In a bid to stem the current surge in tablet popularity, Toshiba has launched a new series of ultra compact lightweight computers that have the portability of a tablet but the processing power of a laptop. Using Intel’s second generation Intel® core processor for Ultrabook and boasting up to six gig of DDR3 RAM, the Portégé Z830 and the Satellite Z830, weigh in at a mere 1.12kg and at only 15.9mm thick, are about twenty percent lighter and forty percent thinner than their previous versions. The 1,366 x 768 high definition display uses non reflective LED backlighting whilst the audio packs a punch via a Dolby advanced audio system. Toshiba also claims a longer battery life through improved power saving and faster disk performance from the 128gig solid state drive.
Perhaps more importantly for the portable traveller, the entire casing has been remodelled around a magnesium alloy casing reinforced with an enhanced “honeycomb rib” design to provide some decent resistance to drops and shocks whilst the fluid resistant keyboard will protect it from some on the go hot coffee spillage. It can absorb something in the region of 30 mls of liquid allowing you up to three minutes to desperately shut down the computer as fast as possible. (phew).
Not to be outdone on connectivity, the Z830 series has a versatile set of interfaces including Bluetooth, WLAN, Mobile Broadband, VGA, HDMI and several USB ports including a 3.0. The Portégé Z830 and Satellite Z830 will be available in Europe during this autumn.