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Toshiba updates Qosmio and Dynabook SS RX2 laptops
It's sort of funny that Toshiba's packing the Cell-based SpursEngine HD video co-processor into most of the Qosmio line when it still refuses to offer Blu-ray drives, but we guess some wounds just don't heal. In any event, Japanese customers can now pick from a whole host of updated Qosmios with clock-bumped Core 2 Duos and GeForce 9600M GT graphics, including the ¥320,000 ($3,241) 18.4-inch Qosmio G50 and the ¥210,000 ($2,119) 15.4-inch Qosmio FX, as well as a new 1.4GHz 12.1-inch Dynabook SS RX2 with 128GB SSD for ¥280,000 ($2,840). Great, but hey Tosh -- what we really want to see is the SpursEngine chip stuffed inside one of your new netbooks, you know? Think about it. Check the SS RX2 after the break.Read - QosmiosRead - Dynabook SS RX2
Toshiba goes bonkers with Qosmio laptop upgrades: GX, FX and SpursEngine G50
Hang tight, kiddos -- Toshiba's about to take you on a wild, unpredictable ride through the untamed wilderness where Qosmios are born. The outfit has just unleashed some 20 new Dynabook models over in Japan, with the most notable additions coming in the gamer-oriented Qosmio FX (15.4-inch) and GX (18.4-inch) and the SpursEngine-equipped G50 (18.4-inch). The GX / FX models boast a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo P8600 CPU, NVIDIA's GeForce 9600M GT, 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive. As for the G50, you'll find most of the same specs, though the inclusion of a SpursEngine graphics system, an extra 250GB hard drive, a digital TV tuner, four USB ports, an eSATA socket, 1.3-megapixel camera, a fingerprint sensor and a dual-layer DVD burner makes it a touch more special. As for pricing on these three, expect 'em to cost between ¥210,000 ($2,327) and ¥340,000 ($3,767), and we're told the whole family will be available before the year's end. [Via Impress]
Toshiba's three-GPU Qosmio X305-Q708 / Q706 laptops now available
Given that you've surely got rafts of free cash to burn through right now, we know you're eager beyond belief to drop north of four large on a new gaming notebook. To that end, we're utterly thrilled to announce that Toshiba's Qosmio X305-Q708 (starts at $4,199, goes to just under infinity) is available for purchase direct from the company. If that just seems downright insane to you, the three-GPU X305-Q706 is also available now for "just" $1,999.99. The big ticket inclusion here? An NVIDIA GeForce 9400M paired with two GeForce 9800 GTS GPUs. Or, enough to make Crysis weep.
Toshiba gets serious with $4k Qosmio X305-Q708 gaming laptop
Look out, Alienware / Voodoo -- a formidable opponent just rolled in, and it appears that some prankster stuck a Toshiba logo on whatever machine is hiding underneath. All jesting aside, Tosh is revamping its -- shall we say, vivid -- Qosmio X305 by introducing the Qosmio X305-Q708, which houses a potent Core 2 Extreme QX9300 CPU, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 128GB SSD, 320GB 7,200 RPM SATA drive, dual-layer DVD writer, twin NVIDIA 512MB GeForce 9800M GTS graphics cards, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and Windows Vista Ultimate. You'll also find a full-sized keyboard with a ten-key number pad, four Harman Kardon speakers, HDMI / DisplayPort connectors, 1.3-megapixel webcam, Wireless USB / USB Sleep-and-Charge technologies and a 17-inch TruBrite LCD (though resolution remains a mystery). It should be available any moment for around $4,199.99, but we'd factor in a few extra hundies to have Colorware blot out the putrid "fiery Fusion" finish (seen better after the break).
Video: Toshiba's gesture control coming to its cell-based TVs?
