It’s big and black, but not very beautiful
Budget laptops tend to sacrifice looks to keep the price low and the [highlight] Toshiba Satellite Pro C70-A-159 [/highlight] is no exception. The only visual flourishes on this 17in Windows 8.1 laptop, designed to replace your desktop PC, are a very plain black plastic design with a ribbed lid and wrist rest. The black plastic creaks and bends, especially the lid, but it’s still reasonably sturdy.
The Satellite is heavy at 2.7kg and battery life in our light-usage test wasn’t great at just over four hours, so it’s unlikely you’ll use it much outside your home. It’s fast enough for use as your main computer, though. Although the 2.6GHz Intel Core i5 3230M processor is one of last year’s ‘Ivy Bridge’ models, it didn’t have any trouble with our demanding benchmark tests. The Intel integrated graphics chip is just about fast enough to play some 3D games as long as you’re willing to accept less detailed graphics.
The quality of the keyboard and touchpad on previous Toshiba laptops we’ve tested has been mixed. It’s the same with the Satellite. The keys are large, with the exception of the too-narrow space bar, and have enough travel. Toshiba has put the generous width of the laptop to good use, fitting in a numeric keypad. The keys didn’t give enough feedback when pressed, though, and required firm pressure to register keystrokes, which made it too easy to make typos. The touchpad buttons don’t give enough feedback when pressed, although at least the touchpad itself is accurate and reasonably big.
The 17in screen is unusual in many respects. It’s not a touchscreen, although we think that’s actually a good thing because using touchscreens when they’re upright at arm’s length is awkward. The screen also lacks a glossy finish, unlike most other modern laptops, opting instead for an anti-glare finish. While this means contrast and brightness aren’t as good as on other laptops, the anti-glare finish reflects far less light from overhead sources.
Most budget laptops have screens with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels, but the Satellite has a resolution of 1600x900 pixels which is less cramped. This makes it easier to use programs that have lots of windows and when working on large spreadsheets or panoramic photos.[highlight] Toshiba Satellite Pro C70-A-159 [/highlight] is a good budget laptop thanks to its high-resolution screen and fast processor, but the average keyboard won’t suit everyone. You should definitely try it first before buying.
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SPECIFICATIONS
2.6GHz Intel Core i5 3230M dual-core processor • 4GB memory • 750GB hard drive • Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics • 17in screen • 1600x900 pixels • 802.11b/g/n • Windows 8.1 • 2.7kg weight (3kg with charger) • 31x413x268mm (HxWxD) • One-year
