Never, ever, eeeeever again am I buying a Toshiba

[here4yagurlz]

Toshiba Satellite overall build quality is absolute crap. Possibly even worse than smaller companies like Acer, Fisher, etc. Seriously, the plastic is cheap, feels flimsy, like a toy, too fragile. Even makes you feel too cautious when travelling with it. I trully wish I got an IBM thinkpad, man do I ever regret it. They keyboard flexs and creaks and squeaks way too much from a company, what many consider to be a very good brand in electronics. From the ones Ive used, you have to type on it with angel like fingers, by barely touching the keys, or else you will get crazy non stop noises of the keyboard flexing. Never again a toshiba. Never.

Google it up "toshiba flexy keyboards or whatever along that line, and youll see numerous complaints about flexy keyboards and it annoying the hell out of the user, just flat out unuseable. I have never read one single review on the net, with the reviewer saying they felt typing on a toshiba felt solid. Ya right. Why doesnt toshiba put better quality parts into their laptops? When I bought my laptop a year ago, I avoided getting an HP (though it was cheaper) because I was worried bout their cheap build quality. Well, trust me you cant get any worse than Toshiba. Like really...I have so many friends with toshiba satellites and everyone has the same cheap build quality, creaky plastic, keyboards that cant even lie completely flat along the laptops chasis, hinges that creak, screens that go in.

Like how hard is that to do Toshiba? Do they just make assumptions "oh this will fit, close enough." This is what causes the flex, due to the keyboard not be perfectly symetric to the chasis - in fact not even close to being acceptable. Like one common problem, and I have seen this with just about every toshiba Ive used - is the ctrl key and/or the arrow keys will not be flat and no matter what you do to push it in to be aligned with the rest of the keys, nothing will work. So this throws you off, your typing, and gives you a nice loud annoying sound of the keyboard pounding the laptop chasis everytime you hit a key.

Yay for Toshiba! Im so happy for you! :twisted:

Toshiba users - feel free to drop your input. I know there are alot of satellite users.

[coriolis]

Yea, the Satellite line has pretty much gone down the tube in the last few years.

The Tecra line and the Portege line are much better, but they put out two new laptops in that line per year...

Also, Toshiba doesn't make the laptop, they ODM it...

I geuss they like picking the crappy ones? :p

edit: this is outdated but an idea...

http://thewafflehouse.net/stuffers/odm.JPG

[magical]

Toshiba Satellite overall build quality is absolute crap. Possibly even worse than smaller companies like Acer, Fisher, etc. Seriously, the plastic is cheap, feels flimsy, like a toy, too fragile. Even makes you feel too cautious when travelling with it. I trully wish I got an IBM thinkpad, man do I ever regret it. They keyboard flexs and creaks and squeaks way too much from a company, what many consider to be a very good brand in electronics. From the ones Ive used, you have to type on it with angel like fingers, by barely touching the keys, or else you will get crazy non stop noises of the keyboard flexing. Never again a toshiba. Never.

Google it up "toshiba flexy keyboards or whatever along that line, and youll see numerous complaints about flexy keyboards and it annoying the hell out of the user, just flat out unuseable. I have never read one single review on the net, with the reviewer saying they felt typing on a toshiba felt solid. Ya right. Why doesnt toshiba put better quality parts into their laptops? When I bought my laptop a year ago, I avoided getting an HP (though it was cheaper) because I was worried bout their cheap build quality. Well, trust me you cant get any worse than Toshiba. Like really...I have so many friends with toshiba satellites and everyone has the same cheap build quality, creaky plastic, keyboards that cant even lie completely flat along the laptops chasis, hinges that creak, screens that go in.

Like how hard is that to do Toshiba? Do they just make assumptions "oh this will fit, close enough." This is what causes the flex, due to the keyboard not be perfectly symetric to the chasis - in fact not even close to being acceptable. Like one common problem, and I have seen this with just about every toshiba Ive used - is the ctrl key and/or the arrow keys will not be flat and no matter what you do to push it in to be aligned with the rest of the keys, nothing will work. So this throws you off, your typing, and gives you a nice loud annoying sound of the keyboard pounding the laptop chasis everytime you hit a key.

Yay for Toshiba! Im so happy for you! :twisted:

Toshiba users - feel free to drop your input. I know there are alot of satellite users.

Acutally I never have had a toshiba laptop since last month I bought the one @ Future shop for $799 w/1GB ram... I made sure that I did the 'keyboard bend test' and checked the hinges, the unit passed the test flawlessly, I was amazed for such a cheap satellite that It was actually built good...

A Month later, and still running strong...

