$350 Toshiba Satellite L355 Laptop [Intel Celeron Processor, 17-in Screen, 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD]

There are quite a few options out there for those of us that don’t want to spend a small fortune on a portable computer. However, most of them aren’t high on the features list and don’t exactly show off with stellar performance. Of course, one could always opt for a 10-in screen like those found on the ultra-portable netbooks that have been gaining popularity as of late, but what fun is that? The folks at Toshiba are about to change the game yet again with their sub-$350 17-in Satellite L355 notebook.

The Toshiba Satellite L355 is definitely not for those users that are seeking the best and fastest when it comes to their laptop. It might not have the greatest processor or fastest hard drive, but for less than $350 who would actually complain? The L355 features a 2.2-GHz Intel Celeron 900 processor so it won’t set the world on fire with processing power, but it comes with a more than adequate 250GB HDD (albeit a bit slow at 5400RPM) and 3GB of RAM. You also won’t get the bells and whistles like a webcam or HDMI out.

Some of the other features of the Toshiba Satellite L355 worth noting include a decent keyboard with full number pad, integrated touchpad, and 17-in widescreen display sporting 1440×900 resolution. Among the other standards are three USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, and an Ethernet jack. On the front side is a Wi-Fi switch and headphone and mic ports. On the right side is an 8X DVD drive (you can use it to play back and watch DVDs, as well as burn in a variety of formats), and on the left is an ExpressCard 34/54 slot.

There really isn’t much to complain about when it comes to finding a laptop of this feature set for less than $350. Sure, it won’t have you steeping in the jealousy of your friends or blazing through the next version of World at War, but if you are looking for a basic machine to check email, surf the net, and pop out a few Word documents, this is right up your alley. Walmart is expected to start selling the L355 this Sunday and did I mention it’s less than $350? You’d better get in line early.