Toshiba Satellite P775

The Toshiba Satellite P775 is one juicy laptop. This 17.3-inch machine packs a second-generation Intel Core i7 processor, a 3D-capable screen, and a host of other hardware delights. We've had a sneaky peek at the P775, which will be released in the UK in a few weeks for a currently undisclosed price. Here are our first impressions.

Components, assemble!

The P775 doesn't do anything we haven't seen before on other laptops, but it ties so many high-end components together in one package that we can't help but pay attention.

You can't expect a hardware heavyweight like this to be portable, so it's no surprise that this laptop weighs a mammoth 3kg. Your spine won't thank you if you try and lug it around all day. It's big too, measuring 414 by 28 by 274mm. This PC definitely falls into the desktop-replacement category.

At least that extra space has been put to good use, though. Down the sides, you'll spot VGA and HDMI outputs, four USB ports, an Ethernet jack, and a Blu-ray drive. That's a decent range of connection options.

With many 3D-capable laptops, you have to plug an Nvidia 3D infrared receiver into a USB port, so that it can communicate with Nvidia's 3D Vision glasses. The P775 frees up a USB port by discreetly sticking the receiver in the bezel.

3D dos and don'ts

We've had a go with the 3D tech, and it looks impressive, although, again, it's nothing we haven't seen before. You'll probably enjoy watching 3D Blu-rays if you're patient enough to watch a whole movie on your laptop, but, in our experience, 3D gaming can be rather hit and miss -- we've previously encountered no end of weird screen-popping glitches while playing 3D titles. 3D capability on a laptop is a cool feature, but not necessarily one that's worth shelling out a huge pile of dosh for.

What is worth a significant amount of moolah, however, is the skull-shatteringly speedy Intel Core i7 CPU that powers the P775. There are also a few different RAM options -- we're informed you'll be able to configure up to 8GB of DDR3 memory -- and the laptop packs an Nvidia GeForce GT 540M graphics card too.

We reckon these components will make this laptop more than capable of handling cutting-edge games. Wait for our full review -- and our benchmark scores -- before rushing out to the shops, though.

We need more time with the display before we can deliver a proper verdict, but its 1,600x900-pixel resolution means your hi-def movies and hi-res photos should look sharp.

The P775 also features Toshiba's Resolution+ tech, which means the laptop is capable of 2D-to-3D conversion, both on its own screen and on a 3D telly, via HDMI. We've never seen any gadget make 2D video look good in 3D, though.

Outlook

We're thoroughly looking forward to reviewing the Toshiba Satellite P775 when it lands in the UK. If its performance is as good as we suspect it will be and it doesn't cost too much, Toshiba may be onto a winner. Stay tuned for the full verdict.

Edited by Charles Kloet