This thing is way better than my inspiron 8000, which creaked, and hinges made sounds when opening/closing... I am overall impressed with the unit, and it has ran flawlessly...

I personally would have gotten the IBM but for the price, I feel that I couldn't get anything that compared to the specs of this little one...

[airodus]

Generally toshibas have been quite good, maybe they've been slipping in the last little while. The satellite is the consumer model and is definately not up to the standards of a tecra or portege.

But that's pretty common with all brands. Compaq, HP, etc... all have pretty crappy consumer lines. Even IBM R series are nowhere near as nice as T series, tho I guess they are technically all business models (but R is pretty much a consumer model imho).

So, next time around, make sure you pick up the business model laptops.

[squall458]

my toshiba tecra is amazing! its very good build quality and runs like a dream. my hp on the other hand is the worst notebook i ever had. its so cheap and flimsy, and the lcd screen died from everyday regular use. sorry to hear that OP.

[here4yagurlz]

Yea, the Satellite line has pretty much gone down the tube in the last few years.

The Tecra line and the Portege line are much better, but they put out two new laptops in that line per year...

Also, Toshiba doesn't make the laptop, they ODM it...

I geuss they like picking the crappy ones? :p

edit: this is outdated but an idea...

http://thewafflehouse.net/stuffers/odm.JPG

whats ODM? toshiba doesnt make it at all? wow thats surprising.

[here4yagurlz]

Generally toshibas have been quite good, maybe they've been slipping in the last little while. The satellite is the consumer model and is definately not up to the standards of a tecra or portege.

But that's pretty common with all brands. Compaq, HP, etc... all have pretty crappy consumer lines. Even IBM R series are nowhere near as nice as T series, tho I guess they are technically all business models (but R is pretty much a consumer model imho).

So, next time around, make sure you pick up the business model laptops.

thats true. the thing that gets me is its so tough to tell how strong a laptop will be to you when you test it out in the store, etc. I really should have spent a couple days and waited for reviews to come in on my model. Even though i really wish i had gotten an IBM, it wasnt really a convenient option for me financially as I was qualified for a FS card at the time and just needed a laptop for school quickly.

Right now, id even go as far as saying HP has better built laptops. Seriously...you cannot get any worse than toshiba.

the thing with mine is that the chasis, isnt tight as it should be (casing basically under the keyboard, on top of mobo). If i pop off my keyboard and tap with my finger on the chasis it will start to make rattle/vibrating sounds - mostly the left side! So as im typing away, with numerous presses on the left side of the keyboard (caps, shift, tab, q, w, a, s, z, x etc) you will hear the chasis start rattling as you press the keys, and its not the keyboard thats doing this. But its from the keyboard hitting the chasis and makes the chasis make that sound since it comes in contact. Ive discovered, over so many lost and wasted hours (thanks toshiba) that there is literally no way to fix this or work around it. the only way would be if i were to have the keyboard simply not come in contact with the laptop itself. But ya as if thats possible. What the heck am I to do, stick a non-bendable thin material under the keyboard about half a mm off the chasis? I would like to see this.

FOr a $2000 machine, i at least expected to be able to use my laptop for what i got it for. And its quite difficult to do that in the office, at home, wherever when it sounds like im constantly pounding on tin foil. :mad:

[D.NGUYEN]

get an ASUS from Canadasys! Coriolis knows why too. Configure your own lappy!

[here4yagurlz]

get an ASUS from Canadasys! Coriolis knows why too. Configure your own lappy!

im stuck with this unfortunately. gotta find a way to work around this, there has to be some way.

Someone please help a brotha out.

[samj1]

I've got a Satellite A10. Have had many problems with it (HD died, fan died, ac adaptor died). Not necessarily turning on Toshiba though, I think I just made the mistake going Satellite rather than Tecra.

Sigh.

[here4yagurlz]

I've got a Satellite A10. Have had many problems with it (HD died, fan died, ac adaptor died). Not necessarily turning on Toshiba though, I think I just made the mistake going Satellite rather than Tecra.

Sigh.

there we go, glad to know im not alone. i know satellite is their consumer line, but it doesnt mean toshiba has to put out garbage from saudi arabia.

[turanuk]

lol actually it looks like they use a taiwanese ODM, compal, as well as quanta. Maybe you got one of the "Inventec" ones (never heard of this ODM). I'm guessing they use quanta for the tecra line (quanta is the ODM for the legendary thinkpads). What does surprise me on that chart is that Acer also uses quanta, apparently exclusively. That's pretty surprising if they're using it even for their economy line, but then again, that chart might be outdated.

