of the ports on both sides of this laptop):
- 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals–from digital cameras to MP3 players
- Includes 1 eSATA/USB combo port with USB Sleep and Charge
- 1 HDMI productivity for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable
- Analog video productivity: 1 VGA
- 1 ExpressCard 54/34 slot for adding advanced wireless, networking, storage space, and security features
- 5-in-1 reminiscence card reader compatible with Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Reminiscence Stick, Reminiscence Stick PRO, Multi Media Card, xD Picture Card
- 1 headphone jack (with SPDIF digital audio support), 1 microphone jack
- RJ-45 port for 10/100 Quick Ethernet
- RJ-11 port for 56K modem
What’s in the box
This package contains the Toshiba Satellite A505-S6973 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions.
It also comes with the following software: Norton Internet Security 2009 (30-day trial), Toshiba PC Health Monitor, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Journal (60-day trial), Windows Media Player, Corel DVD Movie Factory, Google Toolbar, Google Picasa, PowerCinema, WildTangent Orb Game Console
Learn More
Superb Viewing on 16-Inch Widescreen LCD
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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.
Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology: Advanced Technology for Connected Mobility
Intel® Centrino® processor technology combines advanced dual-core responsiveness, wireless networking, and exclusive power management features designed for stay-away-longer battery life. Two high-performance processing cores let you run multiple demanding applications simultaneously—download HD video while you restore photos, remix a soundtrack or delight in casual gaming. Intel HD Boost dramatically accelerates multimedia processing for more exhilarating high-classification video and gaming experiences.
Intel is continually rising new technologies for all your computing needs. Experience everything Intel Centrino processor technology offers, or check out
Intel’s buying guide to find the PC that’s right for you.
(1) Internet access required and sold separately.
(2) Discretionary items sold separately or as add on features.
(3) Actual speeds may vary. Don’t copy copyright-protected materials. Double Layer is a new technology. Double Layer media compatibility will widely vary with some home DVD players and DVD-ROM drives. LightScribe makes a monochrome image. LightScribe media required and sold separately.
(4) Certain Windows Outlook product features require advanced or additional hardware. See www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/hardwarereqs.mspx and www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx for details. Windows Outlook Upgrade Advisor canhelp you determine which features of Windows Outlook will run on your computer. To download the tool, visit www.windowsvista.com/upgradeadvisor.
Dual-Core Processing Power
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The Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 processor has a 2.1 GHz processor speed, quick 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 2 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.)
With two computational execution cores in a single processor, it provides greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It’s optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Outlook operating system. It can simultaneously 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. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:
- Smart Reminiscence Access: Improves system performance by hiding reminiscence latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
- Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
- Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
- Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system reminiscence during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.
8x DVD-SuperMulti Drive
This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD±R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It offers the following read/write speeds:
- Write: 24x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 6x DVD-R DL (double-layer), 6x DVD+R DL (double-layer), 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+RW, 5x DVD-RAM
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.
Integrated Webcam with Face Recognition Capabilities
A 1.3 megapixel digital web camera built into the LCD’s bezel lets you quickly snap photos and participate in live video chats. 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.
Brilliant Fusion End and Feather-Touch Multimedia Controls
The lighted, feather-touch multimedia controls. |
This Toshiba Satellite laptop makes a real statement about your personal style the moment you walk in a room, thanks to Fusion end with finely striped Sonic design pattern. Run your fingertips across the charming, shiny palm rest of the Satellite laptop and what do you encounter? Nary a bump. That’s because the touchpad is recessed to give your notebook a more rationalized look, and to give you more comfort when you’re clicking or going crazy with that cursor.
Additionally, separate multimedia buttons let you launch your favorite entertainment straight away. But with their unique feather-touch operation these controls do that and more–allowing you to effortlessly start, pause, quick-forward and rewind.
Windows Outlook Home Premium Operating System
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Windows Outlook Home Premium (64-bit version) 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.
Rating: 
(out of 69 reviews)
Satellite Notebooks review
Bought this for my wife to replace a 4-year-ancient Acer. Ordered last night and got it this morning…
Right off the bat, the huge screen size mesmerized me. Migrating from a 14″ to this with a much better quality screen was a pleasure to the eyes.
The system booted up quickly for the first time but I had to do LOTS and LOTS of updates including SP1. Toshiba never stops small of putting bloatware in its laptops sadly. But about 2 hours of “cleaning” made the laptop breath a lot simpler…
The web cam sliding panel on the screen is annoying and I haven’t found a way to completely disable it yet.
