[jqp]

Finally I picked up a new laptop to replace my dinosaur Pentium 3 1GHz 512MB RAM Dell Inspiron 8100.

My new laptop is a Toshiba M305D-S4830 (I think its a BB only edition). Overall I am pleased:

The Good

4GB 800Mhz SDRAM (PC-6400)
Vista 64-bit Home Premium (uses all 4GB)
AMD ZM-80 is 2.1GHz and dual core
Plenty of storage - 250GB
writes Dual Layer DVDs
Firewire and eSata in addition to USB
14" screen
great keyboard
trackpad is actually very nice
5.5 lbs (The Dell was 8+)
US$ 699 with no tax (tax-free weekend in NC)

The Bad

5.5 lbs (I wanted less than 4)

The Ugly

I will probably buy the first affordable (<$1000)  sub 3lb. laptop that comes along (that has something close to these features)


Overall a solid feel, I carry it around like a thick 8x11 portfolio when it is not in my backpack. It will also hold lots of photos when travelling

[TheChairGuy]

4gb is indeed a must with Vista...you should get pretty good battery life with only a 14" screen. Firewire offboard backups are super fast (esata better if you have outboard hard drive with esata, too).

My 15.4" was 7.25lb and I was pleased (the 15.4" it replaced was over 8, too)

Enjoy - John

[BradJudy]

4gb is indeed a must with Vista...

I think he meant that the 64-bit version is capable of leveraging the full 4GB as opposed to the 32-bit version. 

I'm running Vista with 2GB and it's moves quite well.  It was slow with the original 1GB I had on this system though. 

[TheChairGuy]

Mine's 64 bit (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor) too, and it sings with 4GB.

Fabulous......it's a Gateway (purdy red lid, too) 

John