I've had this laptop for about a year and I love it. Upgraded the OS to Windows 7 Professional and got the Toshiba External CD Rom Drive. Not one problem getting everything to work right out of the box.I do use a separate keyboard and mouse when at my desk but only the mouse when I leave the office. Also got speakers so I can hear my music on Pandora as the built in speakers sound soft to me, but it may be my ears and not Toshiba's fault. The screen is good for when on the road but I'd add an external monitor (20" min.) for office use. Also make sure to get a good fan for it to sit on to help keep it cool and extend the life of the battery and PC.
Have lots of software on it: Windows 2007, ACT 2011 and Sage MAS 90/200 and Sage Peachtree on it with no problems. As a software reseller, I get to run lots of software that most laptop users don't usually see. Very data intense and it runs all of them like a charm.
What a dream machine. And I like the red color, too. These machines have come a LONG WAY since 1983 when I was using and selling IBM PC clones back in the 1980's. Would you believe $5,000 for a 64 K memory and 20 MB Hard drive orange or green letter screen (no color back then and no pictures, either!) I was also a early Mac Developer and have one of the original MAC 128 K machines in my attic, so I've seen and tried lots of computers.
How can you go wrong with at Toshiba, who pretty much invented the laptop category? Just make sure to treat it with lots of TLC and it will return the favor to you.
The real problems came in August, 2010, when Toshiba issued a recall of this series of laptops due to a BIOS issue which causes the computer to overheat by the AC power input. The official word was that it was a BIOS issue but others online have speculated the real culprit was faulty hardware. Anyway, their instructions were to install the new BIOS on your own and if it was successful, you'd be ok, but if not, you'd have to send your computer back to them. I've heard many horror stories about folks sending their computers back in for repairs and them coming back in worse shape, often after a significant period of time.
I followed their instructions though and the BIOS update worked. However, just a few days ago, I got a pop-up message telling me a faulty BIOS has been detected and that the computer would no longer receive power from the AC adapter, and to call their customer service number.
The customer service center was in Manila in the Philipines and the call center reps were impossible to understand which made it useless to talk with them about what to do.
Apparently though, the message I received about a faulty BIOS was probably incorrect b/c the computer did not lose the ability to receive power via the AC adapter. I did slightly burn myself from the AC power area getting too hot however.
When I tried to get assistance from Toshiba's corporate office, I was given the runaround and directed back to the automated number set to handle the recall of this POS laptop. I did not feel like sending a year old laptop back for an indeterminate amount of time that probably wouldn't even fix my computer. What would I do for work while I was without a laptop? If your automobile has a recall due to a manufacturer defect, they would give you a loaner car while your car is repaired. Computers are just as vital these days.
Needless to say, I didn't send it in and it appears to be working...for now. I will absolutely never purchase another Toshiba product. I don't know what kind I'll buy since all of the manufacturers seem to have issues with shoddy hardware, off-shored customer "support" and don't stand behind their products once you've paid them.
I would give this laptop, and Toshiba, zero stars if I could.
Buy Toshiba Satellite T135D-S1325rd TruBrite 13.3-Inch Ultrathin Laptop (Red) Now
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