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The
Satellite C55 laptop includes everything you need to stay connected to
your printers, projectors, TVs, drives and other peripherals. It has
three USB ports (one Super Speed USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0), plus an SD
card slot, HDMI output, Ethernet, high-speed Wireless-N connectivity
with Bluetooth convenience.
Product Information
Operating System: Windows 10
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1366X768 pixels |
| Processor | 2.2 GHz Core i5-5200U |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR3L SDRAM |
| Memory Speed
| 1600 MHz |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB SATA |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Mobile Intel HD graphics 5500 |
| Wireless Type | 802.11bgn |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports
| 2 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports
| 1 |
| Brand Name | Toshiba |
| Series | Toshiba Satellite C55-C5241 |
| Item model number | C55-C5241 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Item Weight | 4.8 pounds |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 10.20 x 14.96 x 0.93 inches |
| Color
| Black |
| Processor Brand | Intel |
| Computer Memory Type | DDR3 SDRAM |
| Hard Drive Rotational Speed | 5400 RPM |
| Optical Drive Type | DVD-SuperMulti |
| Audio-out Ports (#) | 1 |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) |
| Batteries: | 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included) |
Customer Reviews
Thorough Investigation Reveals RAM **CAN** Be Expanded to 16GB, Which Improves Multitasking, Gaming, and More! **UPDATED Win10**
By
CircaRigel's Tears of the Phoenix
TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE
Operating System: Windows 8
Vine Customer Review of Free Product
(
What's this?
)
~Highlights~
!!!NOW!!! Updates on Tech Support (in addition to other updates)
***** 802.11n band wifi- no 802.11ac except via an adapter via the USB 3.0 port
***** Bluetooth readily detects and connects to speakers, headsets, headphones, keyboards and other Bluetooth devices
*****
RAM CAN be expanded to 16 GB, contrary to Toshiba saying the max is 8
GB (see review for RAM specs), This determination was based on the specs
(I used Speccy to do the analysis) of the Motherboard, CPU, Chip set,
& BIOS. (and yes, I HAVE upgraded the RAM and include a link to the
brand and model I purchased for it)
***** All Windows 7 & 8 computers are eligible for the Windows 10 upgrade
***** Decent speed, handles multitasking well, including during videoconferencing
***** Function keys can be locked into their alternate settings (This is the default)
*****
Windows Easy Transfer makes it easy to transfer files, but won't always
transfer settings- had to transfer my email and settings manually.
HOWEVER, is not available with Windows 10. If you are simply doing the
upgrade, though, your applications and settings will automatically be
incorporated, and I've yet to find any of my old applications to be
nonfunctional in Windows 10.
***** Numeric keypad & Directional keys. Some laptops have this, some don't. Toshiba has it. Convenient.
*****
Peeling off the thin green film around the edges reduces sharpness, but
this can be further reduced by making "bumpers" with silicone or rubber
tape
***** Battery can be replaced by simply unscrewing the two
screws that secure it, quite obvious to the discerning eye and also
explained in the manual.
*****Should you have Windows 10 questions, feel free to ask.
~~*UPDATES*~~
have been added to include information about the Windows 10 upgrade, as
well as instructions for restoring standard function mode for the
Function keys (the default is the special function mode, and Toshiba
isn't very clear about how to turn that off). 6/29/15- I have now
updated the review with info on the RAM upgrade, which I just performed.
As
I come from a family of engineers, both hardware and software, and
myself a currently working in data management, I will be reviewing this
system from that background, and my rating will be based on my analysis
of the hardware, reliability, functionality, and upgradeability.
First
of all, no nit picking. We all know what OS this comes with before
making the purchase. Likewise the description is clear about the
general hardware specs, but avoids some of the specifics. If you don't
like Windows 8, it's no reason to bash the machine, especially as you
can upgrade to Windows 10 for free come August. The reality is, you
won't find much better than this within the price range this is set at.
I have now upgraded to Windows 10, and after a couple of minor hiccups
(errors in the update log- did searches on them and found fixes, which
worked), Windows 10 is now running smoothly.
