Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh

You know, at one point chrome accents and glossy plastics were novel additions to previously staid consumer electronics -- now they make us want to punch a hole in the nearest smarmy LCD display. While HP has tried its best to be the worst offender in its consumer line, Toshiba is really giving it a shot with the M500 and U500 series laptops -- the U500 is pretty outlandish, but at least it offers a ribbed, almost-desirable matte surface of sorts, while the M500 (pictured) makes everything else look tame in comparison, and has the plentiful finger smudges to prove it. Both of the laptops offer chrome trim, overdone speaker grills and light-up accents. The textured trackpads are probably a love it or hate it thing; in fact, most of these "style" choices could be termed as such, but we're sure you've ascertained by now where we stand. Sure, the so-called general consumer apparently eats it up, but the charm is lost on us. On a gentler note, the M505 we looked at was running Windows 7, something we more commonly see being demoed on a touchscreen PC or something otherwise Windows 7 specific. Obviously it's not shipping with that OS yet, but the pining is palpable.

Gallery: Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh

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[Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 25th 2009 9:28PM]

I REALLY dislike this stupid trend of glossifying notebooks, especially consumer notebooks. Do people actually like it? >: (

[mtirv @ Jun 25th 2009 9:35PM]

Yes *looks at my shiny new dv6 and all of its trackpad fingerprints ^_^ *

[ryan @ Jun 25th 2009 9:36PM]

It's horrendous. I can't believe that anyone buys these things.

[AK66 @ Jun 25th 2009 10:40PM]

...from a distance it could pass as a studioxps laptop

[Will @ Jun 26th 2009 12:58AM]

Nope, it's awful. Hp does a lot of this garbage.

[holy_moly112 @ Jun 25th 2009 9:31PM]

No slot loading disc drive mentioned? In Picture 5, I think it is slot loading.. ^.^

[Steve @ Jun 25th 2009 9:46PM]

Yes, it's slot-loading. It's good to see these drives are becoming available in more mainstream consumer laptops.

Engadget needs to caption the gallery photos. It would be much easier to get an idea of what we're looking at.

[JHomer51 @ Jun 25th 2009 9:36PM]

This is Engadget, a gadget news site. Not an obituary.

[something clever @ Jun 25th 2009 9:38PM]

All that laptop needs is a quick spray of luminol for the full CSI: Miami treatment.

[Edrei @ Jun 25th 2009 9:53PM]

Unless that laptop has been used to bludgeon someone to death with it. I don't think luminol is going to be of any use.

Then again, it's probably heavy enough to bludgeon someone to death.

Hmmm...

[FNG @ Jun 25th 2009 9:46PM]

If Michael Jackson molested 8 year old computers instead of boys, maybe they would. But since it was the other way around, they won't.

[floydpink7 @ Jun 25th 2009 9:53PM]

When I first saw the brown/black matte finish on the Toshiba laptop that was first shown here, I was pretty interested in it. But if this shiny thing is the low budget laptop that will be at the retail stores, I would really have reservations about buying it. I'll have to see it in person to see if i could even possibly buy it.

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA1 Plumbing @ Jun 25th 2009 9:54PM]

And you don't think Steve Jobs and Balmer never-never molested boys with their computers?

But all you internet nerdz still worship them

AHAHAHAH!!

Go stand in line for your iPhone 3Gs bub, the "s" is for speed.

[ThatOneKid @ Jun 25th 2009 10:07PM]

When someone dies, I look at the good things they've done IMHO

[NickNick @ Jun 25th 2009 10:11PM]

bla bla bla ;dr

R.I.P MJ

[defazn @ Jun 25th 2009 10:19PM]

i like it

[sitruc @ Jun 25th 2009 10:20PM]

If engadget does get around to mentioning it, I fully expect it will be a trashy post full of insensitive and derogatory remarks that the readers will call them out on. Of course, the writer will attempt to pass it off as sarcasm or wit. Many of the writer's on this site just aren't in touch with people outside of their clique and aren't aware of what is news or relevant to people outside of their clique. What group of people wear orange pants, but have a problem with a person with a real job using a holster for their phone? Perhaps, it is best this way. RIP Michael and Farrah.