[duckdown]

Not too impressed with CanadaSys from what I just looked at.

Those prices are not very good, and whats up with the complete lack of Turion processors?

[coriolis]

There is only a handful of Turions on the market, why? Probrably becaus ethe Turion ML sucks, compared to the Turion MT(MT uses less power but the same performance), and the only 3-4 laptops use the MT as of yet.

Yea, basically, large brands rename laptops as their own.

For example, Asustek makes PowerBooks, VAIOs, and various others. They recently signed a deal to make Dell's top of the line think-n-light laptops, as well as another contract to make HP/Compaq thin and lights. They inked a deal with IBM to make ThinkPads, but I think that was voided after Lenovo pruchased the ThinkPad line.

The prices for CanadaSys are pretty good, One of the least expensive from what I've seen.

[elephant]

I'm sure there are exceptions, but my Toshiba Satellite 1900 OFS (P4, 1.6Ghz) has been running amazing for 3 yrs now. No problems with Keyboard, sometimes it does crash, but that's probably due to my installing shady software onto it hehe. Everything else about it is still running great.

[duckdown]

There is only a handful of Turions on the market, why? Probrably becaus ethe Turion ML sucks, compared to the Turion MT(MT uses less power but the same performance), and the only 3-4 laptops use the MT as of yet.

Yea, basically, large brands rename laptops as their own.

For example, Asustek makes PowerBooks, VAIOs, and various others. They recently signed a deal to make Dell's top of the line think-n-light laptops, as well as another contract to make HP/Compaq thin and lights. They inked a deal with IBM to make ThinkPads, but I think that was voided after Lenovo pruchased the ThinkPad line.

The prices for CanadaSys are pretty good, One of the least expensive from what I've seen.


Yeah, I had also heard about the MT's being much better than the ML's because they use less voltage, but, if thats the case, why are the MLs so popular while the MT's are next to impossible to find?

And the ML's *SUCK* ?? I thought they were good, just not quite as good as Centrinos..

You said only a few laptops are using the MT's right now, can you point me in the direction of a couple of those? (Or is that just in the US right now?)

Thanks m8 :)

[rayesyn]

IBM is the way to go if you're looking for a well-built machine. i'm not a fan of all the finesse thats out there (sony/toshiba/hp...the list goes on). I need/want something that lasts thats why i jumped on that IBM deal from Lennovo a little while ago.

[here4yagurlz]

IBM is the way to go if you're looking for a well-built machine. i'm not a fan of all the finesse thats out there (sony/toshiba/hp...the list goes on). I need/want something that lasts thats why i jumped on that IBM deal from Lennovo a little while ago.


well thanks for making me feel better :(

[here4yagurlz]

you see kids, i dont know what the heck to do about this. i could take it into a toshiba shop, but what are they going to do? possibly replace the plastic that covers on top of the mobo and maybe the left plastic panel that hovers the power button etc. but theres no guarentee itll fix the rattling.

[coriolis]

ML doesn't suck but......exaggeration :D

Lets see, MT laptops?

The MSI 1029, Fujitsu s2110, HP nx6125, and...uhhhh....that's all I recall heh

[champ91]

my toshiba runs fine, i dont' think you should generalize based on only your experience.

the only complaint is probably the battery.

[airodus]

you see kids, i dont know what the heck to do about this. i could take it into a toshiba shop, but what are they going to do? possibly replace the plastic that covers on top of the mobo and maybe the left plastic panel that hovers the power button etc. but theres no guarentee itll fix the rattling.

You can try to sell it on ebay and then bid on a different machine. If you get something equivalent (same specs, USED), you probably won't even lose that much money if any at all.

So long as the laptop is fully functional (nothing broken or missing), should work out fine. Creaky and flexy and all that, you don't have to mention. Since it's a build quality issue and not an actual problem.

[Evil Techie]

Yea, the Satellite line has pretty much gone down the tube in the last few years.

The Tecra line and the Portege line are much better, but they put out two new laptops in that line per year...

Also, Toshiba doesn't make the laptop, they ODM it...

I geuss they like picking the crappy ones? :p

edit: this is outdated but an idea...

http://thewafflehouse.net/stuffers/odm.JPG


that chart is wrong in many areas
Wistron is part of the Acer group
they also make half of the laptops for Acer
Quanta being the other half

Wistron also used to make thinkpads for IBM but as far as i know, that stopped a couple of years ago
unless they renewed their relationship, wistron does not make laptops for lenovo

there are some more flaws with that chart

[coriolis]

I found it on some Computer news site a few years ago, so, like I said, its outdated, and as you mentioned, pretty unaccurate.