The Toshiba C55
C5240/41 is a decent mid-range laptop at a reasonable price. While it
doesn't come with all of the "bells and whistles," it comes with enough
for most purposes. However, as someone heavily into the digital arts, I
like to improve things where I can, so I thoroughly researched this
system and its maximum performance and upgradeablility. This laptop has
now replaced my failing Lenovo G575. I have now used it both at home,
and at work, where I'm responsible for data management. It has had zero
issues with gaming, and I had no problems multitasking while
videoconferencing, something I could never do with the Lenovo or even my
Dell, both of which have equivalent RAM but slower processors.
This
system can be purchased with Windows 8.1 OR Windows 10. It's important
to keep in mind, though, that ALL computers (and phones and tablets)
running Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 are ready and eligible for a free
upgrade to Windows 10 for one year after the July 29, 2015 release.
Battery:
The
battery appears to be very robust, with a charge lasting in excess of 5
hours. Should anything go wrong with the battery, removal and
replacement involves the removal of two screws, rather than the flip of a
switch or push of a button most systems have.
RAM (upgradeability):
The
system comes with 8GB RAM at 1600Mhz, as 2x4GB (1600Mhz, Speccy shows
each running at a frequency of 800Mhz, but that value gets doubled)
SODIMM's. While this is adequate for most applications, I prefer having
as much as my system can handle for my digital arts activities,
especially when working with 3D animation. The manual states simply
that Toshiba won't be responsible for anything that happens by swapping
out the RAM. Calling Toshiba was no better. They told me that the
system is rated for a maximum of 8GB RAM, which is what it comes with.
That's rather ridiculous, as most systems these days come with the
ability to add additional RAM. However, I'm not one to take them at
their word. I opened up the back and could easily see that the
motherboard and processor could handle up to 16 GB RAM. That left the
question of the BIOS. Using Piriform Speccy, I looked up the bios and
contacted the company responsible for it. The Bios can indeed handle
the 16GB RAM I had already determined the motherboard and processor to
be rated for. ****UPDATE 6/29/15**** I have now replaced the two 4GB
SODIMM's with two 8GB ones. All is functioning smoothly, the BIOS is
recognizing the additional RAM, and the system is purring like a happy
kitten. The RAM I put in is this: G.Skill Ripjaws Series Laptop Memory F3-1600C9D-16GRSL 16GB (2 x 8G) DDR3 SO-DIMM 1.35v Dual-channel
I
decided to go with CL9 instead of CL11 as it tends to be a smidgen
faster. After replacing the original DIMMs, the boot sequence initially
takes you into the BIOS settings, which will reset to default. I only
needed to re-establish proper date and time settings. However, the BIOS
settings also allow the user to set additional security, including
passwords for booting, BIOS access, and administrative use. The initial
boot sequence after adding the RAM was quite slow, which I attribute to
the BIOS updating according to the new RAM specs. After the initial
boot sequence, subsequent boot speed has returned to normal.
The
system is ASTONISHINGLY fast now, with virtually zero wait for
applications to open, and zero noticeable performance issues when
multitasking, including multitasking during a videoconference (i.e.
screen share, browsing, Powerpoint slide show, etc all at once).
Bear
in mind, however, that if you should require the system to be serviced
by Toshiba, it will need to be restored to its original hardware
configuration.
Wifi:
The Toshiba C55 is limited to 802.11n
band by its built-in wifi adapter. For those of us with faster routers
that use the AC band, an adapter will be a desirable accessory, and
fortunately this system has (1) USB 3.0 port that can handle such
adapters according to their full potential.
***** A note of
caution. Some adapters, like the 802.11ac adapter by Startech, use
Realtek network drivers. While these say they are Windows 8 compatible,
the driver has an inherent flaw that will cause many Windows 8.1 systems
(this is OS associated, not related to the actual computer) to go into
the blue screen of death, requiring one to boot in safe mode (with
networking) and 1. disable the driver, 2. uninstall the driver, and 3.
completely delete the driver. 802.11ac USB 3.0 adapters by Netgear and
TP-Link don't use the flawed driver, and I've experienced no issues with
them. My preferred adapter is the TP-LINK
Archer T4UH AC1200 High Gain Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter, 2.4Ghz
300Mbps/5Ghz 867Mbps, USB 3.0, WPS Button, Supports Windows 8.1/8/7/XP.