[Covarr @ Jun 25th 2009 10:41PM]

Why does one of your gallery images have a TF2 pic for the thumbnail?

I would totally buy a Valve laptop if given the opportunity.

[dacheeze @ Jun 25th 2009 10:58PM]

hmm, frankly i don't care if its glossy or matte, i just don't like it when it scratches. but the finish that Toshiba uses is pretty durable. anyways, looks like nice laptops.

[Uncontrol @ Jun 25th 2009 11:40PM]

i was trying to watch something on my unibody macbook inside of a ferry terminal with windows and christ i couldn't see anything

[iKrolm @ Jun 25th 2009 11:46PM]

Same problem, if its sunny I can't see anything without turning the backlight completely off (and then you get almost no color...)

[iKrolm @ Jun 25th 2009 11:47PM]

@PNG:

XD, sad part is you're probably right.

[champmarket @ Jun 26th 2009 12:01AM]

wow.. this article about Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops is very good. this is a unique article.

[MJKINGOFPOP @ Jun 26th 2009 12:12AM]

well if they need a gadget to mention it with, hes all over TV(tv is a gadget). his website is down (they report when apples site is down). he had an AWESOME video game (moonwalker). jackson is a huge nerd. he had an iphone (he also loves video equip, etc. saw this in an interview)

if you look up michael jackson on engadget, they have reported on him before. including a very racist article about a michael jackson mask by ryan block. some bull story about a michael statue in las vegas.

if you can tell me how a racist article about a homemade halloween mask is a gadget, then im sure you can find a way to fit michaels death.

p.s

@F.N.G.
he was extorted, then rightfully acquitted.please respect the dead..

[JohnTech @ Jun 26th 2009 12:26AM]

Guys what do u think of this laptop?? I wanna get one very soon and this one is still new and no body have rate it yet..

[Grimnir @ Jun 26th 2009 12:41AM]

Am I still the only one who doesn't see the U500 on the USA toshiba page....

[rodney.ha @ Jun 26th 2009 12:46AM]

The one thing I don't like is the textured trackpad.

[Aaron @ Jun 26th 2009 1:37AM]

Did you actually put the two words "ribbed" and "desirable" in the same sentence... on a gadget blog?

[wyatt @ Jun 26th 2009 2:13AM]

OR they could do a post about the patent he owns for a dance move. giz did a post about the tech but neglected to mention that he actually co-owns the US Patent No. 5,255,452.

http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=US&NR=5255452&KC=&FT=E

[MikeWard1701 @ Jun 26th 2009 5:35AM]

It just me or does the keyboard look incredibly uneven?

[kai @ Jun 26th 2009 9:25AM]

dongt like it, thinkpad forever

[yvberj @ Aug 21st 2009 8:46AM]

I recently purchased a Toshiba M500-6421. Mechanically, within it’s price range, it is an excellent laptop.

My only objection and complaint , as you've highlighted in the opening article, is the finish. It is available only with a high gloss finish which shows every tiny fingerprint. As soon as you touch it your fingerprints show up like a sore thumb. Don’t bother cleaning off the prints, as soon as you touch it they’re back.

If you are fussy about the appearance of your things this is not the laptop to buy. This is the only reason I would give it a 3 star rating instead of a 4.5 star.

Incidentally, I've posted two reviews on Toshiba Direct's website and they have yet to post it. I guess they can't handle corrective criticism.

[technology4u @ Sep 7th 2009 4:49AM]

Toshiba introduced at the IFA 2009 the new Camileo S20, H30 and X100 camcorders.
The new Toshiba Camileo series shoots high quality video in almost all lighting conditions, thanks to an optimized night mode that captures high levels of detail, even in low light. Visit http://www.i4u.com/article26770.html for more information.