Remember that Qosmio G55 laptop with gesture control? Yeah, the one with the Cell-based SpursEngine under the hood. Well it looks like Tosh is bringing that so-called "natural" gesture input to its future cell-based televisions. Judging by the latest video alone, the gesture control seems more at home on the big-screen TV than smaller-screened laptops that require a higher degree of precision and closer viewing proximity. Demonstrated on a prototype, Toshiba hints that the tech might come to future Cell-based TVs -- interesting what with the cell-based ZF televisions already announced for Europe. While we find pushing buttons on a remote about as natural (and lazy) as it gets, here's hoping for this arm-flailing gesture control on future Toshiba TVs just for the nerdiness of it. Video of the G55 gesture input as well as the prototype television show at IFA after the break.[Via AVING]
Toshiba announces Centrino 2-based Satellite Pro S300, Tecra M10 and Tecra A10
Get ready for a flood of Centrino 2 laptops, kids -- hot on the heels of Intel's big announcement and Sony and Lenovo's updated lineups comes Toshiba with the new Satellite Pro S300, Tecra M10 and A10, and Qosmio X305, F55 and Cell-based G55. The Qosmios actually aren't that new -- all three of them were initially announced back in June, but they're actually available now, with the gaming-oriented X305 exclusive to Best Buy. The $1,299 Satellite Pro S300 (pictured) is a little more interesting, with a 2.4GHz P8600 Core 2 Duo on Centrino 2's 1066MHz bus and Intel 4500MD integrated graphics powering a 15.4-inch display, as well as sleep-and-charge USB ports and a docking port. The more business-oriented Tecra lappies also get a similar Centrino 2 treatment, sharing a motherboard design to reduce repair costs. The $1,399 M10 sports a 14.1-inch screen, while the 15.4-inch A10's pricing hasn't been announced. Pictures of the new Tecras after the break.Read - Satellite Pro S300Read - Tecra A10 and M10Read - Qosmio X305Read - Qosmio G55Read - Qosmio F55
Toshiba remains stubborn, looks to DVD upscaling while brushing Blu-ray off
For the attentive in attendance, you likely noticed that none of Toshiba's newly announced laptops (yes, even the absurdly powerful Qosmio rigs) have built-in Blu-ray drives. Like, there's not even an option. When questioned about the obvious oversight (ahem), Tosh's Europe CEO Alan Thompson noted that "Blu-ray was just one of the many ways that you can get HD content and is not required for accessing HD content." Furthermore, it seems as if the outfit is continuing on in its pursuit to develop the best DVD upconverting technology in the whole wide world, as it explained to the press in London that its forthcoming technology would "fill in the gaps" and "add resolution." Company representatives even remarked that "Blu-ray was only a storage medium," and reiterated that BD "wasn't the only way to view high-def content." It's one thing to bow out gracefully, pick up the pieces and get on with life. It's another thing to douse yourself in ignorance and pretend that Blu-ray (let alone HD DVD) never happened.Read - Toshiba's London press eventRead - Toshiba Europe CEO comments
Toshiba intros Qosmio G55, X305 and F55 gaming laptops
Not like it's any surprise, but Toshiba has just certified that the potent Qosmio G55 we peeked earlier this week is indeed more than a figment of someone's imagination. The 18.4-inch (that's the screen size) laptop is the world's first to pack the Cell-based SpursEngine, which Tosh is re-christening the Quad Core HD processor. Moving on, we've got the 17.1-inch X305, which includes a GeForce 9800 GTX, DDR3 memory, up to 400GB of HDD space and a red-flamed Rouge design. Lastly, the F55 comes in with a more common 15.4-inch display, GeForce 9700 GTS card and integrated GPS receiver / Garmin mapping software. The whole lot packs HDMI ports with REGZA LINK technology, Feathertouch multimedia buttons, an eSATA port and Harman Kardon speakers with a built-in "subwoofer." Check 'em out later this summer for a pretty penny.
Toshiba Qosmio G55 features SpursEngine, visual gesture controls
Looks like Toshiba's not too far out from a new Qosmio called the G55, which LAPTOP says is on sale next month for $1,550. Listed among the specs are an 18.4-inch (1680 x 945) display, Centrino 2 CPU, GeForce 9600M GT, 4GB of RAM, dual drives, and the "Quad Core HD processor" (probably the commercial name for the Cell-based SpursEngine), which powers many of the media functions, including its camera-based visual gesture control system. LAPTOP calls the gesture system groundbreaking, but we're clearly two sides to the same coin: the demo they gave looks cumbersome, inaccurate, and incredibly frustrating. And besides the fact that it requires "steady hands" and "can't be used by people with wrist problems," even if the gesture controls were well done, holding your arm in the air for minutes at a time is nowhere near a practical for regular use. Is it sad that we still kind of want it, though?
Toshiba unleashes the Qosmio X305 gaming laptop
For those of you dreaming of a super-fast gaming laptop that's also adorned with a chic red and pink "flame" pattern, your days of searching are over. Enter the Qosmio X305, Toshiba's entry into the lap-cooking gamer notebook market. The X305 features a 3GHz dual-core Intel CPU, a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics chipset, dual 7200RPM 200GB hard drives, up to 4GB of RAM, and sports a 17-inch 1680 x 1050 LCD display. Of course it's also kitted out with a whopping four-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system as well as S/PDIF and HDMI ports. The pink powerhouse is set to launch July 14th, no word on price just yet.
