Articles about Toshiba

One size does not fit all when it comes to laptops. Sure, everyone loves a super-thin and sexy notebook, but business users in particular have much greater needs. For instance, an optical drive is much less popular with consumers nowadays, but many business workstations still have the need. Many consumers have moved on to HDMI and DisplayPort, but businesses still have older monitors and projectors that are VGA only, so a VGA port on a laptop is needed.

While Toshiba makes great consumer-grade computers, its business-class machines are where it truly shines. The 13.3 inch Portégé R30, a small and medium business laptop I have been testing lately, is no exception.

Continue reading →

Windows 10 is coming on July 29th. With every new version of Windows, computer manufacturers launch new PCs. In fact, new versions of Microsoft's operating system are often looked at as a sales savior for the PC market.

Today, Toshiba launches its new line of Satellite laptops, and while most will ship with Windows 8.1, they are certainly a Windows 10 affair. Of course they will be eligible for a free upgrade, but more importantly, they will feature a dedicated Cortana key. Could a simple button be a game-changer for PCs?

Continue reading →

What if you manufactured a low-cost, underpowered laptop -- and the configuration suddenly turned into a massive marketing advantage? That may well be the opportunity ahead for Google and its Chromebook OEM partners; if they seize the opportunity.

As we reported Wednesday, Gartner predicts that currency devaluation will compel major computer manufacturers to raise prices by as much as 10 percent, particularly across Europe and in Japan. Higher prices mean more customers will do with leaner configurations, and choose sub-$500 systems. Meanwhile, PC makers will give purchasers less for more money, cutting back features to preserve margins while shifting sales priorities to markets where currencies are more buoyant. What is Chromebook already? A lean, low-cost PC in that price category but better optimized for hardware.

Continue reading →

When it comes to computing, small businesses can have unique needs. Unfortunately, many manufacturers ignore this segment, thinking that between Enterprise and consumer offerings, the small businesses can find a solution. To be honest, this isn't quite off base -- small business owners may find a decent machine at Best Buy or online somewhere that meets their needs. Still, how nice would it be if manufacturers actually focused on this market?

Don't worry, Toshiba has you covered. Today, the manufacturer announces the Portégé R30 laptop. This 13.3-inch offering may be perfect for both small and medium-sized businesses, as it is very compact for travel, while offering solid performance using Intel's dependable Haswell processors.

Continue reading →

My family plays musical computers today, as mom receives my wife's Toshiba Chromebook 2—to replace the end-of-life original Microsoft Surface RT. Last week, my beloved took possession of my Google Pixel after I received the newer model, released on March 11.

While writing the above paragraph, my mother phoned to let me know the laptop arrived. "Oh do I like this Toshiba! This can't be a 13-inch screen. It seems so much bigger". The reaction is more than just because of the move from the RTs 11.6-inch panel. Among the Chrome OS category, the Toshiba's screen is exceptionally bright, and crisp, setting it apart from every model other than Google's own.

Continue reading →

In a cloud-focused world, more and more people are shunning physical storage. It's hard to blame them, as cloud services are very convenient. Best of all, services like Dropbox and OneDrive store your files off-site, keeping them safe from floods, fires and other disasters.

Unfortunately, not everyone can utilize cloud storage. Businesses in particular may be wary of using the cloud to store or transport sensitive information and trade secrets. Yes, a flash drive may be an option, but what if it gets lost? They are small, and can easily fall out of a bag or pocket. Today, Toshiba releases its solution; the unimaginatively named Encrypted USB Flash Drive. While the name may not be impressive, the AES 256-bit encryption surely is.

Continue reading →

Yesterday afternoon, a San Diego State University student bought my MacBook Pro—13-inch Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD—for $1,100. I purchased the laptop from local dealer DC Computers in late-August 2014 for a few hundred dollars more. The buyer's interest was my own: Mac, large SSD, and extended warranty (expires April 2017).

The proceeds go to buying Toshiba Chromebook 2 (two, another for my wife) and Android phone for her. She moves from iPad Air, which has been, since September 2014, her PC—and that experience should be another story (be patient). If time travel was possible, I would keep, rather than sell, my Chromebook Pixel early last summer. The Chromie lifestyle suits me best, and I am excited to be back to it. However, in December, when reviewing the tech products that changed my digital lifestyle last year, including the switch to Apple's platforms: "I can’t imagine using anything else". I lied to myself, and unintentionally to you.

Continue reading →

Home security is always in demand, and many people pay to have alarms systems installed and monitored. These systems can call the police when intrusion is detected or the fire company if there's smoke. Cameras are one of the newer additions to this home arsenal, though they've been around for a while. However, they come with an added complication -- the recording and saving of the video. After all, it's useless if you can't see what happened.

