Between 200 and 499, you’ll find Toshiba’s most modest offerings: underpowered Windows laptops and a few average Chromebooks. As you’re shopping for a Toshiba laptop, keep these price ranges in mind. I was also interested in having a notebook without Vista’s software incompatibilities.Toshiba’s laptops are among the most affordable on the market today but they don’t all bring the same value for the money. Another advantage of the R500 is that it uses a 2.5" hard disk which offers better performance and capacity than the 1.8" drives. I had recently seen the R500 on display and it looked and felt better than suggested by the initial reviews. Also, while the 1024 x 768 resolution display is easy to read, the relatively low resolution becomes a limitation.I decided this was acceptable, given the discounted price. I returned this to Morgan and was quickly sent another, slightly different model which worked better although it had a blemish on the display. The first R500 I received had a loose keyboard, a deformed touchpad and also ran somewhat hot (which suggests that "factory refurbished" could be better). I was tempted by a factory refurbished R500 selling for about 30% off the price of the current version. Smooth-running of all your PC devices such as printers, scanners etc.Morgan Computers have specialized for many years in end-of-line and refurbished computers and related equipment. Better PC performance for games and audio applications.Hard Disk Drive: 160GB 5400rpm 2.5" HDD (Toshiba MK1637GSX) with shock sensor Memory: 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC5300 RAM running at 533MHz Display: 12.1" WXGA (1280 x 800) transflective matte LCD with LED backlight. CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo ULV U7600 (1.20Ghz) with Intel 945GMS chipset Leaflets about LCD displays, reconditioned notebooks and Windows XPHardware Specifications for the Toshiba R500-11C: Wireless: Intel 4965agn mini-PCI-e Wireless Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant 1394 Host Controller Bluetooth: Toshiba USB Bluetooth 2.0+EDR Network: Intel Pro/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
![]() 6-cell battery (10.8V, 5800mAh = 62.64Whr) Security: AuthenTec AES1610 Personal Information Device with TPM and finger 86-key keyboard, which claims to be spill-resistant Audio: Realtek ALC262 high definition audio + single internal loudspeaker Media card reader supporting SD / SDHC / MMC Toshiba Mk1637Gsx Media Plus Recover DiscToshiba Utilities: Toshiba Assist ConfigFree Toshiba Controls Direct Disc Writer Disc Creator Display Devices Change Utility HDD Protection Hotkey Utility for Display Devices Mic Effect Mobile Extension 3 Password Utility Diagnostic Tool Power Saver SD Memory Boot Utility SD Memory Utilities Security Assist Touchpad on/off Utility Wireless Key Logon Zooming UtilityThe dominant feature of the R500 is its slim profile and low weight. Windows XP Pro SP2 supplied on recovery disc Windows Vista Business 32 bit pre-installed plus recover disc Travel weight including PSU and cables 1.53kg (3.37lbs) which reduces to 1.41kg (3.1lbs) with the 45W PSUPower cables (kilograms) ( view large image) Weight : published = 0.987kg (2.18lbs), actual = 1.08kg (2.38lb) Dimensions: 283mm x 216mm x 19.5mm ~ 25.5mm (published), 283mm x 216mm x 20mm~30mm (actual dimensions including feet) (11.1" x 8.7" x 0.8"~1.2") The hinges have no looseness and are adjusted to hold the display firmly in position. The R500’s colour scheme is silver, except for the black bezel around the display.During travel the display is held closed by spring-loaded hinges. The display is also slightly flexible and, while pushing on the back slightly bends the LCD panel, it does not cause any ripples. It is possible to slightly squeeze the palm rests or push in on the base of the notebook but the overall chassis is rigid and does not bend. The display back is magnesium alloy but the remainder of the construction is plastic (polycarbonate). My refurbished notebook has only a one-year warranty without the money back offer.I also wonder whether certain parts have been strengthened since launch since my R500 weighs 9% (0.09kg / 0.2lbs) more than the advertised weight. This must reflect either confidence in the product’s durability … or confidence in the exclusion clauses. In fact, Toshiba UK currently offers a three-year warranty and a money-back promise if the computer has to be repaired under warranty. However, I have not read reports of a high failure rate. This makes the screen reasonably thin but the design of the hinges also limits how far the screen can be tilted back.The slim design and low weight of the R500 make it appear to be fragile. The hinges are located half way down the back of the notebook. 7 sins androidThe standard 6-cell battery fits inside the chassis between the keyboard and the hinge and occupies the full thickness of the computer. There is a single removable cover for the RAM slot. There is also a bulge over the hard disk which I presume is intended to provide some impact protection. Nor can I think of any component option which would account for the increased weight difference.The bottom of the computer is shaped to suit the components inside with visible protrusions for the hard disk and the PC card slot. The models with SSDs and no optical drive have lower advertised weights. Laser mfd 6020 driver downloadOnce inside, the dominant component is the optical drive, next is the 2.5" SATA hard disk (which is slotted into some rubber mountings) and finally, on one corner there is a small mainboard containing the memory slot, the mini-PCIe wireless card, the heat sink and fan. Nineteen screws and one ribbon cable is all that lies between the internals and daylight. There is also a docking station slot in the base.After seeing a video on YouTube showing the R500 being disassembled in very few minutes, I could not resist the temptation to take a peek inside. It is slightly bouncy in places, most noticeably around the F4 key. The keyboard uses the full width of the chassis and has reasonable travel. The overall rigidity is provided by the 19 screws.The front edge of the palm rest is rounded and the palm rest is a comfortable 14mm from the table surface. Excluding the memory slot cover, the whole base is a thin plastic moulding. The buttons have a positive action with an audible click but the need to be pushed down quite far to register (the left button is worse than the right). The touchpad buttons are separated by a fingerprint reader (which I have yet to test). The touchpad has a range of additional functions including both vertical and horizontal scroll zones as well as tap zones in the corners. Toshiba say that the keyboard is spillproof.The touchpad is a very generous 71mm x 42mm (2.8" x 1.7") and is slightly recessed into the palm rest. One distinctive feature is the inclusion of the Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock lights into the corresponding keys. My main dislike with the keyboard is the small left shift key (on the UK keyboard). There are two further buttons above the right side of the keyboard. The battery icon isThe power button is located behind the F1 key next to the single loudspeaker. The lights have symbols to make them easy to interpret, but the symbols are very small and the reflective background also reduces legibility.Front indicator lights. From left to right the lights are: Mains power Computer on / sleeping Battery status Hard disk activity SD card activity Wireless / Bluetooth on. This location is much more sensible than the more popular position under one of the user’s palms. The fan exhaust is on the left side so there is no blast of hot air towards the hand which may operate the mouse. A utility is provided for changing the default settings for these buttons.Overall, the ports are well laid out.
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