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Toshiba's Portege R400 convertible goes on sale
If you somehow managed to skim through the CES mayhem and notice this gem, chances are it immediately landed on your wish list, and if you're looking for an ultralight, well-spec'd, EV-DO-equipped convertible tablet, here's your chance. The Portégé R400 was peeked, revealed, cuddled, and reviewed, but now the time has finally come for you to lay claim to your own. Hitting Toshiba's webstore for a (slightly steep) base price of $3,149, this unit packs an energy-efficient 1.2GHz Intel Core Duo U2500 processor, Vista Ultimate, 2GB of RAM, 12.1-inch LED-backlit LCD, XGA resolution, Intel's GMA950 integrated graphics set, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, fingerprint scanner, gigabit Ethernet port, built-in microphone / mono speaker, headphone out, six-cell Li-ion battery, PCMCIA, and a pair of USB 2.0 connectors. You'll also find a bevy of Microsoft and Toshiba software pre-installed, and while it only tips the scales at 3.79-pounds, you'll have to lug around an external optical drive if you need to spin any discs. But hey, at least you've got a tick to think things over, as it looks like even today's orders won't ship "for one to two weeks."
Hands-on with the Portege R400 and UWB port replicator
The Toshiba Portege R400 is hot enough on its own, right? Well, what if we told you that Tosh is showing off a prototype version of their Vista SideShow friendly, convertible tablet with an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) wireless dock? Damn straight son, wireless transmission to all your peripherals so you never have to plug your DVI monitor, Ethernet, keyboard, mouse, and other USB peripherals into the laptop when you return to the home or office. Just take a seat and you're in -- simple like pie. The Toshiba Wireless Port Replicator (as it's officially dubbed) will be available in the second quarter of 2007. Check the gallery for a few more pics. Hands on with the Portege R400 and UWB port replicator
Toshiba readying EV-DO-equipped Portege R400 convertible tablet
It looks like the surfacing of Vista / SideShow-centric remotes isn't the only news popping up in regard to Microsoft's forthcoming OS, as Toshiba is apparently readying a new convertible tablet for release. According to a blurb in the Windows Vista Partner Stories brochure, the Portege R400 is set to become the company's "signature" laptop, and breaks off the keyboard / design layout from the M400, not to mention its flagship feature: 3G. Designed specifically to function with Windows Vista niceties, the sexy machine sports a 12.1-inch "LED backlit" widescreen display, and is reportedly the "world's first PC that automatically synchronizes your information with Active Notifications." In a bid to make getting connected as easy as possible, Toshiba's ConfigFree setup supposedly makes managing your (Verizon) EV-DO, WiFi, Bluetooth, and gigabit Ethernet connections a breeze, but the real standout of the system is its claim to be the "world's first system with a wireless dock to connect to desktop peripherals," which should prove mighty handy if bandwidth doesn't prove too great a bottleneck. Nevertheless, the still-mysterious R400 should find itself a spec sheet and release date sometime soon, probably close to, say, January 30th?
Toshiba's Portege M400 goes Core 2 Duo, gets HSDPA
The last time we mentioned Toshiba's M400, it was rocking a lowly Core Solo processor and a 1,024 x 768 resolution LCD, but now Toshiba is upping the ante on the convertible by tossing in a Core 2 Duo chip along with HSDPA technology. Aside from receiving a 2GHz Intel T7200 CPU, the upgraded machine also sports a 12.1-inch SXGA+ display, 80GB SATA drive, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, dual-layer DVD burner, integrated stereo speakers, and the obligatory built-in UMTS / HSDPA SIM card slot for that 3G goodness we all know and love. Moreover, the Portege M400-3G touts a PCMCIA slot, 4-pin FireWire connector, S-Video / VGA outputs, 5-in-1 flash card reader, gigabit Ethernet, 56k modem, integrated WiFi / Bluetooth, and a trio of USB 2.0 ports to boot. It will reportedly also feature a "slice expansion battery" to prolong its life while computing out in the wild. While Toshiba hasn't leaked any information on pricing, we do know that this svelte convertible will be hitting Middle Eastern shores in "Q1 2007," but we sure hope Tosh brings the goods over to this side of the pond soon after.[Via jkOnTheRun]
Toshiba kicks out sexy new Portege M500 ultraportable
If you're weary that the shiny white MacBook may not stay that way for long, or just prefer your laptops to come pre-loaded with palm rest stickers, Toshiba has a trendy new notebook aimed at you. The Portege M500 sports a sleek 4.1-pound enclosure, "white pearl" (and black, too) color scheme, and a 12.1-inch LCD. Beneath the hood of this sexy machine is Intel's 1.73GHz T2250 Core 2 Duo processor, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, 80GB SATA hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, a 5-in-1 flash card reader, and a built-in microphone. It also boasts a fingerprint sensor, "spill-resistant" keyboard, and a "Quick Play" function that plays back DVDs without the OS being booted. The M500 can be snapped up now, provided that you're in South Korea and have 1,390,000KRW ($1,489) to spare.
Toshiba Portege M400 Core Solo tablet reviewed
With all the talk about UMPCs, it's good to see that manufacturers haven't abandoned good, old-fashioned, full-featured tablet PCs. And Toshiba's Portege M400, first unveiled at CES, looks to be one of the first of a new generation of tablets packing a 1.83GHz Core Duo processor, optional internal DVD burner and hard drive capacity up to 80GB, at a street price starting at about $1,700 (or about what a Samsung Q1 is probably going to cost once you add all the accessories needed to provide equivalent functionality). PC Magazine took a good look at the new tablet (using an early 1.67GHz Core Solo model), and found that it ran smoothly -- and coolly -- enough to handle office applications, DVD viewing and apps like Photoshop. The 1024 x 768 display was sharp, and the keyboard, while slightly smaller than full-size, was comfortable. The biggest downside: a sluggish response when switching the display from portrait to landscape. Then again, that's not something you're likely to need to do all that often, so if you're looking for a (relatively) affordable, solid tablet, this one (or the Core Duo version, due out shortly) could be worth a look.
