Toshiba Mini NB205 - Released

The notebook market is already pretty crowded, but today Toshiba enter the fray. The Toshiba NB205 will be available very soon. The NB205 is available in two different versions: the NB205-210 ($350) that only comes in black and has a full flat keyboard or the NB205-310 ($400) that comes in metallic finish with four different colors (Onyx Black, Frost White, Posh Pink, Royal Blue or Sable Brown), and has a raised “chiclet” keyboard as well as Bluetooth capabilities. In fact the differences between the two Toshiba notebooks boil down to price (the NB205-210 costs $350, $50 less than the NB205-310), key shape (the -210 has flat wide keys, as opposed to the -310's cut-out style), and wireless WAN card (the -210 doesn't have one).

Features available on the Toshiba mini NB205 include:

* 10.1-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite™ backlit LED display (WSVGA)
* Windows® XP Home operating system
* Intel Atom N280 processor2 (1.66GHz)
* 1GB DDR2 800MHz RAM3, upgradeable to 2GB
* Spacious storage with a 160GB HDD4
* 802.11b/g wireless5 and 10/100 Ethernet
* Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR (only available in mini NB205-N310)
* TOSHIBA Hard Drive Impact Sensor
* Lightweight and very portable at only 2.9 lbs.
* Long-life 6-cell battery delivering up to 9 hours of productivity1
* One USB port with Sleep-and-Charge and two USB 2.0 ports
* Built-in Webcam, speaker and microphone
* Toshiba PC Health Monitor
* RGB port for connecting to external displays
* Memory Card Reader Slot
* Security Lock Slot
* One-year international limited warranty and award-winning Toshiba service and support


Interface
A killer keyboard and a touchpad to match are essential for a champion notebook. Toshiba making the Chiclet-size cutout keys just big enough, and by dropping down a huge touchpad. This is simply the best notebook mouse pad to date. For starters, the surface area of the strike zone is larger than that of many full-size laptops! Next, the beefy mouse buttons camp at the southern edge of the machine--easing hand strain. My physical therapist would approve.

Screen
Toshiba's NB205-310 has good color reproduction and supports a reasonably precise resolution of 1024 by 600 pixels on its glossy 10.1-inch screen so the images looked plenty sharp.

Design
Toshiba configuration is fairly standard: three USB ports, an SDHC card reader, a Webcam, one VGA-out, Ethernet, and headphone and microphone jacks with a much sleeker sense of style.

Perks/Software
Toshiba added a few extras to the NB205-310 that are sure to appeal to folks on the go. One notable perk is a pass-through USB port that enables users to charge USB-powered devices while the computer is off. The NB205-310 also provides an internal accelerometer to protect the hard drive in case of falls (much as the HP Mini 2140 does) and it offers wireless WAN support. It comes equipped with a Hard Drive Impact Sensor that guards data from the daily bumps of mobile life and a USB port with Sleep-and-Charge that enables users to charge various consumer electronics devices even when the unit is turned off.

Battery Life
The Toshiba NB205-310's added six-cell battery that can last for almost 9 hours. The mini NB200 stands apart as a showcase of Toshiba quality, reliability and innovation, backed by our award-winning service and support. It’s even ENERGY STAR-compliant and EPEAT Gold to help you go green.

Accessories Available
The company will offer several Toshiba-branded accessories for the mini NB205 series, including a Portable DVD SuperMulti Drive, a USB Mini Retractable Mouse and 12-inch Envoy Fabric or Leather Carrying Cases. A 10-inch Dual Function Hardside Case and a 10.1-inch Neoprene Sleeve.