Toshiba Libretto W100 Preview

Are you unimpressed with the lack of features on the new iPad? You want a machine (preferably a PC), that features a full version of Windows 7 and Flash player support. The Toshiba Libretto W100 promises an impressive two 7" touch screens with the full power of Windows 7 and Flash. The W100 looks similar to a clamshell netbook, but with one major difference, a tablet like design that can be folded like a clamshell netbook or expanded like a tablet. In this article we will examine what the new W100 is and what, if any, benefits it has over the current limited competition.

Will the W100 be mass market?

The W100 PC is a new touch screen product that was designed to celebrate the innovation of Toshiba for their 25^th anniversary. Rumored for release sometime in August, the W100 is going to be in limited supply to the mass market. The laptop will be very hard to come across in August, as the device is a test product for Toshiba. In the future we expect this device, and similar to devices to be available to the mass consumer market.

What is the hype?

The touch screen technology that caters primarily to internet surfing and minor office use is relatively new. Although Apple built upon existing technology dating back further than two decades, the iPad was the first real internet tablet that caught on to the general customer. The Libretto W100 has two folding screens, small design, webcam and Windows 7. The collapsible design makes this product superior to the iPad in regards to portability. I own a 64GB iPad, and although it is ultra portable, I often wish it had a collapsible display for easier typing, portability and general usability. The collapsible design of the Libretto combines the look and ease of use of a laptop or netbook, with a brilliant high-resolution color touch screen. The webcam is a great addition for travelers to stay connected and looks very much like a basic webcam that could be found on a netbook. Although these features are somewhat mediocre and get the "done before" feel, the real strong spot is the Flash support and Windows 7.

Windows 7 and Flash Support

Windows 7 is by far the best Windows OS that has been released this decade in terms of usability and reliability. I have been using Windows 7 for nearly six months now and have virtually no complaints. Built in Windows 7 on such a small and portable device is a game changer for future netbook like PC tablets. Support of MS Office is just one of many features that set this device apart from the competition, such as the iPad. The Apple Pages, Keynote and Numbers are basic to say the least. They lack compatibility with the newest versions of MS Office and offer very little in the way of advanced features. Flash support is vital for watching most TV shows and movies online, including popular legal TV show website, hulu.com. Do not take our word for the convenience of Flash, try out an iPad for a day and attempt to access your favorite multimedia websites, you will be quickly surprised by how many require flash.

Price

Toshiba has not yet released an expected price, but Joanna Stern from engadget.com suspects the price to be around $1,099.

iPad or W100

There is not a lot of similar competition to this line of small touch screen devices. Therefore, the iPad is the best competition to the W100. The W100 looks like it will be a great portable PC with a full list of excellent features that the current iPad version is lacking. However, with a price of nearly double that of the entry level iPad we suspect that this concept PC will gain a lot of attention from PC enthusiasts, but is not ready for the mass market. Although this is just a concept PC, it brings promise to loyal PC users who want full Windows 7 power on a mobile device smaller than a laptop, but more powerful than a netbook. The W100 looks very cool, but we were hoping to see a longer battery life than the suspected 4-hour battery, and we were hoping to see a lower price.

Sources:

http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/libretto/W100

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/toshiba-libretto-w100-resurrects-the-classic-umpc-brand-with-dua/