Unlink the typical adapters that stick out the side of your system,
making them vulnerable to breakage at the USB interface, the T4UH is a
stand alone that connects via a cable. It is extremely sturdy and has
two antennae. I've experienced zero issues with it and a strong signal
from anywhere in my house.
In addition, not all adapters are Windows 10 compatible yet. My TP-LINK Archer T4UH AC1200 High Gain Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter
has no Windows 10 drivers available, requiring me to utilize only the
internal 802.11n wifi adapter until TP-Link comes out with a compatible
driver. There may be issues with other products that have not been
pre-configured for Windows 10 as well. While there are a number of
things I don't like about Windows 10, this is so far the only major
problem I've experienced.
USB and SD:
With one USB 3.0 port
and two USB 2.0 ports, there is no lack of availability to tack on
additional accessories such as a Blu-Ray-RW drive, faster Wifi adapters,
and other items. Many people will want to get a USB 3.0 Hub to expand
the availability of the USB 3.0, which is 5x faster than USB 2.0.
There
is one SD slot, and it has thus far been quite fast and functioned
perfectly with SD cards up to 128GB (I don't have any bigger ones).
HDMI / VGA:
This
system has no VGA port. Should you wish to use a separate VGA monitor,
you will need to use a HDMI to VGA adapter. The HDMI port on my system
has thus far functioned perfectly, with no delays or loss of quality in
either video or audio up to 1080p. I've yet to try it with a 4K setup.
It has had zero difficulty with my 7.1 bluetooth & HDMI surround
system, although the best I was able to test it with was a blu-ray with
6.1 audio, using my external Blu-Ray RW drive.
Audio:
Considering
the size of the speakers, the audio of this system is reasonable. The
internal microphone works well during the videoconferences I've been in,
with no echo or sounding distant. Still, for recordings of my singing
and such, I'll still be using my Samson C01U USB mic, and for listening
to music, you will prefer using either external speakers or headphones.
There is only one 3.5mm connection available for a headphone jack or
microphone, but for higher fidelity 5.1 or 7.1 headsets, USB is always
going to be your preferred option anyway. Bluetooth headsets also
readily connect with excellent audio.
DVD-RW:
As noted above,
this system does not have a Blu-Ray drive, much less a Blu-Ray RW drive.
The DVD-RW multi drive, however, has functioned flawlessly with DVD's,
CD's, as well as both reading and writing to DVD-RW disks.
Graphics / Screen:
Resolution
for this system is limited to 1366 x 768, so it is not a 1080P system.
When watching 1080P, you will do better by utilizing the HDMI port with
a 1080P monitor or television. The system does include options for a 3D
display. Color appears to be true, and I have noted no bleeding or
artifacts when using HD media.
Fan:
The fan for this system is
reasonably quiet, and seems to be quite efficient, for while the bottom
surface of the system gets warm during use, it does not get hot the way
my previous laptops have.
Peripherals (keyboard, mouse):
The
keyboard of the Satellite C55 is a standard laptop keyboard with one
major difference. Depending on personal preference, the default for the
function keys can be set to be function OR to their alternate use.
However, you cannot set the keys individually. Either all are set to
function, or all are set to their alternate setting. Those with mouse
issues have likely accidentally hit F5 in its alternate setting, which
turns the touch mouse on or off. Also, the keyboard is 100% integrated
into the laptop deck, which may improve durability, but also may make
replacement more complicated.
***FUNCTION KEYS... Restoring F1-F12 to Standard Settings
The
default setting for the function keys is in their "special" function
mode. The manual isn't very clear about how to turn this off, should you
prefer that to be reversed. Fixing this is pretty simple. Click on
your Windows Start button to bring up your Apps by category. Scroll over
to the Toshiba category. Click on "System Settings." Then click
"Keyboard." Once there, you can use the drop down to set the keys to
"Standard F1-F12 Mode," as opposed to "Special Function Mode." Select
standard mode and click "ok." Your function keys will now work
normally, without the need to press FN to utilize the function modes.
