Driving the display is the new Nvidia GeForce Go 7300, which has 128MB of dedicated memory. It also uses Nvidia's 'TurboCache' system, which allows it to borrow from main RAM for up to 320MB of video memory. The graphics-processing unit itself isn't compatible with the new DirectX 10 standard, but it'll run many of today's games -- just as long as you scale back the screen resolution and fancy effects.
Feeding the graphics card with 320MB of memory might seem a tad overindulgent, but there's plenty of RAM to spare, so why not? The laptop comes with 2GB of DDR2 667MHz memory, so even if you give the graphics card its fill, there's 1.7GB left to run the operating system and applications.
One thing we aren't overly keen on is the Intel T5500 Core 2 Duo CPU. It's fine for undemanding users, but we'd prefer something faster, especially as the A200 is supposed to be a desktop replacement. The fastest A200 variant is the Satellite A200-18T, which has a 1.86GHz CPU, a 120GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM and a GeForce Go 7300 graphics card.
Our Satellite A200-1Ai may have a slowish CPU, but it has very good storage. Its 200GB drive will let you stash a couple of hundred hours worth of DivX movies -- far more than the 120GB drive in the A200-18T will. It also uses Windows Vista Ultimate edition, which includes the Windows Media Center user interface.
Despite it having Media Center, the A200 doesn't have a TV tuner card and neither does it have an HD DVD drive. Neither is essential, but it's worth remembering that all Toshiba's laptops will include an HD DVD drive from 2008 onwards. HD DVD fans who buy the A200 now will be missing out.
Wireless connectivity is a mixed bag. Its Wi-Fi adaptor lets it connect to all three types of Wi-Fi network (a, b and g), but there's no Bluetooth. We'll be the first to admit that Bluetooth isn't the most widely used or even reliable feature, but its omission is conspicuous. If you like to sync your laptop with your mobile wirelessly, the A200 isn't much use to you.
Performance
The A200 performed in line with our
expectations. It rarely felt sluggish during our test period, but it
wasn't exactly greased lightning either. Its 1.66GHz CPU and 2GB of RAM
helped it score 3,328 in PCMark 2005 -- which is on a par with PCs and
laptops with similar specs. The Shuttle mini X 200 desktop, which uses a 1.6GHz laptop CPU, scored 3,336.
3D performance was fairly poor. It scored 657 in 3DMark 2006, which is par for the course in a non-gaming laptop. It'll run the odd game, but if you're serious about polygons you should look elsewhere.
We didn't have high hopes for the A200's battery life, and it's just
as well. It ran BatteryEater for 60 mins, which isn't particularly
impressive. It's worth remembering that BatteryEater is a highly
demanding test based on 3D rendering, so expect the laptop to last
longer when performing simple tasks, or idling. The A200 isn't best
suited to life away from the mains. By comparison, the Sony Vaio FZ series lasted 80 minutes.
Conclusion
The A200 is a good laptop. It's not exceptional
in any regard, but it's a decent enough all-rounder to satisfy most
people's tastes. If money isn't an option, we'd point you in the
direction of the Sony Vaio FZ series. It's faster, sexier and has a
longer battery life. But if you want to save a few bob -- over £100, in
fact -- the A200 is worth checking out.
Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Nick Hide
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User reviews3
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hayleynoodle 29 December 2007
Good: nothing
Bad: it just looks cheap
Comment: Iv'e never slated a product like this before but i seriously cannot say a good word about this. I got the one thats £399 in the pc world at the moment. I was initially attracted to 2gb ram and thought it would be a uitable purchase. It is awful it feels like a lump of nasty cheap plastic, has no style and lacks on firewire ports, memory card slots etc. It is advertised as suitable for advanced users, yeah if you only want a laptop that last 5 -10 mins. i had to take mine back because the battery lasted ten minustes and was told thats all id get if i was surfing the internet. you are kidding me right. I went and got a HP pavillion instead and its fantastic. Im never touching a cheap toshiba again. I might at a push go for a more expensive
Saminatorger 28 November 2007
Good: The Webcam, 2GB RAM, 200GB Hard Drive, space for a second Hard Drive, The Design, The Price
Bad: The Glossy Screen picks up finger marks very easily, The Sound quality, The amount of Space Vista takes up
Comment: The A200 1AI is a great machine.
Toshiba have given it a very casual, modern look, without going too over the top.
The Screen is a good size and the keyboard is also very good, because the keys are quite big, so you don't slip onto the wrong keys so easily when typing. Toshiba have also included 4 USB ports and a firewire port.
Unfortunately, for Toshiba, they did make a few stupid mistakes. As Rory Reid said in the review, the modem and the LAN ports are on opposite sides, which is pointless. Also, the glossy screen may look great, but something that annoys me personally is the fact that it picks up smears and marks really easily.
Also, the speakers aren't great, but they are not terrible, they do give you reasonable volume.
The performance of the A200 is excellent, the 2GB of RAM and the Centino Core 2 Duo Chip offer sensational speed, despite the fact it is only running at 1.66GHZ.
The 200GB Hard Drive gives you huge space for music, photos and High Quality Movies without filling up to easily.
Overall, the A200 1AI is a very good model giving you speed, space and performance.
Kenneth Jackson 5 September 2007
Good: The touch pad.
Bad: The over-sized, garish, upside-down, gold logo on the lid.
Comment: I have had difficulty setting the screen at the best viewing angle and reds seem subdued.
And I have had bother with reflections from the shiny screen. Response is acceptable but not speedy.
There are no sockets on the back.
Most functions are average.
The volume control is useful but it needs an end stop.
The blue logo on the front is too bright and dazzles me.
The battery lasts only 2 hours on the normal usage setting, much less on the high-usage setting.
But the worst feature is the large, garish, upside-down, gold logo on the lid which completely spoils the look of what would otherwise be a stylish, nay beautiful machine - which is why I have decided to send it back to the supplier and change it for an HP. THe supplier says that all Toshiba laptops have this graffiti on their lids - its an advertising gimmick. Be warned!
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