Our review unit, priced at $690 (as of 9/27/2011), comes packed with a second-generation Intel Core i5-2410M processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 640GB hard drive (spinning at 5400 rpm). The Satellite L755 also features built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, a built-in webcam and microphone, and an HDMI port. It comes with the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium installed.

In WorldBench 6 benchmark tests, the L755-S5258 scored an acceptable 115. That score is nowhere near the top of the charts, especially in the category to which this model belongs, but it's still pretty good for a sub-$700 notebook, and is only two points below the scores of the and the , two similar, but somewhat pricier, machines.

The L755 has no discrete graphics card--it relies on the integrated graphics of its Sandy Bridge processor. So graphics performance leaves something to be desired: In Dirt 2, for example, it manages a barely playable frame rate of 19.6 frames per second (using high-quality settings and a resolution of 1024 by 768). This is average for integrated graphics; and the aforementioned HP Pavilion dv6, which has a low-end discrete graphics card, managed only a slightly better frame rate of 24.3 fps in this test.

The visual style of the Satellite's design is interesting, to say the least. The notebook has a rounded, shiny plastic cover that is light gray with a subtle criss-cross pattern. A large, pale silver Toshiba logo is printed in the middle, and the entire cover is smooth. The criss-cross pattern carries over to the keyboard deck as well. The interior has rounded insets for various features, including the speakers and trackpad buttons. Overall, these design details make the laptop look like a futuristic cartoon product, and not in a good way. Though it's not my style, perhaps it'll appeal to some.

Despite the unattractive design, the machine is sturdy and lighter than it looks. It weighs 5.7 pounds, which is average for a 15.6-inch laptop, and is just under 1.5 inches thick at its thickest point.