Pressing FN with the keys will now activate their "special" setting.
The
touchpad mouse seems to have high sensitivity, with all of the
functions one might desire, including touch scrolling, tap select,
border functions, fingertip expand and contract, and the ability to
customize the functions for different actions. As with the majority of
systems, one can also lock out individual functions. My preference is to
lock out the tap select, preferring instead to use the left button to
make my selections.
Security:
When setting the system up, you
can improve security by requiring two passwords, one to boot, and a
second one to log into your Windows account. It comes with McAfee
LiveSafe pre-installed, although the registration appears to be dated to
December 2014 instead of the date in which I first booted the system
up. That's a bit annoying, as it means I've lost about half of the
first year of registration for my virus protection and firewall. I have
noted that while scanning, McAfee tends to utilize a significant
percentage of available memory... over 30%. That does slow the system
down quite a lot, and you may prefer a more streamlined application.
I've tested McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky, ESET, AVG, Vipre, Windows
Defender, and Zone Alarm on it. McAffee, ESET, and Norton hog the CPU,
using 35-67% of the CPU when NOT performing scheduled scans. Kaspersky
and AVG can likewise slow things significantly due to RAM utilization
during scheduled scans. Vipre is among the leanest platforms, yet is
better than any of those at blocking malware. I used Defender for a
week and had to clear over 800 files and registry entries from malware
that got through. I'm currently testing Zone Alarm on it, and an
extremely pleased with performance of the laptop and the software. A
number of these do have Game mode, which minimizes the security
functions in favor of processor speed and limiting RAM utilization.
Malwarebytes is a great supplement to any security platform.
From
the applications I've tested, Vipre and Zone Alarm have been the ones
I've been happiest with, with Zone Alarm currently edging out Vipre with
my feature and performance preferences (but overall not any better than
Vipre, and with Vipre you can purchase a lifetime license for not a
whole lot more than an annual license).
Case:
While the
molding for the entire package has very defined edges, I do not find it
to be flimsy in the areas where most systems have their weak points, in
particular the hinges for the screen. These are thick and robust, with
smooth movement when opening and closing the laptop. It won't be
difficult to install bumpers to deal with the sharp edges and corners
via the use of silicone or rubber tape, or silicone caulk.
***
More on Windows 10: If you are upgrading on the same system from Windows
8.1 to Windows 10, your applications and settings will automatically be
incorporated into the upgraded OS. If you are transferring between
computers, Windows 10 DOES NOT have Windows Easy Transfer anymore.
HOWEVER, there are a number of available applications that are capable
of doing the transfer instead, and many of them are more reliable than
Windows Easy Transfer ever was.
Other:
The CPU for this system
is rated for speeds up to 2.58 Ghz, which is adequately fast for most
digital arts applications, including gaming. The system appears to be
fairly streamlined, without a lot of excess applications pre-installed.
Bear in mind, though, that Toshiba makes accessing the BIOS rather
tricky, which is an obstacle to overclocking.
You also have
access to OneDrive, a cloud storage utility, should you prefer to save
your documents in a place other than the hard drive. It also offers a
convenient location for backing things up without the clutter of
external media.
***UPDATE***
As of May 31, an icon identical
to the Windows start icon has appeared on the right side of the taskbar.
If you click it, you can now reserve your free Windows 10 upgrade,
which is expected to be released in August.
***NEW UPDATE*** Problem encountered (Hardware) and Tech Support Experience
June
3: On June 3rd, approximately after one month of use, my laptop began
locking up. While the bottom surface never got remotely hot, any time
the system was warmed up, it would hang to the point where the only
option to turn it off was to either remove the battery or to hold the
power button down to force a shutdown. Once this would happen a first
time,it would then hang even more frequently, including during the boot
process There were other symptoms as well, but the detail would be too
lengthy of this review. What I will say is that wrapping my computer up
to protect against condensation and placing it in my chest freezer for
30 minutes to an hour would allow me to boot without problems... until
it warmed back up, at which point it would freeze up again.
.
Having
diagnosed the problem, I contacted Toshiba about warranty repair. I
did not tell them I am a reviewer, as I did not wish to taint the
experience and expectations for others who may require warranty repair.
