14 DAY TRIAL // While tablet PCs are finally starting to look like they might be able to create their own market segment, hardware and PC makers are experimenting with hybrid devices, such as convertible tablets. One such company is Toshiba, which seems to be gearing up for the launch of the Portege M780 convertible tablet. Such devices can actually perform well on today's market because they combine the functionality of a tablet with that of a full-fledged notebook PC, of which the keyboard is an important part.
The convertible tablet that Toshiba is supposedly working on is powered by a choice of Intel Core i3 or Intel Core i5 central processing units. Its memory capacity can go as up as 8GB DDR3 at 1066 MHz and its 2.5-inch storage unit can be either a hard disk drive or a solid state drive. The HD TruBriteTouch screen of the mobile PC has a maximum resolution of 1200 x 800 and uses LED backlighting. The screen is also optimized for Windows 7 touch capabilities.
The input/output and connectivity capabilities of the Portege M780 convertible tablet from Toshiba include WLAN (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR for wireless connectivity, an eSATA port, two USB 2.0 Sleep-and-Charge ports, as well as an HD webcam and a microphone jack. The device also boasts a DVD-SuperMulti +-R DL optical unit and can come with security options such as a fingeprint scanner, Intel AMT 6.0 and Computrace, which is embedded in the BIOS.
The Toshiba Portege M780 Convertible Tablet measures 305 x 239 x 37,4 / 39,4 mm and has a weight starting at 2kg. It will, naturally, be running the Windows 7 operating system and will become available in the EMEA markets starting sometime during the second quarter of 2010. Unfortunately, the price of the device has not been mentioned as of yet.