Toshiba Introduces 14-Inch Diagonal Widescreen Lightweight Consumer Notebook

June 14, 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 celebrating Toshiba's 20th anniversary of the first mass-marketed laptop computer, today announced the Satellite M55 series, an affordable 14-inch diagonal widescreen notebook PC that weighs under 5.3 pounds and is perfect for students and other consumers who want on-the-go productivity and multimedia performance.

The Satellite M55 series is available in attractive peacock blue. Two additional colors - sunlight copper and mist gray - will be available from ToshibaDirect.com later this month as the Satellite M50 series. The Satellite M55 series notebook features include:

-- a 14-inch WXGA diagonal display with TruBrite technology;
-- DVD SuperMulti Double Layer drive compatible with current DVD formats that nearly doubles a recordable DVD's storage capacity in DVD+R format;
-- 5400 rpm hard drive for faster access to stored files;
-- 512MB DDR2 533 MHz memory;
-- built-in harman/kardon stereo speakers on select models.

The Satellite M55-S135 model comes with an Intel Celeron M processor 370 and 80GB hard drive and is priced at $1,049. The Satellite M55-S325 model features Intel Centrino Mobile Technology with an Intel Pentium M processor 740 and 100GB hard drive, 1394 IEEE port, 5-in-1 bridge media adapter and Express Media Player for one-touch CD/DVD playback with a price of $1,399. Both models include Microsoft Windows XP Home. Versions with Microsoft Windows XP Professional are also available from ToshibaDirect.

"The Satellite M55 notebook series provides the best of all worlds - a stylish, lightweight notebook with high-performance productivity and entertainment features at a great price," said Taro Hiyama, vice president of marketing, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems. "It is an ideal notebook for students, home office workers or anyone who wants affordable mobile computing without sacrificing performance."

The Satellite M55 series includes integrated 802.11b/g wireless and Toshiba ConfigFree, an intuitive graphic connectivity management utility designed to simplify the connectivity experience when using both wired and wireless Ethernet.

Included Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 software enables users to better capture, organize, find and share notes gathered from e-mail, meetings, presentations, classes, the Web and other sources. OneNote captures virtually any type of information -- ranging from typed notes to audio -- in a single convenient place.

The Satellite M55 series notebooks come with one-year limited warranties with Toshiba's premier global service for the mobile computing user. Extended limited warranties are available. Customers can choose from several service options, including carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout the country for same-day or next-day service, or utilizing any of more than 3,000 UPS Stores for packaging and delivery of the product to a centralized Depot for 24-hour service turnaround.

A 30-day free trial of MyConnect Internet Access Service (www.toshibamyconnect.com) is included, providing notebook computer users unlimited Internet access in hotels, airports, restaurants, bookstores, etc. via Wi-Fi, broadband cable or dial-up connection.

A 30-day complimentary trial of McAfee VirusScan 2005 and McAfee SecurityCenter, as well as trial offers of Napster Digital Music Service and Microsoft Office, are also included.

Accessories for the Satellite M55 series are available from ToshibaDirect.com and include the Toshiba Primary High Capacity Li Ion 12-cell battery pack, Toshiba Executive SlimLine carrying case and USB Ultra-Mini Retractable Scroller Mouse.

The Satellite M55 series notebooks are currently available from major consumer electronics and computer stores nationwide. The Satellite M50 series build-to-order models will be available from ToshibaDirect at the end of June.

For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.toshiba.com.

SOURCE Toshiba