Toshiba updates its Qosmio and Dynabook offerings, elicits yawns, naps
Toshiba is getting back in the swing of things with a round of Summer updates for a bunch of laptops (at least in Japan). First up on the block is the Qosmio F40, the €1352, 15.4-inch model which now trades its HD DVD drive or a DVD multi option, sports a Core 2 Duo T8100 CPU atop a GN965 Express chipset, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and HDMI outs. The company has also updated the Dynabook AX (€922), which now comes in a pink, white, or shiny black casing, with a Celeron 550 CPU on board, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, HDMI outs, and a Super Multi optical drive. The 15.4-inch, WXGA-screened TX gets an bump in the form of the Core 2 Duo T8100, plus 2GB of RAM, 200GB hard drive, and those HDMI / Super Multi drive fixin's, all for €1100. Finally, the smaller, 13.3-inch CX line sports the same CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, everything else that the other models have, and a totally awesome €1230 price tag.[Via Akihabara News]
Toshiba's next generation featuring Cell & WirelessHD
Toshiba's presence at CES isn't limited to just LCDs due in the first half of the year, we've also got a look at a few products with no definite release date. First up are Cell B.E.-equipped Qosmio (Cell-less current model pictured) and standalone HDTV prototypes designed for video upconversion, with the usual gamut of realtime video transcoding demonstrations. Also on tap is the next generation of Regza Link based on WirelessHD and a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell for mobiles.
Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV690 boasts first US laptop HD DVD-R/RW drive
Toshiba's done a little bit with HD DVD burners in its laptops in the past, but the Qosmio G45-AV690 looks to be the first to hit the States with a HD DVD-R/RW drive. The rest of it is typical Qosmio excess, with a 17-inch 1920 x 1200 display, HDMI out, 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo T9300 processor, 3GB of RAM, dual 160GB SATA drives, an external HDTV tuner and NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 512MB of RAM. The laptop should be available soon for the low low price of $3,200.
Toshiba's Qosmio G40 now with world's first HD DVD-RW drive
Notice anything special about that laptop up there? No besides it's monstrous footprint. Right, a world's first HD DVD-RW drive in a laptop. Otherwise, it's the same 17-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Qosmio G40 we know and love now topping out with a 2.2GHz T7500 Core 2 Duo, up to 400GB of disk and 4GB of memory, and a pair of terrestrial HDTV tuners with HDMI-out in a 10.6-pound slab of media action. Priced at about ¥400,000 ($3,530) nicely equipped. [Via Impress]
Toshiba demonstrates hand motion controls at CEATEC
Just as expected, Toshiba is busy wowing onlookers at CEATEC with new applications that run on the firm's SpursEngine chip, including one that enables couch potatoes to "control a DVD player with hand motions." The chip is reportedly able to "process motion detected by a camera and turn it into commands," and the camera can "recognize hand motions from 10 feet away." Tosh's Qosmio laptops are being used to demonstrate the new goods, and it was even said that the lappie's camera could produce a 3D rendering of your head in order to help you choose hairstyles / makeup combinations before heading out on the town. Regrettably, there's still no official word as to when this newfangled technology will go mainstream.
Toshiba's Qosmio G40 and F40 play extra nice with your REGZA TV
Toshiba just launched a pair of updated Qosmio media laptops in Japan. A new G40/97D configuration sports a 17-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display; 2GHz, T7300 Core 2 Duo proc; 256MB of NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics, 2GB (up to 4GB supported) memory, 320GB of disk (2x 160GB); Gigabit Ethernet; HDMI out; a 2 megapixel webcam; and an HD DVD-R drive. It also brings plenty of expansion with 5x USB, Firewire, multiple memory card support, and a PCMCIA and ExpressCard/54 slot. Pretty much what we've seen before. Now, however, we're looking at a pair of digital tuners so that you can record and watch that sweet, sweet TeeVee at the same time. It's also pre-loaded with CyberLink SoftDMA allowing it to pull your HD recordings off your VARDIA series of recorders wrapped in a DRM-ladden, DTCP-IP hard candy shell. Want more Tosh integration? Great, 'cause it also supports HDMI-CEC allowing the G40 to control your new HDMI connected REGZA series of TVs. All that for ¥400,000 or about $3,470. Too much? Then check the new Qosmio F40 which does much the same only on a 15.4-inch screen for about $850 less.[Via Impress]
Toshiba ships first US laptop with HD DVD-R
Toshiba's HD powerhouse, the Qosmio G45-AV680, has gone flying off of the production line and is now ready to ruin your credit. The 17-inch, $3,199 laptop we mentioned in June is the first US model to ship with an HD DVD-R drive, and also includes a USB HD tuner for the full-on high definition experience. The Santa Rosa-based entertainment workhorse sports the Intel PM965 chipset with a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7300 CPU, 2GB of RAM, two 160GB hard drives, a NVIDIA GForce 8600 GT with 512MB of RAM, 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth, four Harmon Kardon speakers, a fingerprint reader, and built-in webcam. Toshiba is including the kitchen sink at no extra charge. The G45 is available now from Toshiba Direct.
