Ron Schenone

Wal-Mart Offers Inexpensive Toshiba Laptop For $399

Posted by on Jul 17, 2008 | 25 Comments

I received an advertisement from Wal-Mart in the mail this morning, which featured a Toshiba laptop for $399. I have always thought that Toshiba made a fine laptop product and have recommended the Toshiba models to clients for years. What surprised me about this model is that it also featured a 15.4″ true bright screen.

The specifications included 2 GB of  RAM, 120 GB hard disk, CD/DVD writer as listed in the ad plus Vista Home Premium and not Vista Basic . So I took a ride around the Internet looking for additional information concerning this model. Here is what I learned. Additonal information on specifications included:

CPU : Intel Celeron Processor 540 (1.86 GHz)
LCD : 15.4″ Diagonal Widescreen TrueBrite Display
MEMORY : 2GB DDR2 RAM
HDD : 120 GB
ODD : SuperMulti DVD+/-RW
MODEM : 56K
LAN : 10/100 Base T
WIRELESS LAN : 802.11 b/g WLAN
SOFTLOAD : Windows Vista Home Premium 

This is how they got the unit price so low. The CPU is the older Celeron and not a dual core. But overall the unit should met most users needs.

The sale at Wal-Mart starts Sunday, July 20th, at 8:00am and there is a minimum of 10 units per store.  No rain checks will be available. Model # is A205-S5000.

But what do you think? Deal or no deal?

Source.

  • Peter

    Not bad for the casual user. Most people really don’t need a dual-core machine, though it can be a nice luxury. If I had a spare $400 sitting around, I might consider it. However the “10 per store” thing – not worth waiting to me. They’ll either be there or they won’t and it’s not a good enough deal to get me out just for that.

  • Kelly

    Hi, I was actually looking up more info. about this deal and your comments on it came up. I’m looking for a laptop to be able to make newsletters, e-mail, and do a few other things. From what you have found, do you think this is a smart buy for a first laptop. I don’t have $400 just sitting around, but I do need to get a laptop. If you have advice, please e-mail me: . Thanks!

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Kelly,
    Like Peter has mentioned, this system is well priced for the casual user. In fact for what you are going to be doing, it should be adequate for your needs.

    I was personally giving it some consideration, since I am thinking of replacing my personal laptop, which is just about 3 years old. It is a Gateway and works fine thus far.

    But I decided because of my needs, that I will buy another Gateway with a dual-core and more RAM.

    Bottom line – I think this is a good system at a reasonable price.

  • Anna McCullough

    Kelly – It’s a fine laptop for the basic needs you’ve described. It’d be a lousy gaming machine, really poor for editing video, and might struggle a wee bit with editing really massive photo files (say over 50 mb), but for what you’ve described – just great :) Hope you’re able to get one – it’ll sell FAST.

  • Dean

    Will this Toshiba A205-S5000 be able to handle Turbo-Cad, Auto-Cad, other “looping” programs, and all in a dusty / somewhat magnetic environment?

  • Dean

    What would you recommend for Turbo-Cad, Auto-Cad, other “looping” programs w/ say 15 variables – sometimes dependent, heavy internet, video phone, and info/pics storage?

  • John

    I am looking at this for my daughter. Her desktop quit so I thought the laptop would give her more versatility plus, she can plug her flat screen in and use it as a desktop when around the house. Do you think it will run the Sims2 games ok?

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Dean,
    I think not.

    John,
    What isn’t mentioned is the video display adapter it comes with. Because of this , I am not sure it would work with Sims 2.

    As stated, it is not a gaming machine. :-)

  • Larry Parrish

    This is a great deal – try and find a new laptop for that price!

    I looked up the laptop at Toshiba website and couldn’t find any information on it. What’s the deal with that?

  • Kim

    What is the graphic card on this machine. I looked at the Toshiba website and this is not even listed to get the specs for on the support pages? Is this old and Wal Mart bought out a warehouse/

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Dean,
    For a dirty work environment I’d look at the Panasonic Toughbook or other similar make. Pricey.

    Hi Larry,
    I was at Wal-Mart this AM with a friend who bought one. They were made specifically for Wal-Mart, so the model isn’t on Toshiba’s site. :-)

  • Pinn

    I bought it at 12:01 this morning for the same price. my first lap top but the buzz I found was good. lot’s of doubters but a lot mroe “sounds like a good deal” folks, so I bought it. From a layman point of view it seems heavy and fagile. Nice color, midnight blue I think. I got to figure out how to use it now after years of desktop. Need a router to hook up to the internet. Bought the extended warranity for $60, just makes sense. Over all I am happy for the first 12 hours.

  • http://n/a Ryan

    Me and my Mother went to Wal-Mart this morning and picked one up for her, it seems to be doing well. And by the way, it was a minimum of 10 per store meaning every store had at least 10. Our local Wal-Mart had over 50!

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Pinn,
    Enjoy. :-)

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    I just saw this:
    http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/sys/762431920.html
    Someone must of went to Wally World and bought one of the Toshiba laptop for $399 now is asking $550. LOL

  • Rick

    I bought one of these Toshiba’s yesterday. Other than the CPU it is a quality machine. I bought it for my son to upgrade his. As usual it has a million crap apps that are unnessesary and try then buy software with special deals. To my surprise it is very smooth and the video is extremely clear and fluid. After testing it out Vista I wiped the drive and reloaded with XP Pro. I It runs Office 2007, Adobe CS3 Suite, Nero 8 and most games so far. Much better and very faster on XP. I would say it is a great buy for the money.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Rick,
    Just curious. Did you have any problems locating the correct drivers for XP, or did the Pro version have them all?

    TIA, Ron

  • Jan Keen

    I bought one of the Wally’s laps and after spending a day on Toshiba’s web site, found that it is very similar to the Satellite A205-5800.

    Didn’t find out if you could swapout the CPU or not.

  • http://www77.cuppett.org Christopher Cuppett

    Ron,

    My wife bought one yesterday. I don’t remember the video card make and model, but I do remember that the video was rated 3.1 in the Vista control panel and that it ran Aero Glass flawlessly. I’m very impressed so far with it.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Thanks once again for the comments and information.

    Jan,
    I believe you are correct. I also noted that in the manual there is a procedure to make recovery DVD’s for the system. If this option is available, I would recommend doing this. Check you owners manual to confirm the availability of this option.

    Regards, Ron

  • Pingback: How To Get The Most Out Of Your New PC ~ The Blade by Ron Schenone, MVP

  • Scooter

    I just ordered a Toshiba with better specs from New Egg for the same price.

    Dual core
    250GB drive
    15.4″ screen

  • Scooter

    Did I mention free shipping and no tax?

  • Scooter

    Did I also mention that it will replace my 6 year old Toshiba laptop. They’re pretty tough units.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Thanks Scooter for the info. I’m sending this out on a Toshiba laptop which has been rock solid.