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General discussion

Toshiba Tecra A4 Opinions?

Jan 26, 2005 10:46PM PST

I just noticed that this new Tecra is listed on the Toshiba website and many of it's specs look great except for the hard drive, which if I ordered this model, I would need to upgrade it.

If I decide on this model, I have a couple of questions......
1)What is the difference between the XGA TruBrite display and the SXGA display. Which has the brightest, clearest images?

2)Which WiFi is recommended and what is the difference: Intel ProWireless 2915 ABG (802 a/b/g) vs. Atheros 802.11 b/g wireless-LAN supporting Atheros SuperG technology?

This comes with the Mobile Intel 915 GM Express Chipset.

3)All of the ram choices come with the PC2700 DDR333 SDRAM. Can this be upgraded? If so, would you suggest getting the lowest amount of ram and then upgrading?

4)There are many choices for the processor speeds....Is there much difference between the Intel Pentium M 760 2.0 GHz and the Intel Pentium M 770 / 2.13 GHz processors?

5)Is anyone familiar with the quality of the sound on this notebook line?

6)It comes with an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900; up to 128 MB of graphics memory is from the main memory via UMA. Does that mean that there is no dedicated graphics memory? Is it shared graphics memory? I would prefer dedicated graphics memory. This graphics memory also concerns me.

I'm still not finding everything I want in a laptop in any brand so I'm wondering what to (kind of ) settle for and then upgrade after purchase. I want a quality 15.4" screen with a fast processor, larger faster hard drive, and more ram......with fairly good sound, and not too heavy.Want to use it for photo and video editing as well as word processing and web surfing.

Discussion is locked

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Just wondering..
Jan 26, 2005 10:48PM PST

On the road I'm using my P3 600MHz for photo, video editing, word processing, web and more. It's unclear to me why you would need to upgrade this machine.

Tell more.

bob

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Tecra A4 opinions
Jan 26, 2005 11:18PM PST

I would want to upgrade the hard drive to a faster drive (over 4200 GHz) to at least 5400.

Also, once of my concerns is about the video card. Is it integrated, shared, or dedicated? Since it has the new Sonoma chipset, I don't know if I'm missing something here with the video ram specs since I'm not familiar with it or UMA.

Thanks for any help you can give me!!

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It's beyond what's needed for what you wrote.
Jan 26, 2005 11:21PM PST

And certain 2X and beyond what I use for similar tasks.

What's driving the need for the upgrades?

Bob

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Clarification
Jan 27, 2005 4:08AM PST

I will be using the lap top for video and photo editing, internet surfing, using Word and Excel for work reports regularly, and very mild gaming (card games only but not often). There will be some multitasking with 2 to 4 tasks at a time.

I want a bright, clear screen (wide-screen-15.4", not 17"), good battery time, WiFi capability, and I don't want a slow machine (which is what I have now). I want enough memory to be able to do these tasks without significantly slowing task time.

I've really received so many differing opinions that I'm getting more confused. I am not willing to consider Dell, HP, Compaq, or Sony. I have considered Fujitsu seriously but I want the 15.4" screen. I've also considered Acer seriously but have not been crazy about the screen brightness or clarity on the ones I've seen and the keyboard was not comfortable...otherwise, I think it is a great line.

What are your suggestions...specs that would be adequate for my needs?

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What you noted will be fab.
Jan 27, 2005 4:44AM PST

It's well above 2 times what I use today for such tasks. If this was my dollar, I know I'd go with the stock setup but may opt for a larger battery (lessons from prior laptops) and then see how it fares.

Bob

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Don't jump the gun on Sonoma --many models coming by March
Jan 27, 2005 4:12PM PST

Kkab:

You had better read about all the static issue problems causing notebook shutdown (apparently speaker grill problem) on the Toshiba Satelite A75 and apparently others --- see all the recent posts about this.

The Toshiba Techra is the business line and they are built better but they are very pricey.

Also, you are wasting money getting anything more than a 730 1.6, 740 1.7, or at most the 750 1.8 Pentium M Dothan processor (ending with 0 means it is Sonoma upgraded) -- all of these have the full 2mg L2 system cache and the 2.0 and higher cpus are just the top end and priced much higher but there is no other benefit than a few more megaherz (same L2 cache which is a big part of the up to 2x performance comparison with Pentium 4M's.

