In adding a fresh new face to its Satellite line, Toshiba engineers spent the long winter months focused on industrial design. Just in time for the warm weather, the company has rolled out the sleek byproduct of that toil. The Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830 is dressed up in what Toshiba calls its Fusion finish. While the technique of fusing decorative patterns with glossy laminates isn't new in the laptop world, the U405's look is bound to entice media enthusiasts and college-bound students. It also doesn't hurt that this 4.7-pound portable integrates Intel's finest technology and has a starting price of only $1,149 (direct).

In-Mold Decoration (IMD) is a hot trend in laptop lid decoration: A subtle pattern is inlaid under a lustrous finish. HP started it (check out the HP Pavilion dv6500t), Gateway is using it (as with the Gateway M-150X), and ASUS just launched its own in-mold models. TheU405's Fusion finish uses a pattern of parallel white lines, inlaid beneath the glossy black of the cover. The interior is dressed up in the same fashion, with the pattern adorning the palm rest areas and the edges of the full-size keyboard. The keyboard is heavily glazed to give it a really shiny look—so shiny that under bright lights the glare coming off the keys can be distracting. But the keys feel like those of a grand piano and are responsive to the touch. The mouse buttons, made out of chrome, are attractive and click quietly.

What really distinguishes the interior is Toshiba's use of LED lights. The bright white LEDs provide a striking contrast to the very dark grays and blacks of the keyboard and its surroundings. The Satellite brand logo on the bottom left-hand corner, a line above the touchpad, and the touch-sensitive multimedia buttons all light up. I wouldn't classify this system as an ultraportable, as its 4.7-pound weight puts it more in line with mainstream laptops. It competes with systems like the Apple MacBook 13-inch (Core 2 Duo) and the Dell Vostro 1310, which weigh about 5 pounds and have roomy 13.3-inch widescreens. The U405's 13.3-inch screen is superb for all things multimedia.

Users will find the feature set impressively strong. The system comes with a built-in dual-layer DVD burner that uses LabelFlash technology to etch pictures and text onto special DVD/CD media (though you have to purchase the media separately). The three USB ports have unique charging capabilities. With USB Sleep-and-Charge, you can plug in your iPod or other handheld device and have it charge even when the U405 is turned off, as long as the laptop is plugged into an AC adapter. You can also find a FireWire port and a 4-in-1 card reader (SD, xD, Memory Stick, and Memory Stick PRO). Although you can make out an HDMI logo on the side, the U405 doesn't include an HDMI port—a bummer, since it leaves you with VGA as your only video-out option. (The space for an HDMI port is there in case Toshiba decides to put one in.) Located on top of the screen is a 1.3-megapixel webcam for video chatting, and a fingerprint reader (sans Trusted Platform Module) is wedged between the mouse buttons. The stereo speakers are loud; they sound better than either the Apple MacBook's dual speakers or the single speaker on the Dell Vostro 1310.

Most mainstream laptops have already moved to Intel's latest Penryn technology, and the U405-S2830 is no exception. It runs on a 2.1-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which can also be found on the Sony VAIO VGN-FZ485U and the Fujitsu LifeBook A6120. The U405's SYSMark 2007 Preview Overall score surpasses those of the Sony and Fujitsu laptops by 8 percent and 5 percent, respectively. The system couldn't, however, overtake the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Penryn) and the ASUS M50Sa-A1, which have Core 2 Duo T9000 series processors. The U405-S2830's 3GB of RAM enabled it to match the MacBook Pro on our Photoshop tests. Since there's no option for discrete graphics, as there is on the Dell Vostro 1310, you'll have to settle for light game play with the U405-S2830's integrated graphics chipset. The system managed 3 hours 3 minutes on the MobileMark 2007 test, which may not seem like much but is reasonable for a 52-Wh, six-cell battery. A high-capacity, nine-cell battery, available for an extra $150, is good to have as a spare.

The Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830 focuses on two things that especially matter to today's consumers when they're shopping for a new laptop: looks and price. Its "Fusion" design, combined with the elegant use of LED lights, is guaranteed to draw some appreciative glances, and Toshiba packs in the latest technology and up-to-date features that few can complain about at a reasonable price. Though it's not the lightest laptop with a 13-inch screen, the combination of a fresh new look and affordability makes this Satellite worthy of strong consideration.

Check out the Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830's test scores.

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