Toshiba Launches World's First Notebook PC with HD DVD-ROM Drive in Japan

Toshiba Corporation today continued its roll out of next generation HD DVD products with the announcement of the launch of the world's first notebook PC with an HD DVD-ROM drive.

Qosmio G30/697HS will be available in the Japanese market in mid May, as the latest product in Qosmio line-up of AV notebook PC series. Along with playback of HD DVD content, the new Qosmio can read and write to current DVD and CD discs, including DVD+/-R DL (dual-layer) and DVD-RAM.

The Qosmio series has consistently redefined the capabilities and performance of AV notebook computers. Qosmio G30/697HS continues this tradition by being first in the world to integrate an HD DVD-ROM drive. The slim-type 12.7mm-thick drive achieves this thin form factor with an optical system requiring only a single objective lens to read HD DVD discs and to read and write to DVDs and CDs. The PC's combination of a high-performance dual-core CPU, the Intel CoreTM Duo Processor T2500 (operating frequency 2.00GHz), and high-performance graphics accelerator, the NVIDIA GeForceTM Go 7600, with advanced PC software technology delivers stunning image quality in playback of HD DVD content.

The Qosmio G30/697HS integrates two TV tuners, one for digital terrestrial broadcasts, the other for analog terrestrial broadcasts. As users watch their choice of program -- analog or digital -- the separate tuners allow them to record both, what they are watching as well as a program from the other tuner all at the same time.

The most striking feature of the new Qosmio is its 17-inch diagonal widescreen, full-HD liquid crystal display. This WUXGA display supports 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, achieving true high definition and the ability to playback HD DVD content (1920 x 1080 pixel). Beyond this, the new Qosmio also integrates an HDMI output in its external interface, allowing the PC to be hooked up to an HDTV and to act as the video source for a large-sized TVs or home theater projectors.

The Qosmio G30/697HS offers HDCP capable HDMI output for output of a digital signal on a single cable without any compression of picture or audio data. Users can enjoy the superb picture quality and clear sound of HD DVD content and digital terrestrial broadcasting on a larger screen by hooking it up to the Qosmio G30/697HS via the PC's HDMI interface. A full array of interfaces include 5.1ch digital audio output (S/P DIF), RGB, S-Video output, i.LINK (IEEE1394), AV input (composite video input, L/R audio input), and USB2.0 x 4.

Source: Toshiba Corporation