Difference between revisions of "Toshiba Satellite Pro 410CDT"

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*Intel Mobile Pentium 90Mhz CPU (soldered to the mainboard, not replaceable)
*Intel Mobile Pentium 90Mhz CPU (soldered to the mainboard, not replaceable)
*11.3-inch TFT color LCD (800x600 resolution, 100:1 contrast ratio)
*11.3-inch TFT color LCD (800x600 resolution, 100:1 contrast ratio)
*Chips&Tech CT65548 video controller (1MB VRAM, 16bit colour capable on external SVGA screen)
*Chips&Tech CT65548 video controller (1MB VRAM, VESA Local Bus or VLB)
*ESS 688 Audio Card, SoundBlaster 2.0/Adlib capable emulation
*ESS 688 Audio Card, SoundBlaster 2.0/Adlib capable emulation


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== Durability and Repair-ability ==
== Durability and Repair-ability ==
The durability of this laptop is average. The chassis plastic can crack sometimes, although the laptop is well built and also has reasonably durable internal circuitry. Typical shortcomings are on the Acupoint system cap that degrades and disintegrates with age, as well as the trackpoint buttons rubberized coating. Fortunately, the rubberized coating can be completely removed by scrubbing with iso-propyl alcohol leaving the buttons quite comfortable eve in this state.
The durability of this laptop is above average. The plastic chassis can crack when used in sunlight areas , although the laptop is well built and also has reasonably durable internal circuitry. Typical shortcomings are on the Acupoint system cap that degrades and disintegrates with age, as well as the trackpoint buttons rubberized coating. Fortunately, the rubberized coating can be completely removed by scrubbing with iso-propyl alcohol leaving the buttons quite comfortable eve in this state.


The laptop's screen is easy to service, meaning that LCD backlight lamp removal and replacement is quite easy. This is possible due to the generous and forgiving lamp mounting space which means that repairs are quite easy to carry out with moderate patience and care. This is actually one of the easiest repairs of this type that can be done for beginner users, keeping in mind the usual care of dismounting and unclipping. Thus, replacing an old or damaged LCD fluorescent lamp is quite simple as it requires only disassembly of the display's case and removal of some screws and a top plate.
The laptop's screen is easy to service, meaning that LCD backlight lamp removal and replacement can be done. This is possible due to the generous and forgiving lamp mounting space which means that repairs are quite easy to carry out with moderate patience and care. This is actually one of the easiest repairs of this type that can be done for beginner users, keeping in mind the usual care of dismounting and unclipping. Thus, replacing an old or damaged LCD fluorescent lamp is quite simple as it requires only disassembly of the display's case and removal of some screws and a top plate.


Overall, despite the poor reliability of Toshiba harddrives, the configuration itself seems very well designed, meaning that laptops have quite a long life and the system itself survives quite well due to low internal heat dissipation in a roomy case.
Overall, despite the poor reliability of Toshiba harddrives, the configuration itself seems very well designed, meaning that laptops have quite a long life and the system itself survives quite well despite internal heat buildup that may happen inside the case.


== Greatest features & flaws ==
== Greatest features & flaws ==
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! Features !! Flaws  
! Features !! Flaws  
|-
|-
| Great Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS gaming, good Windows 95 support || Poor CPU cooling system, hot running
| Great Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS gaming, good Windows 95 support || Mediocre CPU cooling system, sometimes hot running
|-
|-
| Great SoundBlaster compatible support || Mono speaker, proprietary RAM modules
| Great SoundBlaster compatible support || Mono speaker, proprietary RAM modules
|-
|-
| Good keyboard and trackpoint, ergonomic case design || Soldered CPU, somewhat fragile case plastics
| Good keyboard and trackpoint, ergonomic case design || Soldered CPU  
|-
|-
| Removable bay for floppy and CD-ROM drive, integrated power supply || Poor reliability harddrive and floppy drive
| Removable bay for floppy and CD-ROM drive, integrated power supply || Poor reliability harddrive and floppy drive
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The FDD drive was a very poor choice, since the belt driven disk rotation fails after many years, compatible belts being harder to find unreliable. The removable disk bay is very good for a laptop of its generation and the rechargeable battery can be easily removed or replaced. There were many Toshiba laptops that used the same battery and working with a removed battery does not affect stability or aesthetics. There are two more internal rechargeable NimH batteries inside the laptop that may leak and are somewhat harder to replace (not the typical, compact CR2032 3V button cell). They are used for Bios settings and memory suspension features.
The FDD drive was a very poor choice, since the belt driven disk rotation fails after many years, compatible belts being harder to find unreliable. The removable disk bay is very good for a laptop of its generation and the rechargeable battery can be easily removed or replaced. There were many Toshiba laptops that used the same battery and working with a removed battery does not affect stability or aesthetics. There are two more internal rechargeable NimH batteries inside the laptop that may leak and are somewhat harder to replace (not the typical, compact CR2032 3V button cell). They are used for Bios settings and memory suspension features.
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The integrated speaker is quite good, even if it is mono. The front placement and size make it sound reasonable well, much better than speakers placed below the top side of the chassis but far from late Pentium era Toshiba laptops. Actually, the sound output is one strong point of Toshiba Satellite laptop throughout many generations. The microphone quality and positioning is mediocre, with chassis noise (hard-drive) being picked up easily as in most laptops of this era.
The integrated speaker is quite good, even if it is mono. The front placement and size make it sound reasonable well, much better than speakers placed below the top side of the chassis but far from late Pentium era Toshiba laptops. Actually, the sound output is one strong point of Toshiba Satellite laptop throughout many generations. The microphone quality and positioning is mediocre, with chassis noise (hard-drive) being picked up easily as in most laptops of this era.