Are you a college student looking for a general purpose notebook? Well, then Toshiba Satellite U505 can very well be the machine for you as the laptop has been fabricated in a manner to serve general needs of students and consumers. The machine features a Intel Core 2 Duo processor and is available in several customizable options to impress students. Toshiba’s U405 model was quite impressive, but does Satellite U505 delivers? Check out our exclusive Toshiba Satellite U505 review to know what the machine has in store for you.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Looks And Design

The exterior of the notebook is made of plastic. We experienced some flex on the left palm rest when we applied pressure.  The chassis however, felt solid and did not squeeze under pressure. We were impressed to note that the laptop does not have a glossy finish. Our machine had a matte textured finish.

With Satellite U505 dimensions measuring 12.5″ x 9.08″ x 1.16″/1.50″, we cannot exactly call the machine ultraportable. The machine is thicker than MacBook Air (Apple) and ThinkPad X301 (Lenovo). Satellite U505’s weight is also on the higher side (4.75 lb). Overall Toshiba has done a fine job in constructing the machine.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Screen

Toshiba Satellite U505 laptop features a 13.3 inches glossy display which is capable of displaying pictures of resolution measuring 1280×800 pixels. The contrast of the screen is pretty good and the company has done a great job while keeping a balance between gloss and matte. The colors provided are sharp, crisp and vibrant. However, in direct sunlight, the screen suffers to some extent and even with full brightness turned on, we faced problems while reading the content. Viewing angles are quite decent. We found horizontal viewing angles to be better than vertical viewing angles.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Heat

Just like U505, the machine did a great job in controlling heat because of its massive heatsink available on the left side of the notebook. Though the touchpad and the bottom of the notebook got a bit warm after significant web browsing, it was never too hot if kept on lap. Overall, Satellite U505 is a relatively cool machine. The fan did a great job in disposing of hot air, keeping temperatures low.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Keyboard

Toshiba’s decision to give the keys less glossy paint works well as this gives the keys a durable finish and good texture. The keys are flat and a bit small than U505. The keyboard gave a decent typing experience. Some of the users might take a bit of time while getting adjusted to the small size of the keys. The key presses are quite good and the keys gave us a good tactile feedback. Under heavy pressure we witnessed some flex.

However, under normal pressure, it did not flex at all. We liked backlighting of the keyboard as it helps one to see what one is typing.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Touchpad

Satellite U505 is equipped with a traditional ALPS touchpad which is a bit small as compared to the traditional touchpads that is found in most of the 13 inches notebooks. Thanks to the white LED backlight above the touchpad, one can easily locate it in dark room. However we found the touchpad buttons to be a bit shallow and when pressed it gave a sharp click. We wished a deeper feedback while pressing the touchpad buttons.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Specs

Here are some of the technical specifications of Satellite U505 Notebook PC

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo P7350
• Memory: 4GB DDR2 SDRAM
• OS: Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64 bit)
• Optical Drive:  Slot-Loading DVD SuperMulti
• Dimensions: 12.5″ x 9.08″ x 1.16″/1.50″
• Weight: 4.75 lbs
• Warranty: 1 year standard warranty

Toshiba Satellite U505 Speakers

The performance of the speakers is decent enough and a full volume was good enough to fill a room. But at the same time we witnessed a heavy distortion. With headphones plugged in, you get a good amount of amplitude.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Graphics

The notebook gives you to the choice of choosing either Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD or ATI Mobility Radeon H4570. The graphics performance of the machine is decent enough to carry out normal activities, but if you are looking forward to play powerful HD games then you will be disappointed.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Drivers

To download Satellite U505 drivers, click here.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Performance

Toshiba offers a wide range of configurations to Satellite U505 and the machine has enough muscle to carry out multimedia functions. The machine will give you a decent computing experience.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Accessories

During unboxing of Satellite U505 we found the machine to be equipped with the following accessories

• AC Adapter
• Battery
• Satellite U505
• User Manual

Satellite U505 user manual will help you to better utilize the machine.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Battery Life

The 12 cell 8500mAh Li-Ion battery provided a great battery life for Satellite U505. In our test the battery of the notebook lasted for over 5 hours while we browsed the internet using Wi-Fi.

Toshiba Satellite U505 Price

Priced at approximately $ 600, Satellite U505 is a good general purpose machine. Competition is however tough in the 13 inch category of the notebooks and we believe Satellite U505 will tackle the challenge very well.