Toshiba Qosmio G15-AV501 Media Center Notebook PC Breakthrough Multimedia Qosmio is true digital media convergence simply achieved through state-of-the-art and streamlined design. It's 4-in-1 functionality combines TV, Audio, PC and DVD features in one compact package. The multiple plug-and-play ports transform the unit simply into a gaming monitor, a digital camera slide show screen, audio-out to home systems for TV and MP3s, and more! Qosmio's sleek style echoes consumer electronics design, to complement existing electronics in the home. Sacrifice nothing and get it all in satisfying portions: TV, DVD, gaming, MP3s and a top-of-the line notebook! Feel the music fill the room with harman-kardon speakers and SRS virtual surround sound.
Toshiba's Qosmio G15-AV501 notebook PC is a multimedia superstar that offers features rivalling many desktop PCs. You'll get built-in TV and digital video recorder (DVR) functionality as well as an outstandingly bright 17-inch TruBrite screen. It's also built for today's mobile computing needs, with a fast 1.8 GHz Intel Centrino processor. This notebook also features 512 MB of installed RAM, 100 GB hard drive, a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, and integrated 802.11g (54g) and Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
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The Qosmio G15-AV501 features a 17-inch diagonal wide-screen XGA LCD with TruBrite. |
The Basics
- Hard Drive: At 100 GB, the G15-AV501's hard drive is one of the largest found in a notebook. And you'll need the space for storing multimedia files and recorded TV programs from the DVR software.
- Processor: The 1.8 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) processor is at the top of the speed spectrum for this processor class. It is well equipped for office productivity software tasks, from complex spreadsheets to databases. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. It also has a 2 MB L2 cache and 400 MHz front-side bus (FSB).
- Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory is becoming the standard for notebooks, and you should consider it just a starting point. The the G15-AV501 can be expanded to 2 GB of memory, and you'll want more RAM in order to take advantage of all the notebook's multimedia capabilities.
- CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive has 40x read, 16x write, and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
- Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.
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| Sound and Graphics
The G15-AV501 boasts the Nvidia GeForce FX Go 5700 video/graphics card, which offers powerful 3D rendering for video playback and gaming. Toshiba's QosmioEngine provides heightened video clarity, cripsness, and near home-theater quality with edge enhancement, de-interlacing, and digital noise reduction. The 17-inch TruBrite screen has a high 600 NITS brightness rating, rivaling many high-end televisions. The wide viewing angles let you easily share video playback with a group of viewers. This notebook also features SRS virtual surround sound technology and large, internal Harman Kardon speakers. Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Media Center 2005 operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Quicken New User Edition, Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 90-day LiveUpdate subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, WinDVD Creator 2 Platinum. With the Qosmio's DVR software, you can watch or digitally record TV programs. Use the S-Video in/out ports to hook into a home entertainment system for large-screen viewing. | 
The QosmioPlayer allows video and audio entertainment with the press of the button. |
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The SuperDrive reads and writes most popular DVD/CD formats (+/-RW and RAM). | Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This G15-AV501 has an integrated 802.11g wireless LAN (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates). It also offers built-in Bluetooth wireless connectivity, so you can communicate with compatible cell phones, PDAs, printers, and more. You get a good offering of connectivity options, which does include both super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire: - 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
- 1 Firewire (IEEE 1394) for connecting digital camcorders and external hard drives
- 1 VGA monitor port
- 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot
- 2 TV out (S-Video)
- 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems). It also has a hot-swappable bay for adding an optional optical drive or second battery. |
Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Media Center 2005 operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Quicken New User Edition, Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 90-day LiveUpdate subscription), Adobe Acrobat Reader, WinDVD Creator 2 Platinum. With the Qosmio's DVR software, you can watch or digitally record TV programs. Use the S-Video in/out ports to hook into a home entertainment system for large-screen viewing.
Dimensions and Weight
While portable, the G15-AV501 is larger and heavier than notebooks used for mobile professionals. But you'll appreciate the ease of moving it from room to room in your home. It measures 16 x 11.2 x 1.5 inches and weight 9.7 pounds.
