Toshiba reveals Tecra M7 dual core tablet

So apparently Toshiba has a Core Duo-powered update to the Tecra M4 convertible tablet waiting in the wings, and this one gives you a 100GB hard drive, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, and especially nice, a dual layer Super Multi drive that handles both flavors of recordable DVDs. Although we haven't yet seen any pics of the 14.1-inch, WXGA+ Tecra M7, info on Toshiba's European website seems to indicate that it will look similar to the M4 (pictured), but you're getting a lot more muscle on the inside with either 1.66GHz or 1.83GHz Core Duo chips. Rounding out the specs are nVidia Quadro NVS 110M graphics, a 6-in-1 memory card reader, four USB ports, PCMCIA slot, video out, FireWire, and both WLAN and Bluetooth wireless radios. It's not clear when this model will officially be released (pretty soon, we reckon), but we already have a good idea on pricing: it looks like you'll be able to get a nice configuration for around $1,600 or $1,700.

[Thanks, Ethan]

[charlie @ Jun 15th 2006 6:58PM]

This is exactly what i was looking for for college. 14" widescreen core duo tablet with good features at a reasonable price.

[Eazy @ Jun 15th 2006 7:03PM]

If it look anything like the M4, no point. It's just so bulky.

[tommer12 @ Jun 15th 2006 7:21PM]

i was hoping they would bring back the Tecra 600 with dual core...... hahah

[dcstimm @ Jun 15th 2006 7:50PM]

why do people need a tablet? Its an idea that sounded cool, but really isnt there yet. The screens are way to insensitive, when you write on a tablet it looks nothing like when you write on paper. I have a nintendo ds and the touch screen on that is way better than the tablets I have used, but still its not sensitive enough to make hand writing look normal. I think the graphics market need to use this technology first for art then when they find it to be acceptable then we can start making some sweet tablets. Until then its just a waste of time.

[Jesse Hallam @ Jun 15th 2006 7:59PM]

@ dcstimm: I'd heartily disagree. I've found a tablet to be an invaluable tool during the last two years of my pursuing a computer science degree. I don't know what tablets you have been exposed to, but I've found the screen to be very sensitive, and to print out my assignments and notes exactly as I would have had them on paper... except, well, I couldn't have merged my pdf course notes with my own handwriting nearly as well.

Lets just say I regularly carry only my tablet to class, and have (along with other tablet users), been the envy of the university (Waterloo). Nothing compares to having your first year notes on complex numbers handy when youc can't remember what a root of unity is...

[krypticide @ Jun 15th 2006 8:19PM]

@dcstimm

I'm curious as to when you last tested a tablet, because I've been using them for 2 years and I've always felt that the pen experience was superb. My handwriting looks just fine on the computer. With Vista coming out, there will be even greater tablet enhancements that will be worth checking out.

[krypticide @ Jun 15th 2006 8:23PM]

Buy.com has it listed.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=202778709&SearchEngine=Froogle&SearchTerm=202778709&Type=PE&Category=Comp&dcaid=17379
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=202778680&SearchEngine=Froogle&SearchTerm=202778680&Type=PE&Category=Comp&dcaid=17379

[bamf @ Jun 15th 2006 8:50PM]

In response to dstimm,

Windows Vista really improves on the whole tablet experience. I've got a Toshiba M200 tablet PC with Vista Beta 2 installed. It feels like Microsoft really integrated tablet functionality a lot better than XP Tablet Edition. The interface is a lot more intuitive and the handwriting recognition is leaps and bounds above XP. With XP, I had to train myself to write in a particular style so the computer could recognize it correctly. With Vista, it feels more like anyone could pick it up, write naturally, and have a decent experience. Also, with Vista, the software learns your handwriting style and adapts much better than XP did. As far as handwriting looking normal, I guess it's in the eye of the beholder, because I never really had issues with the way it looked in XP. You can adjust the sensitivity of the stylus and the thickness of the writing, but I think most people really just want to write and have the PC convert it to type.

[Aaron @ Jun 15th 2006 10:29PM]

@dcstimm

I'll add my voice to the people wondering just what tablet you were using here, since every single tablet I've used has been amazing. They use Wacom's technology for the pens, so just like a drawing tablet, it's very good at smooth capturing of your pen strokes.

The only bad tablets I've seen are the non-Wacom passive ones since touchscreens are less sensitive than active ones.

[PhilJ @ Jun 15th 2006 10:39PM]

I can see where dcstimm gets her/his opinion. I own an older Toshiba tablet but really like it. My father, on the other had, has one of those Gateway machines you can get at Best Buy, and the screen was pretty bad -- the pen doesn't glide smoothly at all like the Toshiba.

Nonetheless, maybe time for me to finally upgrade!

[Tony Rayo @ Jun 16th 2006 12:54AM]

One of my doctors uses a Sony tablet, and it has a beautiful screen and while I've only seen her use Microsoft Word on the unit it seems to work great... and if it can convert a doctor's chickenscribble into real text you know it's good =).

