Did I really get a good deal on my toshiba?

Question

I went to best buy on black friday and bought the toshiba laptop and printer for $230. I wanted to know if it actually was a good deal. I know the computer was originally $600 and the printer was $80. Yes I know I saved money but is the computer worth it. I only need it for internet and homework stuff so I don't need an amazing computer. It just seems a little slow.

I've also heard horrible things about Windows Vista. Is there any way to install Xp on my computer. I heard that it is hard to get Xp to work on Toshiba's.

Answer 1

Sounds like you got an fantastic, excellent deal~!
I'm thinking you took a gun with you?? lol
Seriously, that's such a low price~! Heck, even the battery pack alone goes for around 156$ maybe..? The charger is priced around 99$..Do the math~!!
FORGET the XP idea..
I have Vista Home Premium on my Toshiba P205-S6267 and, it works flawlessly~!
Since yours is brand new...Plzs heed this when I tell you..Don't download any new programs until you have checked first to be sure that it's TOTALLY compatible with Vista..That includes anything like spy-ware programs, etc..
1. The laptop came with a recovery CD disk, which in case you're not aware,..WOULD cost you 100$ to have it made.
Guard it with your life..Put it in a safe location, should you ever need it..I keep mine in the puter bag..easy to find and, if I am traveling, it's never gonna be.."Oh s*#t, i left it home.."
Almost none of the other laptop brand provide you with this..
Also..this tip..If you're gonna be hooked up to A/C power all the time>?Make sure your battery is charged and, remove it.
Otherwise, use the battery down to 10% and, then hook up the A/C charger with the laptop off..If you follow this routine, your battery will last a very very long time..Leaving the battery in and using the A/C charger all the time is one of the fastest way to cook your battery and shorten it's life..As mention earlier, they are NOT CHEAP..
Agan, CONGRATS on ur excellent deal...
Good Luck and happy puter..
vovo

Answer 2

There was a couple of people last week asking this question about this laptop. It really isn't that great of deal (because of Vista). The only good thing is the printer. The rest is kind of bad for vista (Needs more RAM).
You would have to buy a copy of XP from the store and then just delete Vista completely and install XP over it.

Answer 3

Yes, the deal is a good one.


I was looking at buying VISTA to upgrade my PC at home, so I asked a coworker that has both XP and Vista on a similar systems. Vista is slower, but that is because Vista does have a lot of fluff, that causes it to be slower than it's predecessors. Turning off things like themes will help improve the speed of Vista. He says both his systems run about the same - with no noticeable difference betweent he two OSes and the same ahrdware on both boxes.


Keep in mind I am planning to by VISTA for around $100 so $230 on an entire system with a printer is a good deal.

Answer 4

Microsoft strong-arms notebook vendors to bundle Vista into their offerings. I prefer XP. To me, Vista just gets in the way of the things I use my PC for.

You can look, but it's hard to find a notebook with XP. You can burn Vista and install XP over it, but then you won't have any of the noteook drivers that use all the features of the notebook. And I doubt that Toshiba has the same model offered with XP, so they probably don't have to XP drivers for you,

It may not even work right if you don't have the XP drivers for the hardware. Notebooks are funny.

I like Toshiba notebooks. My Satellite Pro 6000 running XP is about 5 years old. Except for the 'Pepsi syndrome' on the keyboard, I've had no problems with it. The spilled drink on the keyboard was resolved with a $45 replacement keyboard I found on eBay.

Answer 5

# 1.. Its hard to tell if you got a good deal on your laptop due to lack of information. Would need to know the specs on it. However, based on the fact that you got the laptop from Best Buy.. I would say you're good.

# 2 As far as installing Windows Vista on your computer. It can be done, however, you would need to go get a windows XP CD from the store.. This could inherriently cause hardware to stop working properly.. In which case you would need the drivers for your specific hardware. You should be able to get them from http://driverguide.com. Your other alternative would be to call up Toshiba's Customer Care line and ask them if they have Restore discs that come in XP. As far as it being hard to get XP to work on Toshibas. It's not any harder than getting it to work on say that of a Compaq or Dell.

# 3. Vista's problems though still existing aren't as bad as alot of people think. Their only problem was been and (( quite possibly always will be )) compatibility issues. Things that will run on your XP would not run on your vista PC. However, Microsoft has probably taken care alot of these issues.

Personal advise. Go ahead and stick with the Vista. If there are programs that you have that will not run on it. Chances are you'll be able to get around it to one fashion or another fairly easily. I hope all this helps and take care.

Answer 6

Without the specific Model number, it's impossible to answer your question. We need to know how much RAM it has now.

Assuming 512MB of RAM, bump it to 1 - 2 GB for a nice performance boost, before you try to change to XP.

Good deal? Probably. FIRST, read the Toshiba User Manual from cover to cover. Learn how to create, and use your Vista Recovery disks. THEN, only use XP recovery disks for your make & model, get them from Toshiba ($).

DO NOT attempt to use a "store-bought XP" or non-Toshiba XP recovery disk, they will not work properly due to driver issues.

Answer 7

Good answer, VOVO.

You got a good deal...the operating system alone is worth the money you paid for the laptop and the printer.

People who buy laptops and computers nowadays expecting them to last and be useful for years really don't know what it is they're getting into (or buying).

They're disposable appliances...kind of like the Swiffer dusting pads and towels. Use 'em then toss 'em.

Same thing with your computing equipment.

If you buy a laptop today...expect that in 2 years it's only going to be good for showing off your pictures. You can squeeze internet browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and tax software, but don't count on being able to run the latest applications.

If you want to be able to run the applications that will be coming out 2 years from now...on a laptop...be prepared to spend upwards of $2,000 for a new one TODAY.

As for me...I'd rather spend $230 today and then 2 years from now...another $230 (or the inflationary equivalent).

Answer 8

Two years ago my daughter and I each bought a Toshiba laptop on the same day from Best Buy. Exactly one year later both laptops quit working in the same week !@!! We took them back to Best Buy and were told they were shot and it would be cheaper to get new ones. So here I am, back on an old Gateway desk top which is years old. Good luck to you.

Answer 9

dont install XP. you just have to get use to vista. it really isnt that bad. i got use to it and i like it now. you got a good deal for $230. you may want to consider upgrading your hard drive and RAM though. you will still have gotten an amazing deal.

Answer 10

Well the pros are many in numbers. The pros of this laptop is that its not expensive while it has Windows 7, Intel core, 4 G Ram, which is good, and includes HDMI. the Cons are very few in numbers which would include only 16'' and it lasts long only if you take really good care of it