For shipping, I chose the option for a pre-paid box and label,
approximately $30, which would be cheaper than the $40 it would have
cost me to ship it myself, even with my boyfriend's FedEx discount.
Toshiba has a nifty web tool that keeps the customer informed about
where their system is in the repair process, and I monitored that
closely. I also included a detailed letter with my laptop, explaining
exactly what happened, and asking that they call me prior to shipping it
back so that the repair process could be discussed, leaving no
questions unanswered. However; they never called.
Overall, my
tech support experience would rate about average. It wasn't stellar, but
it could have been worse. In spite of the problem having already been
identified, they went through the usual hassles of doing a factory
reset, seeing if the problem would be replicated afterward (it did, of
course), and doing my best to back up my critical data by freezing the
system in the freezer, as I use the system both at home and at work at
the online high school where I work tech support. Finally getting past
that, I paid for my box & shipping and shipped the system to their
repair center in Indiana. Daily, I followed the repair progress until I
noted that it was on its way back to me. Upon return, I booted the
system without difficulty and at present am reinstalling all of my
applications, including Adobe Master Collection CS6, Corel Painter 2015,
Cyberlink PhotoDirector 6 Ultimate, Corel Paintshop Pro X6, Corel
Videostudio X6, MS Office, etc (I have a lot of multimedia software as I
also teach digital arts). So far it has remained stable. Should that
change, I will update this review.
I have yet to drop a star, as
the system truly is a powerhouse for a system of its price range. You
aren't going to find a system with this processor, amount of RAM, or
capabilities for any less than this, unless it's purchased used.
Complaints about keyboards not being back-lit or not having a touch
screen are ridiculous, for again, you won't find anything comparable
within its price range. Software-wise, it has the essentials, but not a
lot of bloatware utilizing excess CPU power or RAM.
This isn't a
gaming computer per se, but it does plenty well as a gaming platform,
provided you adjust resolution to 1366x768 rather than the preferred
1920x1080 (1080p). The processor can be clocked to run faster via the
bios and is rated for speeds up to 2.7Ghz (it is 2.2 Ghz as is).
swapping the 8GB RAM with 16GB RAM also causes a significant
improvement.
Conclusion:
The Toshiba C55 C5240 may not be a
high-end gaming laptop, but it is quite capable for most uses, including
most gaming. Even though Toshiba discourages upgrades to internal
components such as RAM, I have determined that you don't have to be
limited to the 8GB RAM it comes with. Just be sure that you are
matching the DIMM type (CL11 SODIMM), number of pins (204), and
bandwidth (PC3-12800 - 1600 Mhz, although Speccy detection shows each
running at a frequency of 800 Mhz, which you double). While Windows 8
is not my preferred OS, I do not find that to be an issue to complain
about, given that we all know what OS is installed prior to purchase-
it's the hardware, compatibility, and upgradeability that matters, along
with reliability and tech support. The 1TB HDD is plenty large for
most uses, and not difficult to partition, should you wish to create a
partition for backups. The system comes with security pre-installed,
but it is not difficult to switch to something else, should you prefer a
different security platform. I would recommend this system for just
about all levels of user, although the most advanced users will prefer
to either upgrade what already exists or purchase something that's much
higher end. The only reason I can think of behind Toshiba's
discouragement toward upgrading the RAM is that they would prefer a
person to purchase an entirely new system, should they want something
better. This is not necessary, as two 8GB DDR3L DIMMs run around $100
(less if on sale). I'll still give this 5 stars, but it's borderline,
based on how unhelpful Toshiba was when I called to ask about expanding
the RAM, and the less than stellar technical support I received for my
hardware issue.
Overall, be you a student, working in an office, a
gamer, or involved with network communications, this laptop is a great
deal and has a lot to offer at a very low price. Toshiba DOES hold up
to their warranty terms, albeit sometimes grudgingly... but I didn't
have to pull the reviewer card to get what I needed done taken care of,
so in that respect they are at least honest. The C55-C5240 is a nice
little machine I feel quite comfortable recommending to just about
anyone for most uses.