Power
It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that offers a standard 1.5 to 2-hour battery life (depending on usage). With use of video playback, battery life will diminish.
What's in the Box
This package contains the Toshiba Qosimo G15-AV501 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited warranty for parts and labor.
1 Amazon.com does not pay rebate on the Toshiba G15
Don't buy this notebook. I have been waiting for a $100 rebate since last December 2004 after purchasing the Toshiba G15. I have made four inquiries on their website regarding payment of the rebate. They have not responded to any of the inquiries. I have filed complaints with the Federal Trade Commission and the BBB regarding these delays.
2 Toshiba! Once again....
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1. The sound doesn't quite synchronize with the image
2. Most channels have an annoying bar of flickering pixels at the very top of the screen.
3. They tout the instant on feature without booting Windows, but don't tell you that only channels 2-13 are available in that mode.
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1- I bought the same model and dont have any problems at all... but I can suggest while you are using tv feature, you should close all other background processes (personal ones of course). That should overcome the problem!
2- That is not caused by TV card mostly it is from broadcasted channels. I used 2 different types of TV cards on my desktop before and they had the same flickers due to the broadcasted channels! normally you wouldnt see it on you tv because it is probably over sized from the back tube! or TV res is too low that you cant really realize!
3- Totally you are wrong! Because there is a setting if you press F2 key while watching tv which will bring up setup menu so you can rescan all channels so they ll show? Why should you do that? Because it is not windows and not using windows settings!! It is qosmio player which I assume there is another chip that controls this features! If you press F1 you ll see guides menu which shows what each button stands or sets for!
All in all, I m pretty satisfied with this laptop! I currently owned a p15 s479 and this one came on right time to replace it :) For new bees, I suggest you to click buttons and discover instead of complaining! :) and read the manuals! although you may find it boring, in some parts there are really cool informations! If you have money and like the state-of-the-art stuffs you should buy it! But once again, you must be open to discoveries :) google is there and keys are under yyour kontrols if you dont know search it!
3 Toshiba does it again
I have had several Toshiba notebooks, and have never had a problem with one of them. They all still work, but I retired and/or donated them due to technological improvements. I am VERY pleased with this new model. Not only is it incredibly fast for day to day computer tasks, but the screen is awesome! DVDs look great, and unlike the prior reviewer, with the unit hooked up to my DirecTV, the TV quality is also great. Even the sound is pretty good with just the computer's speakers.
Main drawbacks: the manuals could be better, both in terms of explaining how to set and utilize the many features, but also in terms of interfacing the set up with the Windows Media Center 2005. For example, the remote for the computer doesn't sync up with what the Windows guide assumes you have in terms of ability to plug in numbers on the remote key pad. Ditto for other types of accessories, like the D-Link Media Player, Rhapsody, AOL Radio, etc. (although all of these company's customer service, with the exception of AOL, which saw a tad better, SUCK at this). It took a couple of tech geeks to get it all set up and working (Kudos to the Geek Squad for getting the all the features set up on the notebook and getting the D-Link up and running, but the notebook was really the least of the problems, it was really getting the router, D-Link media player, Rhapsody and AOL to all work together). It was worth it though, because the Rhapsody running through my Denon receiver on 5 channel stereo through my home stereo speakers ROCKS!!!! A sleep timer would be nice for dozing off to the TV, and more choices on the remote, since turning the unit on by the remote boots up the computer. A separate button to turn on the TV, DVD only would be nice and make sense.
Bottom line, buy it and have a brave new world of multimedia possibilities open up to you at home and on the road!
4 Poor TV quality
If you are looking at this computer for its TV tuner, don't bother. I have a 6 year old (ATI)video card in my old desk top computer that has a much better TV image. There are other problems besides the image:
1. The sound doesn't quite synchronize with the image
2. Most channels have an annoying bar of flickering pixels at the very top of the screen.
3. They tout the instant on feature without booting Windows, but don't tell you that only channels 2-13 are available in that mode.
You are better off getting a cheaper laptop and small portable LCD TV than this one computer.