Overall, on looks I give it a solid 5 stars. I got the black one. It’s shiny and very excellent-looking. It’s a bit on the heavy side at over 7 lbs but that was perfectly probable.
The keys on keyboard are very comfortably spaced and are very responsive. The 10-key is a HUGE plus. The mouse is very tactile and responds fantastic to the touch of the fingertips. It’s supposed to allow multi-finger touch as well I reflect, but haven’t had a chance to mess around with that yet.
It also comes with instructions as to how request your free copy of the Windows 7 upgrade. You can do so through Toshiba’s web site.
The bottom of the laptop does not get nearly as hot as the older Acer used to, so that’s a plus.
My first laptop ever was Toshiba Satellite (that was n years ago!) and only if I had kept that one and I may possibly place the side by side… what a world of difference.
I left the BEST feature (in my opinion and so far) for last: The speakers are THE BOMB!!! They are hands down the best speakers on any laptop I have ever seen/owned. I owned another Toshiba that I bought from the retailer that sells things in bulk and it also had very loud speakers for a laptop but this laptop’s speakers are both LOUD and FANTASTIC quality. The harman/kardon categorize says it all. Indeed one of the best features so far…
Again, it’s been only 1 day and I spent most of it getting rid of the bloatware, downloading numerous VISTA updates, and installing many of the software she uses, so I didn’t get to play with it much. But overall, I am loving it, and most importantly she’s been truly enjoying it so far.
One small annoying feature I may possibly’ve lived without is the volume buttons’ system beep. These touch-sensitive buttons (located on the top right corner of the keyboard) are very responsive, but by defaulting they produce a very annoying system beep every time one or the other is touched. I found through the Sound settings in Control Panel an option that let me turn that off which improved my experience with the volume buttons 100%. Before, sometimes after holding the + or – button for a few second, I guess because the annoying system beep itself was glitchy, it’d get “stuck” and would continue to beep even after I let go… That’s resolved now that I turned off the system beep associated with it. The touch buttons now function the way they ought to. The buttons are lit so when you touch one or the other, the light goes off for each touch indicating the volume is going up or down one notch. No need for the buzzing system beep… Anyhow, thought to share this…
VERY IMPORTANT—–READ!!!!
Last night, as my wife was by the laptop, it just died…. literally, the whole screen went out…. The power button and battery button were both on; the hard drive light was off; the indicators right not more than the screen (top of the keyboard) were all off; the power button was fully lit. The fan (yes, it really has a fan… I found it, but it’s SUPER silent) was functioning but the keyboard didn’t seem to respond……. Long tale small after troubleshooting for at least 45 minutes and getting nowhere, I called the tech support. It was a call center overseas but the response was quick and tech seemed knowledgeable enough I guess; troubleshooting steps were exactly same as what I had already tried…… sadly, he declared the laptop dead at 10:46 p.m… Cause of death: Unknown (hardware related!). So the tech support tells me I have to ship it to their depot… nothing is done overnight! They would ship the empty box — ground shipping –, then I’d ship it back to them — again GROUND –, then it’d take them 7 to 10 business days to repair, and then they’d ship it back to me — GROUND! I am sorry, but my poor Sony laptop after 10 or so months of heavy use, started having problems with its Wi-Fi card; long tale small, I had my laptop picked up, repaired, and sent back to me within 5 business days excellent as new.
Back to this review, Amazon at the end saved the day… They overnighted one for me last night and I’ll have the groundbreaking new laptop tomorrow, and then I have to send them this one back… just like that. So as of right now, I am disappointed with Toshiba’s overall consumer service…. The laptop was doing fantastic, and I have no thought why it died so suddenly… but it did and it’s a done deal.. Moral of the tale: 1) Sometimes you just end up getting a lemon 2) You get you what you pay for. With the money I bought my Sony laptop I may possibly’ve bought 6 (I am not joking) of these laptops…. and neither their service nor their product has ever stopped small of being perfect… I am just sayin’…
First of all, this ia a LOT of computer for the price. I’ve had this computer for two weeks now and it is used several hours each day. I like that the RAM is upgradeable to 8gb, even even if it runs perfectly quick with 4gb. The screen is fantastic and I like the non-shiny end of the screen, so there is no glare at all. The keyboard is the perfect size (for my fixed-sized girl hands), and I really prefer the scrolly pad that the Toshibas have over other brands I have used.
This is the third Toshiba laptop in my household. We have absolutely loved all of them. This new one is certainly incredible, and the best of the bunch. The things that I find they all have in common are – They stay very cool (I use them all on laptop stands, mostly Rolodex Laptop Stands) and they are gorgeous.