Heck of a deal.
By
Overkill0084
Operating System: Windows 8
Verified Purchase
For the money when
purchased ($449 shipped), it has to be one of the best deals going.
I've been paying attention and I have yet to see anything come very
close aside from refurbs with older processors. Performance is snappy
with a processor (Core i5-5200) that benchmarks better than the AMD A6
in the desktop I am replacing with this. Is it equivalent to a $1600
top of the line model? No, of course not, but nothing I've seen at this
price point can touch it. Normally at this price point, you are
sacrificing much more. This thing comes with a DVD drive as well.
Considering how thin it is, that's something of an accomplishment for
the money as well. I should point out that I'm not a power user, but I
do prefer to err on the side of more processor power vs. less. If for
no other reason, you simply get more life out of a more powerful
computer. This thing will do fine unless your very demanding.
Negatives?
Constuction
- Tuffbook this isn't. the display seem a bit flimsy to the touch as
does the case on the bottom. If your a tinkerer, you will need to
remove the entire bottom cover to access the memory or the drives,
rather than the typical access panels many of us are accustomed to. The
flip side of this is that the entire thing is quite light to tote
around.
I'll admit to not being a huge fan of the keyboard. It does
ok, but my 5 1/2 YO HP laptop has a far better keyboard. Admittedly,
it's not terrible, but when docked, I use a proper Logitech. The touch
pad, I like the fact that it has the older style buttons still. The
newer style "floating" touchpads aren't terrible, I simply prefer the
buttons, I'm sure opinions vary on this.
Speakers - not great, but
better than I expected considering cost and form factor. They are far
superior to the gawd-awful speakers built into my Acer touchscreen
monitor. Of course proper speakers are still a step up.
It should be
pointed out that it's actually a decent looking product as well. Sure
there are prettier, but it could have been an eyesore for what I paid
and I'd still be relatively happy. The fact that it actually looks
decent is a nice bonus. That said, one review pointed out that the
edges were a bit on the sharp side. I haven't had an issue with it
myself, but if it becomes a problem, I'll simply put a bit of tape on
the edges in question.
Some people might consider this a negative,
but I feel it's a positive: No Shovelware to speak of. It comes with
Windows, McAffee Anti virus, the odd DVD and other such software and
some Toshiba utilities. That's pretty much it. No introductory, trial,
free for 90days office suites or other such clutter. All computers
should come like this. I tend to be a bit minimalist when it comes to
software. No delete-athon was required to get rid of all the unneeded
crapware that some builders dump in, cough, cough HP, cough cough.
Great Laptop For The Price
By
David Bennett
VINE VOICE
Operating System: Windows 8
Verified Purchase
So far, I love this computer. It was ready to go right out of the box
with Windows 8.1, and no programs extra to Windows except McAfee
Antivirus installed. I uninstalled that and installed AVG because I am
not a huge fan of McAfee.
It is a very powerful computer for the
price. I was looking for a regular laptop (I don't need touchscreen
and/or detachable tablet) with powerful specs, balanced with a good
price. With 8 GB of RAM and a TB of hard drive space, this computer fits
the bill. Also, a Windows 10 upgrade comes free with this computer,
which is a huge plus. It has one USB 3 port, and two USB 2 ports, as
well as HDMI out. It also comes with wi-fi, an SD card reader,
Bluetooth, and a DVD Burner (it doesn't say anything about Blu-Ray and I
don't use them, so someone else will have to say whether it has that
capability, but I am guessing it doesn't). It isn't going to have every
higher end feature or spec, but it seems to balance price with power
well.
The battery life seems strong, and I got about 5 good hours
on mine while working it to death installing programs, transferring
files on an external hard drive, etc. It is thin and lightweight, but
seems sturdy. I can't comment on Toshiba customer service or that aspect
of the experience, but I will updated if necessary.
So far,
everything is working well. It runs quickly and smoothly. I bought one
for my wife and hers has worked perfectly as well.
Overall, for the price, this is an amazing laptop.
EDIT:
The one jack for both microphone and headphones is a little annoying. I
may have to get a workaround if I want to use headphones and external
mic at the same time.
 
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