Pros: Good performance and graphics for budget laptop; Attractive design; Bright vivid display; Runs cool
Cons: A little thick; Tinny audio
The Verdict:The Toshiba Satellite L745-S4130 delivers good performance and a bright 14-inch display in a fun design.
The
Toshiba Satellite L745-S4130 shows that Toshiba has the budget notebook
down to a science. This $569 laptop offers a host of attractive
features, including a second-gen Intel Core i3 processor, large 640GB
hard drive, a bright 14-inch display and a snazzy design. But with so
many sub-$500 notebooks on the market, can the Satellite L745-S4130
prove its worth?
Design
The Satellite P745-S4130 has an all-plastic chassis, but it doesn't look cheap. The silver lid uses Toshiba's Fusion Finish with Matrix pattern: Scores of tiny white dots form intricate diamond patterns across the silver background. The dark gray Toshiba logo emblazoned across the center makes for a good contrast. The best thing about the chassis is that it's resistant to fingerprints and smudges, despite its glossy finish.The interior features the same motif as the lid. However, the top of the deck, where the speakers and power button are located, is black with dark gray dots. The black keyboard sits in a recessed well surrounded by a thick black band. A glossy black button to disable the touchpad rests directly below the spacebar.
At 13.3 x 9.1 x 1.3-1.5 inches, the Satellite P745-S4130 is smaller but slightly thicker than the HP Pavilion g4 (13.6 x 9.7 x 0.9-inch) but weighs the same--4.4 pounds. The aluminum-clad 13.4 x 9.1-inch Dell Inspiron 14z rivals the L745-S4130's thickness at 1.2-1.4 inches, but is a tad heavier at 4.6 pounds.