The Libretto Reimagined

[Hooch Tan]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.liliputing.com/2010/06/toshiba-introduces-libretto-w100-dual-screen-notebook.html' target='_blank'>http://www.liliputing.com/2010/06/t...n-notebook.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"It&rsquo;s hard not to compare the Toshiba Libretto W100 to the ill-fated Microsoft Courier or the equally ill-fated original concept designs for the next-generation OLPC XO Laptop. But the Libretto W100 is something different. The computer runs Windows 7, has an Intel ULV processor, and has a starting price of nearly $1100."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1277150759.usr20447.jpg" style="border: 0px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>The original Libretto brings back fond memories for me of days gone by; where computers were basic tools to do word processing and spreadsheet.&nbsp; How things have changed!&nbsp; The reimagined Libretto does look pretty, and I think the concept has some merit, but I wuestion the choice of a 7" display.&nbsp; There is a reason why manufacturers started offering 8.9", 10" and 11" netbooks.&nbsp; Unless one eats six pounds of carrots a day, a 7" display at a decent resolution is a test worse than an optometrist.&nbsp; With a screen that small, Windows 7 is probably not the best operating system to go with.</p>

[crimsonsky]

So even Toshiba admits it's a niche product, but the question is WHAT niche is it trying to fill? Just seems like a device looking for a need.

[The Yaz]

In some ways, this validates Microsoft's reason to kill the Courier. It goes back to the same problem all portables begin with; battery life. You need a lot of juice to run those two screens and even with the weight of an eight cell battery they are only claiming up to 4 hours of life.

That's not going to cut it...

Too bad, but I still give Toshiba credit for bringing it to market. Having a production model in existence may give them feedback they can use with future products.

Steve :cool:

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

If it really did sell for US$1.1k over here I might take a look... better yet, if it comes with an accelerometer to change the orientation (which it doesn't seem to have). However it's likely to pass through the markup stage here which means it's going to cost 1.5k. ><