[xwar]

Trust me on this one, if you ever buy a Toshiba, make sure its not a satellite. I was tech support for Toshiba for a couple months, and all calls were due to satellite models. Btw, it was the worse two months of my life ... call centre work is horrible. HORRIBLE!

[here4yagurlz]

You can try to sell it on ebay and then bid on a different machine. If you get something equivalent (same specs, USED), you probably won't even lose that much money if any at all.

So long as the laptop is fully functional (nothing broken or missing), should work out fine. Creaky and flexy and all that, you don't have to mention. Since it's a build quality issue and not an actual problem.

cant sell it at all period. i would take just about anything over it right now. Never thought it was seen as such an insult to toshiba just to ask for a useable laptop that i can type on. and its not like i pound on my keys, sheesh. :evil: They really are the devil.

At least i know what the cause of this is, just too bad its most likely a near impossible one to fix or work around. I mean like, how the heck is someone suppose to get the chasis to stop rattling when there is even a light contact with something else. I mean really....im just puzzled.

Ive tried everything, nothing (no material) will absorb the sound. And yes like i said earlier, it happens most often when the laptop is coming out of a cold state. If i leave the laptop sitting for hours so its cold and then boot it up. The left side of the keyboard will make that rattling sound as you hear the keyboard hitting the chasis (under the keyboard). but once the laptop is warmed up, its gone. Odd, so odd. Just how do you explain that toshiba?

[Bordello]

my toshiba runs fine, i dont' think you should generalize based on only your experience.
Same here. The keyboard is fine. I've had no complaints.

Maybe the OP should contact Toshiba. They'll know what to do with it.

[Cyber6]

im stuck with this unfortunately. gotta find a way to work around this, there has to be some way.

Someone please help a brotha out.


Is there any warranty left??? If yes.. then return it to FS and bug the hell out of them... at least until they address some (or all) of your problems. ;)

Chances are they will buy back the laptop/give you a hefty discount on another laptop. :D

If there is no warranty left.. then sell it. Sell it now before it gets too old. The keyboard flex may drive you crazy, but it might not be a big issue to another user.

C.

[airodus]

Is there any particular reason why you can't sell it? Sorry if you mentioned it before, but I just reread your posts and don't understand the reason.

cant sell it at all period. i would take just about anything over it right now. Never thought it was seen as such an insult to toshiba just to ask for a useable laptop that i can type on. and its not like i pound on my keys, sheesh. :evil: They really are the devil.

At least i know what the cause of this is, just too bad its most likely a near impossible one to fix or work around. I mean like, how the heck is someone suppose to get the chasis to stop rattling when there is even a light contact with something else. I mean really....im just puzzled.

Ive tried everything, nothing (no material) will absorb the sound. And yes like i said earlier, it happens most often when the laptop is coming out of a cold state. If i leave the laptop sitting for hours so its cold and then boot it up. The left side of the keyboard will make that rattling sound as you hear the keyboard hitting the chasis (under the keyboard). but once the laptop is warmed up, its gone. Odd, so odd. Just how do you explain that toshiba?

[ynchu]

that chart is wrong in many areas
Wistron is part of the Acer group
they also make half of the laptops for Acer
Quanta being the other half

Wistron also used to make thinkpads for IBM but as far as i know, that stopped a couple of years ago
unless they renewed their relationship, wistron does not make laptops for lenovo

there are some more flaws with that chart

And I thought Apples are made by ASUS, at least mine was.
The chart is about 3 years old?

[here4yagurlz]

Same here. The keyboard is fine. I've had no complaints.

Maybe the OP should contact Toshiba. They'll know what to do with it.

double post

[here4yagurlz]

Same here. The keyboard is fine. I've had no complaints.

Maybe the OP should contact Toshiba. They'll know what to do with it.

im definitely not the only one, google it up so many people have complained about it.

ah and wtf, what do you know...as i began typing this, i found out now my enter key wanted to sound like tin foil this morning.


what a ***** joke, i swear im gonna huck this POS through my ***** wall.

[here4yagurlz]

Is there any warranty left??? If yes.. then return it to FS and bug the hell out of them... at least until they address some (or all) of your problems. ;)

Chances are they will buy back the laptop/give you a hefty discount on another laptop. :D

If there is no warranty left.. then sell it. Sell it now before it gets too old. The keyboard flex may drive you crazy, but it might not be a big issue to another user.

C.

no warranty left. FS buy back the laptop? haha ya right.

[here4yagurlz]

Is there any particular reason why you can't sell it? Sorry if you mentioned it before, but I just reread your posts and don't understand the reason.

