Compare Laptop Computers: Toshiba Satellite Series A65 Laptop Rating

Toshiba Satellite A65: The A65 is a straightforward productivity machine that's priced right. As an entry-level laptop the A65 offers features not usually found on a laptop in this category. A large 60GB hard drive, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity, and a DVD/CD-RW drive are features usually found on higher-priced notebooks.

Connectivity is also well taken care of with a generous selection of ports that should meet all of your needs. Although there is no floppy drive or media card reader, the ample number of USB 2.0 ports provides an opportunity to utilize a small jump drive for your backup needs and is much faster than a floppy anyway. I carry a small 128MB jump drive that's half the size of a pen and it holds as much information as 88 floppies.

The Celeron processor won't give you blazing speed, but it's more than adequate for most desktop applications such as Word or Excel. The absence of the Pentium M processor accounts for the relatively poor battery life. Considering the price range of this notebbok though, that's to be expected.

The ATI Mobility graphics will give you solid DVD movie playback and will handle games well with the exception of 3D titles. The lower-end graphics chipset combined with the Celeron processor will give you some "jerkiness" if you attempt the more demanding 3D gaming titles.

All in all, the Toshiba Satellite A65 notebook will perform admirably for everyday use and is a perfect model for the college-bound student on a budget who is looking for good performance and reliability in an entry-level model.