Brushed Black Toshiba C75D-B7297 17.3 Inches Laptop Review

This Toshiba Satellite C75D-B7297 is not a high-end computer and it's best to keep that in mind when reading the reviews about it. Nor is this a high tech computer with all the bells and whistles. This is appropriate for the budget conscious who can't afford a major laptop investment but who need one for their kids to use and to do simple tasks like email and web searches. So when you read negative reviews, remember, many of those reviews are basing their opinions on expectations of functionality that a budget laptop will not likely provide. For me, this is a backup laptop because I knew when I selected this that it would not perform like a $2,000 laptop. It's $442. Do the math.

The standout is the 17-inch 720p display. I also really like the feel of the full keyboard. What I really don't like, even for a budget laptop, is the super cheap plastic it's made from. The housing is not only ugly but it shows every fingerprint (literally from the moment I removed it from the box)... Read more

I was looking for a good basic computer to do work on. I was not looking for an entertainment PC or a gaming PC, so when this became available, I decided to order it and give it a try. Here is what I found:

1. This is larger than a 17 inch HP laptop that I already have. So, be aware that this is NOT something that is easily taken with you on an airplane where space has become a premium. It is probably best suited for use in a dorm, office, or home. It has one of the smallest brick power supplies that I have ever seen on a computer.

2. The computer has many surprising features for a basic computer and has some strange elements as well. While it has Wi-Fi capability, the radio is only capable of using the 2.4Ghz band!!! That is suprising considering the fact that the difference in the retail cost of the radio is less than $8 between the 2.4 band only and the 2.4 and 5Ghz band radios. Also surprising is the fact that there is only one USB 3 port and 2... Read more

Reading through all the preceding excellent reviews, I find nothing that I seriously disagree with among any of the positive or negative comments. However, all must be taken in context. Your impression of this laptop will depend entirely on your expectations and your application.

First and foremost, this is a 17-inch class laptop being sold in the low four hundred dollar price range. Stating the obvious: It is unrealistic to expect cutting-edge technology for a budget price. Compromises have been made in all areas of performance and some in esthetics.

My previous laptop was a 17-inch Dell and as my principal application is not portable computing but to have a downstairs computer for email, web browsing and word-processing, I don't care to settle for anything smaller. The wide screen on this Toshiba provides very rich colors and crisp high resolution but within a noticeably more restricted viewing angle than most displays, which takes some getting used to... Read more