The A505-S6973 is no exception. This laptop comes equipped with everything I may possibly possibly need and more hard drive than I will ever use. I didn’t find that there was too much junk I had to uninstall…just the usual Norton hogzilla software and some internet type software (netzero) that seems to always come on computers these days. I usually have to spend the better part of the day uninstalling, updating, installing my own security software, and cleaning up. With this laptop I only spent a couple of hours with all of that.
The speed of the processor is wonderful. The premium speakers are reasonably noticeable as it seems like most mid-range laptops have junky speakers. I would really listen to composition or watch a movie on this one without even having to plug in my headphones.
Lastly, this is one gorgeous laptop. The shiny black end on the exterior top and the inside has a cool, subdued, lined design on it that you don’t see in the online pictures. It is sleek and smart looking. It feels solid and well-built. I would not hesitate to recommend this laptop. I have had the best of experiences with every Toshiba brand product I’ve had over the years and the 3 laptops in my household, now including this one, are stellar in their performance.
This is an brilliant buy, and the best deal out there. It’s no wonder why it’s Amazon’s best selling computer.
It’s a beauty to behold. Gorgeous black end with just the slightest hint of curvy lined design.
Gorgeous keyboard. Like the multimedia touch controls. The Eco feature button is fantastic and simple to reach. The Eco feature easily can give you an additional hour or more of battery life. The 16″ screen is bright and gives fantastic color and fantastic for movies. The speakers are awesome for a laptop! And the one thing that was really a surprise…it’s super cool, as in the battery doesn’t heat up. Everyone was amazed that after hours of use, the battery wasn’t hot at all. It may get SLIGHTLY warm on the left..but not too much. If it wasn’t, then it would be a near miracle!
With 4G of Ram, run multiple programs at once with no hiccups. On my Dell I couldn’t run Outlook, Limewire and Windows Live Messenger without something freezing. This Laptop does it flawlessly. With the huge 500G Hard drive, PLENTY of room for pictures, videos and downloads (movies, games..etc.) My wireless internet on this laptop zooms.
For $649, you CANNOT go incorrect! It is the BEST value you are going to get for this price. 4G Ram, 500G Hardrive, 16″ HD Screen, brilliant speakers, gorgeous styled keyboard and take in, Cool battery making by the laptop comfortable.
If you are looking for a laptop in this price range…this is the best choice, hands down.
The Toshiba A505-S6973 Laptop is a slick, lightweight, very quick machine with an incredibly bright & clear show.
Beware!! This is a “64-bit” version of Windows Outlook Home Premium, which made all of my legacy software (Office 2000, FrontPage 2002, etc.) obsolete. My circa 2007 HP 9417 Laptop with Outlook Home Premium ran all the legacy software without problems. Unfortunately, the HP computer was a dud, but that is another review… Bottom line I was able to hold used 2003 software (Office & FrontPage), which seems to work well.
Here are some things I like about the Toshiba A505-S6973..
– Brilliant Value – 4 MBs RAM & 500 GB HDD
– Incredibly Quick
– The best show of any computer I have seen or used
– Fantastic Speakers
– Lightweight for its size
– Very Lightweight A/C Adapter with a very long cord
Here are some things I do not like about the Toshiba A505-S6973
– The Laptop does not have a latch to close the screen. It is only a sprung hinge…
– The touch pad is hard to distinguish from the adjacent areas, and the touch-scroll is integrated into the edge of the pad – Hard to control
– The keyboard has a very light touch and the space bar, enter key, and delete keys are way too small.
– The input for the headphone jack is poor – Incomplete connection, static, etc.
If you are plotting to hold or already own current versions of MS Office, etc. this is a fantastic value. If you have legacy software with upgrades from 1997-2000-2002, etc. delight beware.
I am not a computer tech type person like a lot of you so i can’t give you a detailed review on what this computer does on the inside. I am an everyday computer user and I like this laptop. I have only had HP computers in the past and I took the chance on a Toshiba. I wish I had changed a long time ago. I can’t judge the ease of installing programs and my printer. If i didn’t know what i was doing a box came up to tell me. This laptop is gorgeous and so well made. I can’t judge I got it for this price. Everything came working with no problems at all. There wasn’t a lot of “stuff” I had to take out before by it. The widescreen is fantastic and I feel like i’m sitting in front of my desktop. I had originally gotten it for my daughter but I am ordering another one for her. I’m now sold on Toshiba. I went to the Toshiba site and filled out forms to get the windows 7 free. I had to upload a copy of the receipt. It said I may possibly mail or fax it if that was simpler. They will send me an email when they mail it to me in October. I didn’t expect to get such a nice computer for this price.