[trev @ Jun 16th 2006 5:30AM]

Sweet. I want to get a tablet pc to do illustration work on the move. It looks like a toss up between this and the m400, Im not really bothered too much about gaming or dvd buring (though I wouldnt say no if it were within my budget). I just want a tablet with a good screen and can make photoshop + illustrator go like stink ;)

[BakaBaka @ Jun 16th 2006 9:12AM]

@dcstimm

I've found that having a tablet pc is the best for recording notes in a classroom environment. Especially with teachers fond of white boards. I was able to record everything they wrote, highlight the important points and reprint the notes later and still make sense of them. The only problem I ran into is trying to program on the tablet. I had a slate-style so I couldn't find a comfortable position and the keyboard/cover was lousy. The best feature though, taking the tablet to a Human Computer Interaction class. It was almost an automatic A. The professor pretty much gushed over the device from day one. My final project was actually a voice-recognition, touch sensitive reading program for kindergarten/elementy children.

[jon @ Jun 16th 2006 9:18AM]

I've been waiting for toshiba to finally put out the dual core in the tecra lineup (kind of wondered why they came out with the m4, instead of waiting a few months, oh well) I was hoping for another SXGA screen instead of downgrading to XGA. It would be really nice if they through in a HD DVD drive as well.

[Alan @ Jun 16th 2006 10:09AM]

dcstimm-

I know you seem to be getting a lot of flak on your post, but I don't think the primary usefulness for a tablet pc is handwriting on the screen, in my opinion. The advantages for using it to draw or paint directly on the screen as opposed to a traditional tablet is invaluable for those in the creative field, and the tablet screens for desktops from wacom often cost more than the cost of an entire tablet pc. I think that many artists find it not only acceptable, but much superior to the feel of a normal tablet. I can't say that I have ever or will ever use a tablet for handwriting recognition (I type faster than I write anyways) so I guess that feature is lost on me. I mean, technically wouldnt drawing be more sensitive than a person's handwriting?

For me this is an exciting announcement because Toshiba's other tablet offerings with optical drives (the M400 and the Tecra M4) are missing something that I would want in a new computer (the m400 has integrated Intel Graphics and the Tecra M4 still uses an older Pentium 4m). Will be interested to see the official Canadian pricing.

[Spudman @ Jun 16th 2006 1:07PM]

My brother got a Fujitsu and the pen does not have to touch the screen in order to write. It is some sort of RFID tech I think. Is the Toshiba like this?

If so then I am going to get this since the decked out Fujitsu is > $2k

[monkey @ Jun 16th 2006 8:07PM]

yep, all wacom pens work in a similar way; get the tip within about 2cm of the surface, and the cursor will move. touching the tip to the surface is a left click, and there's a rocker switch on the side for middle and right click (note that most tablet pc pens only have a right click side switch, but you can buy a cintiq pen from wacom that has both).

and i just bought an m4 damnit.

[justin @ Jun 17th 2006 3:21PM]

Oh please people, dont say its too big!!! I am an artist, and since they only seem to be marketing these things to you guys, I have to suffer with these tiny small weak units... This new terca seems awsome, but what I am really waiting for is a 17 or 19 inch tablet with 1028 levels of pressure sencitivity, dual core, and 4 gigs of ram.... They just arnt there yet, but they could make one very easily its not a technollogy limit, its a demand limit... although I know many artists that would switch to a tablet PC if they where made and marketed proporly...(wink wink) Tablet makers please dont forget about your strong artist and VFX industy peeps!

[Balabok @ Jun 18th 2006 1:38AM]

Yeah, don't forget about us!!! If you guys can make a kick-ass desktop replacement laptop then you can surely make a tablet for the digitial artist out here! Forget the suits, we need a powerful Nvidia tablet that can push heavy graphic apps.

Acer and Toshiba seem to be the only ones that offer a couple models each that can be used in production.

I have a Acer Travelmate c204 that rocks but I wish it had more screen rez and a bigger display.

[james nicholl @ Aug 29th 2006 2:15PM]

any mobile user should get a tablet, they are so much more usable than a laptop. using a pen streamlines your workflow like you wouldn't believe. it is simply the fastest and most intuitive input method available. i use it with cubase and adobe illustrator, and i fly when i edit. with one hand on the keyboard for hotkeys, and one hand using the pen, i'm in the zone. if you think that you want to use it for writing notes, you're probably better off just taking a keyboarding class and learning how to type. no handwriting tool will ever be as fast as a keyboard for inputting text. it is amazing for navigating through menus and such. i like using it for drawing envelopes and piano roll composition in cubase. once you own a tablet you will never switch back. they're here to stay, and when the general public becomes better informed they will take over the laptop market.

[Khalid Ba-Wahab @ Sep 14th 2006 8:23PM]

How i get ?