Toshiba unveils the Portege M700 tablet with touch capabilities

Toshiba joined the rugged, touch-capable laptop party this morning with the launch of the Portege M700, an LED-backlit 12.1 convertible tablet that intelligently switches between pen and finger input. Apart from that, the 4.4-pound machine also features a modular drive bay with dual-layer burner, spill-resistant keyboard, latchless lid, and a shock-absorbing magnesium frame. Nothing too exciting going on internally: the M700 is a pretty standard Santa Rosa-based machine, with processor choices ranging from a 1.8GHz T7100 Core 2 Duo to a 2.4GHz T7700, integrated X3100 graphics, memory expandable to 4GB, Bluetooth and WiFi. Available now in configurations priced from $1699 and going up from there.

[John @ Dec 10th 2007 11:57AM]

Wait, wasn't this supposed to be announced at Macworld?

[coolbee8 @ Dec 10th 2007 11:58AM]

WOW, integrated X3100 graphics @ $1699?
Thats a shame, I don't care if its a ultra portble, well, obviously this is for someone else...

[Andrew @ Dec 10th 2007 12:48PM]

Huh? Exactly what did you expect in an ultraportable? I say be happy with that X3100, I only wish my old R100 had "only" Intel integrated graphics instead of a Trident chip; as it is, it even struggles on some video playback.

Other than playing games or watching HD content - neither of which is what an ultraportable would be expected to do - what really is the benefit of having something other than integrated graphics?

[Bean6 @ Dec 10th 2007 12:35PM]

FWIW your headline says M400 but the body of the report says M700.

[wickedpheonix @ Dec 10th 2007 12:46PM]

They're announcing this now?! Mobile Penryn processors are due out in about a month - why not announce it then and put some Penryn goodness in there?

Weak... and besides where's the innovation over the Lenovo X61T which has been out for how long again? Just some slightly better integrated graphics and an optical drive for a slightly heavier machine? These things are heavy enough as is...

[Yubastard @ Dec 10th 2007 1:16PM]

hmph! it ain't widescreen... just a few more pixels, man! it'd still be ultraportable.

[Yubastard @ Dec 10th 2007 1:24PM]

toshiba website says it's WXGA! yes, indeed... maybe I should get rid of my Gateway Tablet soon?

[Alex Groleau @ Dec 10th 2007 2:11PM]

I HATE INTEGRATED GRAPHICS!

The major reason I am able to run Vista on my Toshiba M200 tablet is because it had an nVidia GeForce 5200 Go in it. These Intel chipsets are obsolete so fast.

Ugh...

[Darak @ Dec 10th 2007 8:34PM]

I;m not sure you're aware of the vast differences between the GMA950 and the X3100. X3100 runs Vista fine, even on Intel's currently crap drivers.

As for the comparison to the X61T above - they both have x3100 GPUs.

[JMonkeYJ @ Dec 11th 2007 3:01PM]

i have the M400 with integrate intel graphics...950 chipset. i've never had video-related problems. HD video plays fine. of course i don't play 3D games on it...but is that really what you want to do on a tablet??

[Ninsei @ Dec 10th 2007 3:13PM]

Looks like this device has same shell/case like my Toshiba U200 - even screen size and spill resistant keyboard and shock-absorbing magnesium frame is same... I must say I really love this notebook, it's one of the best looking Toshi has to offer, so this convertible is tempting... And to Alex G. - Vista's Aero runs great on integrated chipset - no problems with that apart from running games ;-)

[Sandeep @ Dec 10th 2007 6:14PM]

hopefully it's better than the M400.

Having used it as an end-user and authorized service provider, I never want to use one again.

Reasons? Cheap plastic that breaks easily, crapware-laden OS, poor battery life (considering the purpose), and the worst offense: its huge! For a 12" tablet, this thing is way too big and heavy compared to its contemporaries.

[JMonkeYJ @ Dec 11th 2007 4:03PM]

although i really like my M400 (it was the best tablet available when i got it), you are right on all the negatives of it. the cheap plastic is especially irritating since the bezel pulls away from the screen and dirt gets in.

[Alan @ Dec 10th 2007 8:23PM]

Is it a Wacom Digitizer?

To all the Integrated graphics naysayers - at least it's better than the GMA 950 that was in the M400!

I still don't know why the axed the 14" tablets (the Tecra M7 and the Satellite R20) - artists liked the big screen tablet pcs!