Toshiba launches Satellite U305, upgrades F45 and P205
Hot on the heels of last week's smattering of new systems, Toshiba has straight-busted out of the gates again with a completely new entry to their lineup -- the Satellite U305. Aimed at students and small businesses, the lightweight (4.6 lb), 13.3" laptops come in a range of configurations, but all feature Intel 965 chipsets, SuperMulti CD/DVD-R drives, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Here's a detailed breakdown of the models: Satellite U305-S5097 - Intel Pentium 1.86GHz dual-core T2130 processor, 1GB RAM (maxium 4GB), 160GB hard drive, 802.11b/g, Intel GMA 950 Satellite U305-S5107 - Intel Core 2 Duo 1.73GHz T5300 processor, 2GB RAM (maximum 4GB), 160 GB hard drive, 802.11a/g/n, Intel GMA 950, Bluetooth 2.0, fingerprint reader Satellite U305-S5127 - Intel Core 2 Duo 1.80GHz T7100 processor, 2GB RAM (maximum 4GB), 200GB hard drive, 802.11a/g/n, Intel GMA X3100, Bluetooth 2.0, fingerprint reader In addition to the new Satellite line, the company has added three new variations to its Qosmio F45 collection, called the Qosimo AV. The entertainment-targeted laptops all include Harmon-Kardon speakers, built-in subwoofers, Dolby Home Theater technology, and boast Core 2 Duo 1.66GHz T5250 processors, 15.4" WXGA displays, and 802.11a/g/n. Toshiba also announced the addition of Intel Centrino Duo processors and HD-DVD drives to the current P205 gang.Read -- Satellite U305 press releaseRead -- Qosmio F45 AV press releaseRead -- Satellite P205 press release
Toshiba introduces Qosmio F45, Satellite A215, X205
Toshiba was concerned that laptop buyers at pretty much every stage of the spectrum might not have enough choices, so it's done what any self-respecting member of the PC community would: released a bunch of new computers. Currently doing victory laps at Toshiba Direct are the Qosmio F45, gamer-targeted Satellite X205, and the Satellite A215 -- the cheapskate of the crew. Some notable specs: Qosmio F45-AV412 - 15.4-inch XGA TruBrite display, 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo, HD DVD drive, HDMI out, 802.11a/b/g/n, Intel Mobile GMA X3100, fingerprint reader, built-in webcam Satellite X205-S9359 / S9349 - 17-inch XGA TruBrite display (up to 1680 x 1050), Core 2 Duo at 1.8Ghz or 2.0Ghz, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M, 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, Harmon-Kardon speakers w/ subwoofer Satellite A215-S4767 / S4757 - 15.4-inch XGA TruBrite display, AMD Turion 64 X2 CPU, DVD-R, Mobility Radeon X1200, 802.11b/g All in all, truly three of the most middle of the road crowd-pleasers we've ever seen. Check out some hands-on pics in the gallery below.%Gallery-4302%
Toshiba brings HD DVD to mainstream Satellite and Qosmio laptops
As promised, Toshiba is giving its HD DVD a push into the mainstream by including drives in its more pedestrian laptop models. Today Toshiba has the Satellite P205, Satellite X205, Qosmio F45 and Qosmio G45 getting that special treatment, with prices ranging from $1,449 to $3,199 -- not quite "cheap," but it'll do for now. The Qosmio G45 also has the special distinction of being the first US laptop to include a writeable HD DVD drive. All of the laptops run 17-inch screens except for the 15.4-inch F45. The P205 is the only one of the bunch to leave out HDMI. Just for kicks, Toshiba is also tossing in Dolby Home Theater sound in the Qosmios and the X205, while a bunch of other models, including the P205, are getting Dolby Sound Room tech. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for fall to get the rest of the specs and pricing info. Hopefully HD DVD is doing a little better in the format war by then.
