Toshiba Satellite 1710C DS

Toshiba Satellite 1710C DS

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The Toshiba Satellite 1710C DS was a late-1990s entry-level laptop notable for its robust, serviceable design and modular components, such as easily replaceable hard drives and CD-ROM drives, which made it appealing for both consumers and IT departments seeking durability and straightforward maintenance.

• Manufacturer: Toshiba
• Released: 1994
• Type: Laptop
• Cost at release: USD $3,500 (CAD ~$8,750 adjusted for inflation)
• MIPS: 20-40 (depending on the exact CPU variant and clock speed)

Hardware Specifications

• Processor: Intel Pentium MMX, typically running at 233 MHz
• Memory: 32 MB, expandable up to 160 MB
• Hard Drive: 2.1 GB or 4.3 GB IDE HDD (varied by configuration)
• Display: 12.1-inch TFT active-matrix color LCD, 800×600 resolution
• Optical Drive: Built-in CD-ROM drive (removable)
• Floppy Drive: External 3.5-inch floppy disk drive (included as a peripheral)
• Graphics: Integrated Chips & Technologies graphics controller
• Audio: Built-in stereo speakers, microphone, and audio jacks
• Ports: Parallel, serial, VGA out, PS/2, infrared, USB 1.1, modem (optional)
• Battery: Removable lithium-ion battery
• Weight: Approximately 3.3 kg (7.3 lbs)

Operating System & Programming Languages 

• O/S: Microsoft Windows 98, but it was also compatible with Windows ME and could run various versions of Linux that supported its hardware
• Programming Languages:
  • Any language that could be compiled or interpreted in the Windows 98 environment, including:
  • C and C++ (via compilers like Microsoft Visual C++ or Borland C++)
  • Pascal (Borland/Turbo Pascal)
  • BASIC (such as QBasic, Visual Basic)
  • Java (with the Java Runtime Environment)
  • Assembly language (using assemblers like MASM or TASM)
  • Scripting languages such as Perl and Python (with appropriate interpreters)
  • Other languages supported by third-party compilers or interpreters for Windows 98 and Linux

Notables

• The Toshiba Satellite 1710C DS was part of the popular Satellite line, known for making laptops more accessible to both business and home users in the late 1990s.
• It stood out for its modular design, allowing easy upgrades and repairs, and included features like a removable CD-ROM drive and external floppy disk support

Donated by: Arlen Michaels