Toshiba Satellite U845W-S410 Pro Reviews

This elegant-looking laptop targets movie buffs, but it's not a good choice for productivity or gaming.

We like to give PC makers credit for trying something out of the ordinary, and the Satellite U845W-S410 is anything but ordinary. Setting aside its ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio screen, it's a reasonably appealing ultrabook—OK, maybe half a pound heavy for an ultrabook, and with the not uncommon affliction of a stiff and shallow keyboard—but well put together, even a little elegant with its clutch-purse styling, and with plenty of ports. But, of course, you can't set aside its ultra-wide screen; the 21:9 panel is the whole reason for existence of the U845W as opposed to the lower-priced U845 model; and our feelings here are mixed. We suspect only a relatively small audience will base its laptop purchase decision on wanting to avoid a little letterboxing when watching streamed movies and videos. Perhaps a larger one would appreciate the convenience of room for two application windows side by side, but—while indeed convenient—the Toshiba also makes the experience a little small or squinty.

The Toshiba Satellite U845W-S410 will attract movie lovers craving extra-widescreen entertainment, but the 21:9 display winds up being more of an inconvenient gimmick than a feature.

The media-geared Toshiba Satellite U845W has an extrawide 21:9 screen and Harman-Kardon speakers, but no DVD or Blu-ray player. The screen is a novelty act that offers some benefits, but it's really no better than your standard laptop for most uses.