The a/b/g card is the new official Sonoma standard (Intel card) and it gives less interference and the a is used in some business environments and also a is supposedly superior for file sharing (but less range than g).

Super G means you can get up to 108mps (with a Compatible Atheros technology wi-fi router) but that would only be for file sharing.

I would go with the new Intel card.

You can save money on RAM by ordering RAM one slot only (256mb or 512mb) and adding a 512mb RAM chip to the 2nd slot for under $100 at retail on sale (Kingston is the brand I got and you can check their website for compatibility) --- true Sonoma notebooks are supposed to have the faster RAM though (old standard was PC2700 and PC2100 before that in the first generation). If they put the slower RAM in there you may not be able to move up to the faster RAM.

Wait for a true Sonoma build that has all the specs referenced in the Cnet article.

The video memory is integrated so far but it is a new standard that allows much faster video transmission due to a new chipset technology.

Dedicated video is coming and also there is a 2nd Sonoma version chipset just for dedicated video.

Don't jump the gun as you will only waste money and you can't easily add dedicated video later to a notebook.

The Dell 6000 is a great looking notebook out now with all the specs and dedicated video coming.

Also,the HPZT4000 Sonoma upgrade to the Compaq X1000/HPZT3000 (last generation) notebook I am typing on now (15.4" widescreen) is coming but not here yet.

Just be aware that if you refuse to look at anything other than Toshiba you are overpaying for Techra models and the consumer Satelite models have had the static issue and also some heat issues even with the M30/M35 Pentium M models.

I would wait until at least late February or March until all the new Sonoma models are out or you will be kicking yourself if some company comes out with something you like at a better price but you compromised to get the Toshiba Techra immediately.

This is not a Plymouth Prowler or Ford Mustang -- early adopters often miss out on things if they jump a new specification before the new models are even rolled out.........

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I'll continue to
Jan 27, 2005 11:32PM PST

Thanks, Ken, for all your info and addressing all my questions! It is very helpful!

I will continue to try to postpone my notebook purchase as long as I can until more options are issued. Right now, I'm dealing with a dying screen on my existing notebook so I do need to get a replacement as soon as possible......on the other hand, the screen has been dying for about a year and a half so I'll try to hold off as long as possible.

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Dell 6000 if trigger finger itchy or wait until Feb/March
Jan 28, 2005 11:06AM PST

Kkab:

The Dell 6000 is out now and it is an all new Sonoma build -- the only negative is it does not have a Dedicated video option yet ( a few weeks supposedly) but the integrated/shared video is improved in Sonoma.

So, check that notebook out and at least if you get that you are buying the new technology.

Otherwise, by mid February to early March all the new models should be out.

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Future decisions
Jan 28, 2005 11:04PM PST

Thanks, Ken!
I'll try to hold off for another month and hope my present laptop holds out until then. I don't want to consider Dell, though, due to previous poor customer service problems (which I know can happen with a lot of manufacturers).

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Thanks Ken
Feb 2, 2005 3:03PM PST

I'm trying to decide on a notebook -- after hours at Dell I moved on to Toshiba and Apple. Ken, I find your postings very informative and helpful. Thank you. I'm going to check out the 6000 on your suggestion.

On a different note: So far I'm between the Toshiba Satellite M40 , a Powerbook 15" with combo drive, or perhaps despite noise the Satellite A70. I'm ambivalent about portability because I am retired.

I plan to keep this notebook a very long time. For this reason I wonder if I should be looking at units that can use 64 bit technology.
Toby
Input from anyone will be helpful.

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Why not consider HP's version of Tecra A4?
Mar 8, 2005 5:29AM PST

I can understand why you wouldn't consider Dell's version of this machine (Inspirion 6000) given their crummy customer service rep. and the class action suits, but I'm curious as to why (other than the price) you wouldn't consider the HP-Compaq Business Notebook version (nc8230) especially since they offer a faster 5400-rpm hard drive. The nc8230 and the Tecra A4 are the two models I'm wavering between. I've been satisfied with the two Toshibas I've had before (except when they outgrew the hoggy memory demands of new software) but the specs on the nc8230 seem of higher quality.