Toshiba goes stylish with revamped Satellite models

Following in the footsteps of Lenovo, Toshiba unveiled its upgraded Satellite line that seeks to appeal to the casual user with a heavy emphasis on style.

The Satellite U400, M300, A300, and P300 all received a chassis overhaul with a glossy "Fusion" finish. The touchpad is flush with the keypad surface, and multimedia command keys have been mounted under the finish, offering what Toshiba calls "feather touch" sensitive surface.

Standard to these Satellites is a 720p TruBrite LCD display, available in 13.3, 14.1, 15.4 and 17 inch models, and HDMI out for viewing on external high-definition displays. Pricing starts at $869.99 USD for the base A300 model and goes well past $2,000 USD for the top-of-the-line model configured with dual hard drives.

Standard audio fixtures on the new line of Satellites include Harman Kardon stereo speakers, the company responsible for the Mac-inspired iSub and SoundSticks and audio hardware supplier for BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover automobiles. Equipped with Dolby Soundroom Virtual surround and an S/PDIF optical audio connection, the Satellite looks to be made with home theater integration in mind.

Additional features include what Toshiba calls "sleep and charge" --which are ports that can charge USB devices regardless of whether the notebook is turned on or off-- and facial recognition security features compatible with the built-in webcam.

Custom configurations of the new Satellite line include processors from AMD and Intel, optional dual hard drives, ATI Mobility Radeon HD3470 or HD3650 graphics. Orders can be placed via toshibadirect.com.