Toshiba is rolling out its first Satellite models with Intel Core Duo and Core Solo processors.
The new M100 series includes a 14.1-inch display, CD, DVD or DVD SuperMulti Double Layer drive, hard drives running from 40GB to 120GB, maximum memory of 2GB, WiFi and a 5-in-1 memory card reader.
A handy Express Media Player lets users access DVDs or CDs without the palaver of booting up Windows.
The notebooks include Intel’s 945 Express chipset employing Intel Centrino Mobile Technology to reduce power consumption while and give a kick up the backside of the laptop’s graphics to wireless performance.
Running on a choice of XP Home or Pro and fitted with 256MB to 2048MB of RAM , the new Satellite M100 comes in three colours, all with silly names: Peacock, Mist Gray and Sunlight Copper.
Satellite M100 Example Configuration:
Processor: Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology featuring the Intel Core(TM) Duo Processor(a) T2300 (Dual 1.83 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2MB L2 cache)
Display: 14-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite(TM) TFT active-matrix LCD display WXGA with 1280×768 native resolution
System Chipset: Mobile Intel 945PM Express Chipset
Graphics Controller: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Memory: 512MB (2x256MB) DDR2 SDRAM memory
Hard Drive: 60GB (5400 rpm) Serial-ATA (SATA) hard disk drive
Optical Drive: DVD SuperMulti Double Layer drive supporting +R and -R double layer formats
Wireless: Integrated Intel Pro/Wireless Network Connection 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g)
Ports: 4 USB 2.0, TV-Out (S-Video), RGB, RJ-11 modem (v.92), RJ-45 LAN, headphone and microphone ports
Slots: 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter (Secure Digital(R), Memory Stick(TM), Memory Stick PRO(TM), Multi Media Card, xD Picture Card); PCMCIA PC Card slot
Audio: harman/kardon(R) stereo speakers
Battery: 6-cell (4700mAh) Lithium Ion
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 2005
Dimensions: 13.5- x 9.53- x 1.5-inch
Weight: Starting at 5.20 lbs
Qosmio G30 HD-DVD laptop
Toshiba have also announced their first laptop computer with an HD-DVD drive, due to be launched in April.
The Qosmio G30 is part is of Toshiba’s multimedia PC line and will come with a TV tuner and Dolby Home Theatre support.
Costing from $2,410 upwards, users will be able to watch HD-DVD content on the laptop’s screen or hook it up to a compatible high-definition monitor or television via a HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface).
HD-DVD is currently doing battle with Blu-Ray to become the de facto standard for high-definition content such as movies.
Backed by Toshiba and NEC, it faces heavy competition from the Blu-Ray corner, whose hard-hitting supporters include Sony, Matsushita, Panasonic and Samsung.
Although HD-DVD will initially only be offered in Toshiba’s expensive Qosmio notebook range, the company some models in the cheaper Satellite line may offer HD-DVD by the end of 2006.
Background to HD-DVD/Blu-Ray battle:
Paramount To Offer HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc Movies (Oct 2005)
Unified DVD Format On Rocks (Aug 2005)
Sony, Toshiba May Create Universal Blu-Ray/HD DVD Standard (Apr 2005)