1. parents bought it for me a year and a month ago. they will know if its a different one. cant lie about it.

2. i would lose way too much money.

centrino 1.5.

you see the thing is that, if i can get rid of the flex of the keyboard, meaning having it 100% tight against the chasis, then i dont get any rattling noise. its simple as that. right now, im able to push down on any part of the keyboard and it sinks in about at least 1mm, maybe more. just before leaving the house today, i tried pushing the keyboard in and typing with the other, what do u know....know rattling noise or flex whatsoever.

[airodus]

Well if it's a widespread problem, then it is likely a design flaw. Maybe check toshiba's site to see if there's a recall. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, you can try to take it apart and add some insulation or padding if it's possible.

[here4yagurlz]

Well if it's a widespread problem, then it is likely a design flaw. Maybe check toshiba's site to see if there's a recall. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, you can try to take it apart and add some insulation or padding if it's possible.

well ive taken the keyboard off, but i dont know what sort of material to use for padding.

frankly i dont think its worth taking in, since they wont do anything bout it.

[Bordello]

frankly i dont think its worth taking in, since they wont do anything bout it.
Seriously, how would you know? Stop guessing and give them a call. It's not much of a hassle.

[here4yagurlz]

Seriously, how would you know? Stop guessing and give them a call. It's not much of a hassle.

ive tried. plus its out of warranty so they will charge me $70 just to look at the thing.

OTHERS COMMENTS. NOT NESSECARILY ON MY MODEL BUT TOSHIBA AS A WHOLE.

The construction of this laptop is all plastic, however that can be expected from most laptops in this price range. There is a little bit of flex on the back of the screen if I push on it, but I would characterize it as an average amount. When picking the M55 up it is incredibly light and although I didn't weigh it I can believe Toshiba's claim of around 5.3 pounds. The size is nicely portable checking in at 13.5"W x 9.53"L x 1.53"D. All this makes for a very attractive combination of portability, nice screen size and a ton of features.

When Toshiba released the M55, it announced that the laptop would be available in 3 colors (copper, gray and blue); mine has a peacock-blue screen-back that I found to be a nice departure from the institutional black and gray laptops. The rest of the laptop is the same silver and black design as all other recent Toshiba Satellite models. One of the more unique things I noticed about this model is that it seems Toshiba has shortened the palm-rest size slightly from what other manufactures are offering on similar models. At first this seemed like a good way to decrease the overall size of the laptop, but in practice it wasn't comfortable when typing.

The overall build quality on this laptop is quite poor in my opinion. As noted above, there is some flex in the screen-back and the palm-rest area has some flex to it as well. Perhaps the worst part about the construction is the keyboard. There is a large amount of flex to the keyboard that makes it very annoying to type.

My mom just got a toshiba and the keyboard is atrocious to me. The keys are so loose that just resting your fingers on the keys cause a rattling noise. And while you're typing, you can feel the looseness of each individual key as well as the whole keyboard flexing under the pressure.

Striking a key sent rattles through the keyboard and the keyboard itself seemed very cheap. This combined with the strip of five deadpixels forced me to sent back the replacement.- with the flakey WUXGA display and the gouged chassis courtesy of the Toshiba repair folks. Two months later and several mind numbingly frustrating phone calls and I still don't have a working laptop.

[here4yagurlz]

Thing is, the better the keyboard, the thicker it is, and thus the entire laptop becomes thicker when a better keyboard is used. And since 1997, people started saying they wanted lighter laptops (In the Pentium days, a 10-pound laptop was not considered out of the ordinary) and they started making 5-pound and lighter laptops with horrible keyboards.

Then a couple years ago, people started complaining about the keyboards. So now, some of the widescreen models have a numeric pad, and the keys have better pitch (ie they go down farther when you press). So if you get a desktop replacement laptop, it's more likely to have a good keyboard.

If you really hate your laptop's keyboard, and it's a desktop replacement that's never leaving the house, there's no reason you can't just buy a USB keyboard and get it over with. Microsoft's Natural Keyboard Pro is what my parents use (and what I am typing on right now) and it's really a good keyboard, once you get used to the keyboard split - which I have gotten used to since they got the keyboard a couple years ago.

[CSR]

Can't go wrong with IBM like you said, get what you pay for.

[here4yagurlz]

Can't go wrong with IBM like you said, get what you pay for.

thank you for reminding me that i wish i had one :(

[coriolis]

There are some fixes, something about using thick tape, etc.

Do a search on www.notebookreview.com or www.notebookforums.com, I'm positive there was a member(troll?) whom kept complaining about their Toshiba laptop...