For this recording of video, you generally have two options -- a DVR or the cloud. Both have advantages and disadvantages. The DVR is obviously local and allows for more control and less chance of your video being hacked. Now Toshiba is looking to provide you with that solution, announcing the new EAV16-480 DVR, built for 960H resolution cameras.

Continue reading →

Laptops are incredibly convenient, but not as upgradeable as a traditional desktop. Sure, for some notebook computers, you can change the RAM, storage drive and maybe the Wi-Fi card, but that is pretty much it.

Hard drives in particular are an important upgrade choice, as more storage is often needed for photos and videos. Unfortunately, the 2.5 inch variants for laptops have always trailed the 3.5 inch desktop drives. This is not surprising, as the drives are physically smaller. Today however, Toshiba unveils the world's first 2.5 inch 3TB HDD, delivering breathing room to laptop users. Hell, this should also fit in Sony's PlayStation 4, although a firmware update may be needed to utilize it.

Continue reading →

Will Smith is a pretty cool guy. Back in the day -- when I was a kid -- I was a big fan of his rapping with DJ Jazzy Jeff. What really made me a fan of his, however, was the classic TV show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. On the program, Will played a nice young man from a poor neighborhood, who moves to a wealthy neighborhood to avoid a life of crime. It is a very funny show, that is forever cemented in popular culture.

Unfortunately, as cool as Mr. Smith is, I cannot store my digital photos inside of him. Hell, even if the actor contained flash memory, I highly doubt he would also have an integrated wireless LAN access point. Well, move over Mr. Bel-Air; its time for the FlashAir, as in the Toshiba FlashAir III. Yes, this is an SD Card with built-in Wi-Fi. True, it is not really a new concept, but Toshiba's implementation seems elegant.

Continue reading →

The Surface Pro 3 was the best computer of 2014. My love affair with the hybrid PC is no secret; I'll tell anyone who will listen that I love my precious Microsoft computer. Quite frankly, what isn't there to love about a super-powerful laptop/tablet/desktop that comes with an active stylus? Nothing, that's what; it's friggin' awesome.

While it continues to be my favorite computer, a new year is upon us, and 2015 is already looking very promising for technology. Yes, CES is here and everyone is gushing over the latest doodads and gadgets. While much of the show is noise, Toshiba is making quite the impression this year. Case in point, the Intel Core M powered Portégé Z20t -- arguably a Surface Pro 3 clone -- is quite the beast of a machine. Hell, the fact that it is so reminiscent of Microsoft's computer is a positive; Toshiba is simply building on the successful reference that Satya Nadella and company presented to the world.

Continue reading →

The Windows tablet market isn't a danger to Android or iPad, but it isn't doing horribly either. Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 seems to be a hit and others are on the market as well, with makers like Dell and Toshiba jumping on board. But in case you haven't yet taken the bait, Microsoft wishes to add a bit more enticement with a sale on one of them.

Between now and November 21st the company is offering the Toshiba Encore Mini WT7-C16MS Signature Edition for a steal of a price. The tablet is a seven inch model and it comes with an Intel Atom Z3735G processor, one GB of memory, 16 GB of storage, front and rear cameras and promises up to seven hours of battery life.

Continue reading →

Toshiba has been making laptops for what seems like forever, and for many consumers, the machines have been synonymous with quality and value. The company produces computers for both bargain hunters and enthusiasts alike.

Today, the company announces a laptop that targets both laptop and tablet shoppers with the all-new Satellite Radius 11 Convertible, running Windows 8.1. It is extremely versatile and should appeal to consumers looking for value.

Continue reading →

The tablet market is saturated with cheap Android devices, but there's also a growing number of Windows-powered slates pushing down the average price. The Toshiba Encore Mini is a 7-inch device unveiled at IFA 2014 today and it comes with a price tag of just $119.99.

While this is already a low price, it's possible that retailers will drop the price even further when it ships around September 17. Don’t let the price point fool you -- this is not a Windows RT device; you get fully fledged Windows 8.1. But, of course, compromises have been made.

Continue reading →

Toshiba USA has taken the wraps off its second generation Chromebook. Chromebook 2 will sport a 13.3-inch screen in a compact 12-inch chassis and be available in two versions. The entry model boasts a standard HD display, while the premium edition offers Full HD (1920 x 1080) with IPS (In-plane switching) technology.

Both models feature Skullcandy tuned sound systems with "strategically placed" front-facing stereo speakers.

Continue reading →