The toshiba satellite r945 p440 is an all-purpose laptop with a solid build, but it looks positively monstrous next to the Ultrabooks and other skinny machines on the market today. At 1.2 inches thick and weighing 4.5 pounds, this system is hardly ultraportable.
The system has a good selection of ports, even better than what you'll find on most Ultrabooks and budget models. The left side of the case houses VGA and HDMI-out ports, headphone and microphone jacks, and a USB 3.0 port. The right side includes a tray-loading DVD SuperMulti drive, an SD Card reader, and a combination eSATA/USB 2.0 port. There is also a Kensington lock slot built into the right hinge.
Video playback on the toshiba satellite r945-p440's 14-inch display is stilted and jerky, with lots of artifacting. DVD playback looks slightly better, but artifacting is still a problem. The system's integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 provides enough graphics processing power for day-to-day Web browsing and video, scoring 6,360 points in our 3DMark 2006 benchmark tests at medium resolution with 4x anti-aliasing. The satellite r945-p440, however, lacks a discrete graphics card, so gaming support will be limited.
When not in use, the battery should be fully charged and then stored in a cool, dry place at room temperature. Battery life will degrade over time if you leave the battery disconnected from the adapter or charger, and if it remains discharged for long periods of time. It's best to charge the battery before it becomes fully discharged, and it's a good idea to recharge the laptop regularly.