Toshiba Announces the Return of the Mini-Notebook

April 20, 2005--Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. and provider of industry-leading portable computers, projectors and other mobile-related services and products, today announced the return of the libretto brand with the launch of the libretto U100 mini-notebook computer. The company decided to bring back the full-featured mini-notebook as part of Toshiba's 20th anniversary celebration of the first laptop computer and as a result of overwhelming customer demand.

Weighing 2.16 pounds, the libretto U100 offers mobile users a compact and lightweight notebook that is easy-to-carry and offers full computing functionality. The new libretto U100 is the first notebook to market with a 7.2-inch diagonal widescreen LCD. The libretto U100 integrates an LED backlight for the LCD screen, an industry first, making the screen brighter and easier to read.

Miniaturization of the notebook's features makes the libretto U100 a portable computing marvel, as the mini-notebook offers a unique keyboard, as well as a half-size 802.11b/g mini-PCI wireless card and 1.8-inch 60GB hard disk drive. New miniaturizing technology on the libretto U100 motherboard -- such as high-density interconnects and component overlays -- reduced the size by about 30 percent. Considering its small form factor, the libretto U100 is a perfect option for any mobile professional or consumer who needs computing capability and connectivity nearly anywhere, anytime.

"Responding to our customers' requirements, we are pleased to bring the libretto line back to demonstrate our technology expertise," said Taro Hiyama, vice president of marketing, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems. "As today's professionals continue to be always on the go, the return of the mini-notebook will allow users to travel with a full-featured compact design. Toshiba continues to build on its strengths in mobile computing with the libretto and Portege, bringing to market our lightest, most compact notebook computers to date."

The libretto U100 is one of Toshiba's newly introduced notebooks featuring the new Toshiba EasyGuard technology. EasyGuard technology is a series of hardware and software innovations that enhance mobile security, system integrity, network connectivity and overall ease of use. EasyGuard consists of four elements: Protect & Fix, Secure, Connect and Optimize.

Protect & Fix
The Toshiba Hard Disk Drive (HDD) protection system helps safeguard the libretto's hard drive against possible damage resulting from accidental dropping, turbulence or vibration. Through the integration of a 3D accelerometer, the Toshiba HDD protection system detects when the libretto U100 experiences a potentially unsafe environment caused by sudden "acceleration" in any direction. Once danger is detected, the hard drive immediately places itself into a protected mode and parks the hard drive head until the system determines it is safe to resume normal operation.

Secure
The mini-notebook offers a new fingerprint authentication, providing users a secure way to protect their personal systems while eliminating the need to remember numerous passwords. This feature is designed to reduce the likelihood of theft and unauthorized access.

Connect
The libretto U100 features Toshiba's ConfigFree with ConfigFree Summit. ConfigFree is Toshiba's intuitive graphic connectivity management utility designed to simplify the connectivity experience when using both wired and wireless Ethernet. The ConfigFree Summit feature allows users and workgroups to collaborate between colleagues or clients when connected via LAN or wireless LAN. Additionally, the libretto U100 is Bluetooth enabled allowing users to synchronize and share their data with other Bluetooth enabled devices.

Optimize
The libretto U100 features a Zooming Utility, allowing users to zoom in and out the screen image. This feature helps reduce eyestrain and increase productivity by enlarging text in documents, Web pages and spreadsheets. The libretto U100 also features an Advanced Power Saver Utility designed to optimize performance and battery life. Both of these key features make the libretto U100 a mini-notebook that gives users the power to maximize its utility, especially during on-the-go computing.

Enhancing Performance
The libretto U100 incorporates the Intel Pentium M processor Ultra Low Voltage 753 (1.20Ghz, 2MB L2, 400Mhz FSB) and Intel's 855GME system chipset. These features help increase performance and improve wireless interoperability, enabling the notebook to deliver and perform above and beyond the professionals' mobile needs. The libretto U100 also incorporates a 1.8-inch 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB standard 333 MHz memory, and Microsoft Windows XP Professional. These elements combine to make the libretto U100 a full-featured notebook in a tiny, conveniently portable package.

Toshiba recommends the optional libretto DVD Dock with a DVD SuperMulti optical disk drive accessory. The libretto DVD Dock enables the user to burn data to a CD or DVD or watch movies while on the go. This functionality allows the libretto to serve as both a portable mini-notebook and DVD player in one.

Toshiba's new mini-notebook comes standard with a three-year limited warranty. Customers can choose to upgrade or enhance the notebook's service plans, including up to four years of extended warranty coverage; carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout the country; or may utilize any of the more than 3,000 UPS Stores for packaging and delivery of the product to a centralized depot for prompt service turnaround.

The libretto U100 is now available and can be purchased from Toshiba's traditional sales channels, which include dealers, VARs and distributors or directly through ToshibaDirect (www.toshibadirect.com). Suggested retail price for the featured configuration of the libretto U100 mini-notebook is $1,999.

SOURCE Toshiba