Toshiba’s Dual-Screen Laptop Takes on iPad

Toshiba takes on the iPad with its new concept dual-screen laptop, available in stores from August.

Toshiba has unveiled the Libretto W100, a new dual-touchscreen ultra-mobile laptop, which the company claims moves beyond slate and tablet PCs.

While the simplicity and and usability of the iPad is proving tough to beat, this smart new Toshiba has some clever features and also runs the full Windows 7 OS (Flash included).

Launched as a ‘concept product’ the W100 will be only available in limited numbers, with pricing reported by Engadget to be around $1,100.

The W100 provides two 7-inch multi-touch screens in a clamshell layout, designed for optimal mobile access to internet browsing, emails and social networking. The secondary screen doubles as a keypad with haptic feedback, providing a better feel for typing than an inert screen like the iPad’s.

Weighing in at just 1.8 pounds (0.8 kilos) and measuring 8 x 4.8 inches, the Toshiba certainly lives up to claims of portability. The folding double screens will be stronger than a larger single screen, as well as doing away with the need for the protective pouches so essential to iPads and slate PCs.

The W100 is well-spec’d inside too, with a decent 1.2GHz Intel Pentium processor and solid state 62GB drive for reliable and rapid access to stored files.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, one USB port, integrated webcam and MicroSD port make the Libretto a pretty flexible machine from the company responsible for inventing the laptop 25 years ago.

The unusual design and progressive keypad technology in the Libretto have created quite a buzz. In a PC industry constantly chasing that elusive Apple ‘magic’, this latest offering from Toshiba seems to offer hope for creative alternatives.

By Jan Moys posted June 21, 2010 2:08 PM with 3,002 views