When you spend a hefty sum of money on a new PC, you expect it to last a number of years. Most desktop computers make it to a ripe old age before becoming too slow to run the latest programs. However, while they age safely on your desk, many laptops suffer a far worse fate, getting damaged, or even destroyed by random accidents well before their usual retirement age.
With this in mind, Toshiba has designed its new Satellite Pro A120 range to better survive the rigours of everyday life. The A120 we review here has the most basic specification in the range, but it still comes with all the same safety features found on the more powerful models.
Greater protection
The motherboard has been specially shaped to avoid the vulnerable corners of the casing. This helps to protect it from falls, with the laptop having a better chance of working even if there's serious external damage. Many users worry more about losing data than physical damage to the laptop itself. The A120 can sense vibrations, even if it's falling, and automatically parks the hard disk's heads in response. This helps safeguard the data on the hard disk in the event of an accident. We've seen this feature before on more expensive business laptops before, but it's a first on a budget model like this.
However, its budget price is evident in the optical drive - a CD-RW/DVD. So while you'll be able to watch DVDs, backups are limited to the 700MB you can fit on a CD-R. There are three USB ports too, but they're all on the rear of the laptop, which makes it harder to plug and unplug peripherals than it should be. There's also a memory card reader that takes SD and MMC cards. The keyboard has a nice crisp action and good feedback. It also has a waterproof membrane beneath it for stopping liquid spills, so if you have an accident with your drink, you simply tip the laptop up and pour the liquid back out. The membrane stops it from reaching the delicate components inside, and so could save your laptop from a sudden watery grave. The buttons are big and have plenty of movement, though.
The built-in speakers aren't anything very special, but they do sound clear and reach reasonable volumes. The display is much more impressive, however. It's a 15.4in widescreen display, with a native resolution of 1280 x 800. This gives you enough space for all but the most complicated of applications. It's bright and has good contrast, so text looks crisp and clear. The screen has a matte finish, which doesn't give the same richness to colours that a glossy finish can, but reflections on the screen from lights or the sun are greatly reduced.
Battery life
If you are planning on working in the garden, then the battery will last for two and a half hours of web surfing or light use. This isn't bad for a laptop, but you wouldn't want to rely on it for everyday travelling. The 1.46GHz Intel Celeron M 410 processor and 512MB of RAM are more than capable of undertaking day-to-day tasks, like office applications, web browsing or a bit of photo manipulation. But more memory intensive tasks like video editing will be slow. The integrated graphics chipset couldn't run our 3D benchmark, so gamers should look elsewhere.
The Toshiba Satellite Pro A120 is a great budget laptop that's powerful enough to take on basic computing tasks with ease. Plus it has a number of great safety features that should help it live a long and productive life.
System Specifications
PROCESSOR Intel Celeron M 410 (1.46GHz) RAM 512MB DDR GRAPHICS ATI Radeon Xpress 200 graphics DRIVES 60GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD SCREEN 15.4in TFT 1280 x 800 PORTS 3 x USB 2, 1 x PC Card SIZE 368 x 268 x 30mm WEIGHT 2.8kg WARRANTY 1-year collect and return
Verdict
Toshiba's new laptop may be cheap, but it's built to withstand a few knocks too. A great budget laptop with enough power for casual owners that's also built to last.
Author: Seth Barton
Computer Buyer Online