Two new notebooks from Toshiba America Information
Systems aim to address important segments of the notebook market
with a Media Center desktop replacement notebook and a more
portable system based on Intel Centrino technology.
The Satellite P25-S670 comes with Microsoft Windows XP Media
Center Edition, and a 17-inch widescreen display. TAIS, a division
of Toshiba, expected consumers will watch films and store their
digital media on this notebook.
Desktop replacement notebooks helped to resurrect the PC market
in 2002 and 2003, as consumers flocked to replace their older
desktops. They were attracted by the ability to get performance
similar to a desktop in a package that could be carted around the
house from room to room.
The P25-S670 is the most powerful system in Toshiba's multimedia
notebook lineup, but it weighs a hefty 4.5kg. It comes with Intel's
older desktop processor technology based on the Northwood core,
rather than the Prescott chip.
The P25-S670 costs $2,699 with a 3.2GHz Pentium 4 processor,
512Mbytes of DDR (double data rate) SDRAM (synchronous dynamic
RAM), an 80Gbyte hard drive, a DVD-RAM/-RW/CD-RW multifunction
optical drive, a GeForce FX Go5700 graphics card from Nvidia with
128Mbytes of video memory, and an integrated 802.11a/802.11g
wireless chip.
Meanwhile, the Satellite M25-S320 comes with Intel's Centrino
package of the Pentium M processor, a mobile chipset, and the
Pro/Wireless 2200BG chip.
The M25-S320 weighs in at just under 3kg, but is still fairly
heavy for the needs of business travellers. Instead, this notebook
is designed for consumers and students who need a lighter notebook
but still want to watch films on its 15.4-inch widescreen display
and burn CDs.
It costs $1,799 with a 1.5GHz Pentium M processor, 512Mbytes of
DDR SDRAM, a 60Gbyte hard drive, a DVD-ROM/CD-RW optical drive,
Nvidia's GeForce FX Go5200 with 32Mbytes of video memory, and
Intel's 802.11g wireless chip.
Both notebooks are available immediately through Toshiba's
website and in retail stores.
Tom Krazit writes for IDG News
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