Thursday Toshiba revealed its first line of Ultrabooks for 2011 – the sub-2.5-lbs Portégé Z830 series – slated for a November 11 release. The news is one of many in a wave of reports pointing to Ultrabook products flooding the PC sector in October and November. Asus alone plans to unleash five to six Ultrabook models before the end of the year.
According to Toshiba, the Portégé Z830 Series will feature a 0.63-inch profile, Intel's 2nd-generation Core processors and DDR3 memory. The new series will also rely on Toshiba’s new exclusive Hi-Speed Start Technology which will likely rely on the installed 128 GB SSD for a super-fast startup and an extremely responsive experience overall.
"The Portégé Z830 Series sets a new standard for thin and light systems, not just in portability, but also in affordability for such cutting-edge designs," said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "Toshiba’s engineering achievements and expert craftsmanship have resulted in a brilliant and fully thought-through innovation that exceeds expectations, perfect for both mobile business professionals and consumers."
The company has yet to release an official list of specs, but on Thursday Toshiba said that its new Ultrabook series will feature a full-sized LED-backlit and spill-resistant keyboard, Toshiba’s USB Sleep & Charge technology for charging up smartphones even when the Ultrabooks are powered down, and stereo speakers with enhanced audio technology from Waves Audio. The Ultrabooks will also have a light-yet-durable magnesium alloy casing reinforced with an enhanced "Honeycomb Rib" design.
Additional reports claim that the series will include a 13.3-inch screen (1366 x 768), an optional Core i7 CPU, up to 6 GB of RAM, an eight-cell 47Wh battery and a 1.3MP webcam mounted in the lid. There will also be one USB 3.0 port and two USB 2.0 ports, an SD card slot, HDMI and VGA outputs, an Ethernet port and 802.11 b/g/n connectivity. The systems will also feature Toshiba’s EasyGuard Technology which is designed to "address the security, reliability and durability issues mobile users encounter."
Toshiba's new Portégé Z830 series of Ultrabooks will start at under $1,000 USD this November. Stay tuned for additional details about the various models and their price points.
