Toshiba unveils new notebooks

Toshiba on Wednesday debuted a notebook that can double up as a tablet PC.

The Tecra M4 features a convertible design intended to let consumers work with a keyboard or rotate and fold the screen down for use as a tablet PC with digital pen-based input and control, the company said.

The device is powered by Intel's Pentium M Processor and features a 14-inch screen. The system, which starts at $1,999, comes with Microsoft's Office OneNote software to let users write notes on their tablet PC, Toshiba said.

The computer maker also has revived the Libretto brand with a new mini notebook, the U100. The system features a 7.2-inch diagonal widescreen LCD (liquid crystal display), a new keyboard, wireless connectivity, and a 1.8-inch 60GB hard disk drive. It is powered by a Pentium M processor and 855GME system chipset. The mini notebook comes bundled with Windows XP Professional software and starts at $1,999.

Another notebook announced Wednesday is the Portege R200. The computer weighs 2.68 pounds and is less than an inch thick, which Toshiba said is its thinnest and lightest notebook with a 12.1-inch screen. The notebook, which starts at $2,099, features a Pentium M processor, a 1.8-inch 60GB hard drive, and a mini wireless card.

All three computers come with Toshiba's EasyGuard, a hardware and software package also announced Wednesday, which offers enhanced data security and hardware protection.

"New"?

Tell me what's new about a $2000 dollar lap-top? I am amused another 2 grand computer. In the beginning was not the promise of "computing" to bring-on low priced technology. A car would cost under a thousand bucks a computer would cost no more than $25.00. Must have been another life? JoeG.