Was this Toshiba 400 Satellite a waste of $?

lectron

New Member
I am wanting to use it to hold my construction job tickets and info.

Just bought for 178$ on Ebay including shipping. Is it going to be disappointing (slow, etc?) I overlooked the speed - did I really blow it?

Any input bad or good will be appreciated. I would just like to know what to expect. (I won't be trying to surf the net with this)

Toshiba
Intel Pentium
Processor Speed 120 MHz :confused:
Memory (RAM) 32 MB
1 GB Hard drive Capacity
10 in screen
Primary Drive CD-ROM
 

computerdude2004

New Member
Only a 120Mhz processor. Pretty slow for this day and age. What do you plan on doing with it. If you are going to use word processors, e-mail, and the internet you will probably be okay, but anything else and you will have trouble. You for sure will want more than 1GB in hdd space. I would get a CD burner so I didn't have to store everything on the hdd. More RAM, so it is faster. What do you have for video in that thing?
 

lectron

New Member
Thanks for the input. I think I have the link here: I don't see anything about video. By the way, is it possible to change the processor or is it not practical? It does sound like it will do what I want from your answer. It mentions 1000 Mb Hard Drive, also dual PCMCIA slots (is that memory) - ok I'm ignorant about all this, sorry. I just do things between the fence posts on these things. :rolleyes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6725584889&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT
 

computerdude2004

New Member
PCMCIA slots are slots to put removeable cards in like network cards and USB port cards. You can replace the processor and you might be able to replace the video card. If it isn't integrated. You will only be able to put in a processor to a certain speed depending on your socket and stuff. You MOBO will also have a limit to the speed and amount of RAM it can handle if you upgrade it.
 

Praetor

Administrator
Staff member
Just bought for 178$ on Ebay including shipping. Is it going to be disappointing (slow, etc?) I overlooked the speed - did I really blow it?
Yes and no. For $178 you cant really get anything at all so 120MHz is better than nothing. But for $300 or so you could have got a more respectable system. As it stands what you bought is based on technology more than 11 years old

What do you plan on doing with it
First line:
I am wanting to use it to hold my construction job tickets and info.

I don't see anything about video
Believe me the machine is old enough that it should be a good thing that it powers up and is functional. Worrying about video performance is a moot point considering overall performance will be relatively dismal (sorry I sound like mr doomsday but its true)

You can replace the processor and you might be able to replace the video card. If it isn't integrated.
1. Replace the processor to what? Sure you might be able to jack it to a P233MMZ but thats not gonna save it by that much ... not to mention the introduced cost. Then again, if lectron is adamanet about making the most of the system .... i dunno, personally id cut losses and use the system as it is if possible
2. Regarding the "videocard" ... 'books that cost $4000+ have replaceable video "units". Furthermore, this replaceability is a recent thing. Suffice it to say, the notebook is gonna be stuck with whatever video unit it has
 

lectron

New Member
Thanks, that gives me the picture pretty well. It's like putting a v8 in a lawnmower - you could do it but why. (Guess I'll learn to look at speed)
 

Super_Nova

New Member
You aren't going to be able to upgrade the processor or video. The video is integrated and the processor is hard clocked at 120mhz. Even if you did say put in a 233mhz pentium it would still only run at 120mhz. There is no way to set the clock speed or clock multiplier on a toshiba laptop. The only upgrade you can consider is Hard Drive and RAM. And good luck on the RAM because those old laptops aren't as standardized as a newer one so you'll actually have to search for RAM FOR a Toshiba Satellite 400 rather than just going to the store and picking up a standard laptop SODIMM.
 

lectron

New Member
I just got notice this pizza box is on the way! What can I expect (I've only experienced this Dell xp something giggahz. Do you have to turn it on the night before? Seriously, what will it do.
 

SFR

Truth fears no questions
Well windows 2000 or higher wont work on it.


So Win 9x ('98) is the best you could get.. but that install would take up a fourth of your HDD.
 

Praetor

Administrator
Staff member
You aren't going to be able to upgrade the processor or video.
I meant upgrade as in "install a newer CPU"

I just got notice this pizza box is on the way! What can I expect (I've only experienced this Dell xp something giggahz. Do you have to turn it on the night before? Seriously, what will it do.
No you dont have have to turn it on the night before because the stuff than you CAN run, wont take that long to boot (i.e., W95 heehee)
 

Super_Nova

New Member
SFR said:
Well windows 2000 or higher wont work on it.


So Win 9x ('98) is the best you could get.. but that install would take up a fourth of your HDD.
Well Technically it will "work" but it'll be super slow and he'll have no hard drive provided he even has enough to squeeze windows 2000 on there. (Just as a bored experiment I once installed Windows 2000 on a 90mhz pentium laptop with 32mb or RAM and a 5GB hard drive. It didn't take me long to reformat it with Windows 98 since it took 8 minutes to boot and 5 minutes for Internet Explorer to open after I double clicked the icon!!) I definitly agree that Windows 98 is his best bet especially with that limited amount of RAM.
:)
 
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