There are 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, and a 56Kbps modem for networking four USB 2.0 ports a FireWire port two PC Card slots (but not the latest ExpressCards) S-Video out VGA out headphone and microphone jacks and a 5-in 1 memory card reader for Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MultiMediaCard, and xD-Picture Cards. The Satellite A105 has more than enough ports and connections for home users. Like other Toshiba laptops we've reviewed, the Satellite A105's touch pad is smaller than we'd prefer and lacks a dedicated scroll zone. In addition, the Windows key has been relocated to the upper right, something that will undoubtedly frustrate people who depend on keyboard commands. Though Toshiba could have used the Satellite A105's width to provide a full-size keyboard, the company instead opted for one that's slightly narrow. Unfortunately, a remote control is conspicuously absent. The included S-Video out port makes it easy to connect to most modern TVs. The media controls to the left of the keyboard and the front-mounted analog volume dial are complemented by a dedicated key that launches the Windows XP Media Center dashboard.

The Satellite A105's speakers sound rich on the low end and crisp on the high, though their limited volume means you'll have trouble filling a room with sound. Moreover, while 720p HD content looks exceptionally crisp, the Satellite A105's screen is too low-res for 1080i/p video.ĭisplay aside, the notebook's other multimedia hardware, combined with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, makes for a good audiovisual experience. The Satellite A105 can display 17 columns and 36 rows of a spreadsheet and show a word processing document at 150 percent with no need for horizontal scrolling, which is exactly the same as the Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010, one of the smallest ultraportables we've seen. It's bright and has excellent color contrast, but with its 1,280x800 native resolution-the same as many 12-inch wide screens-you're carrying a larger, heavier screen without getting any functional real estate advantage. We think the display should be a star feature of a notebook that ships with Windows XP Media Center Edition, but the Satellite A105's 15.4-inch, glossy, wide-screen display disappoints. If you're looking for a Media Center experience but don't want to break the bank, you should consider the Satellite A105.

Though competing 15.4-inch wide-screen notebooks, such as the, the Dell Inspiron E1505, and the Micro Express EL80, all offer either slightly better performance, better battery life, or both, they charge more for it, too.

The Toshiba Satellite A105 is a no-frills media center laptop at a rock-bottom price.

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