Toshiba Announces a Budget-Lover's Laptop

The Satellite P-Series might be known for its gaming prowess, but now there are low-end versions that can serve as affordable media solutions as well. This past weekend, Toshiba launched its Satellite P205-S6237, delivering 17 inches of screen real estate to those with a modest budget.

This $999 laptop is not the first 17-inch model to hit the three-digit mark. The Acer Aspire 9300-5005 has already done it with its 17-inch screen behemoth, but it loads a low-end 1.6GHz AMD Turion X2 TL-50 processor. The P205-S6237's 1.73GHz Intel Core Duo T2080 is not that much better in the performance department, using last year's Intel technology, but it gives you enough to run Microsoft Windows Vista . At least the Acer laptop has discrete graphics (the nVidia GeForce Go 7300).

Surprisingly, Toshiba is already starting to integrate Intel's Wi-Fi Link 4965AGN with 802.11n support. The wireless chipset will be part of Intel's forthcoming Santa Rosa platform. Other features include a built-in webcam and 1440-by-900 native resolution on the 17-inch screen.

For those looking for a little bit more, the $1,199 Satellite P205-S6267 model will bump last year's Intel processor up to a 1.83GHz, while including 2GB of RAM instead of the 1GB last year's model offered. Both the P205-S6237 and P205-S6267 will feature a DVD drive with LabelFlash technology built-in. LabelFlash is an etching technology that burns images onto specialized media without the use of ink cartridges. It's practically identical to HP's LightScribe technology, which came out first with its monochromatic lasers. You can use an application like Nero to create an image that fits on a DVD, and the image is then burned on by flipping the DVD to the side where the specialized coating resides.

In addition to the two Satellite P205 laptops, Toshiba is also launching new models for the A series. The Satellite A205-S4577 may not have as big of a screen as a P205, but the 15.4-inch screen might do a better job with portability. It weighs 6.29 pounds and features Toshiba's Onyx Blue metallic lid (think shiny). It also comes with a 1.73GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5300 processor and 1GB of RAM. Graphics are still integrated, but you do get the same cool features as the P-Series, including 802.11n support, an integrated webcam, and a DVD burner with LabelFlash technology. And all this comes for about $999.

The P-series and A-series laptops are available directly from Toshiba at toshibadirect.com , as well as major computer retailers.

Copyright 2007 by Ziff Davis Media, Distributed by United Press International