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By Jing Garcia, Tech Times editor
Singapore: The Japanese has finally entered the low-cost subnotebook
market—a market segment predominantly led by Taiwanese computer
manufacturers since 2007 with the introduction of the now-ubiquitous
ASUS EeePC.
Dubbed as netbook, a term coined by giant
chipmaker Intel, this new computing category has single-handedly
driven notebooks sales at a phenomenal upward pace, pushing many, if
not all, computer companies to follow suit and come out with their
own version of an ultralight and ultra-affordable network computer
device.
The concept of a netbook is simple: a no-frills
computing device that can be connected to the Internet and capable
of delivering simple everyday computer applications such as Web
browsing, e-mail, and word processing. Netbooks are primarily aimed
at consuming data rather than creating them.
Taiwanese computer companies paved the way for
netbooks to become an everyday consumer gadget. The ASUS EeePC was
an instant hit, and it didn’t take long for other companies to
bring out their own netbooks, including the ones from Acer, MSI,
Gigabyte and Redfox. Japanese brand netbooks, however, were nowhere
to be found, until now.
“We feel that now the time has come to enter
the netbook market segment, which according to analysts is expected
to grow strongly within the next 3 or 4 years,” said Wong Wai
Meng, senior product marketing manager for Toshiba’s Computer
Systems Division, in a statement at a Toshiba media event in
Singapore on November 18. “We place great importance on offering
the consumer the correct combination of affordability, innovation
and quality and will not create any devices which don’t meet the
same core values all our products share.
With the introduction of the Toshiba NB100, the Japanese officially
enters the netbook market.
The new Toshiba NB100 comes with an 8.9” WSVGA
1024 x 600 LCD panel with an LED backlight. It is powered by the
latest Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz CPU and comes complete with Windows XP
Home. With its advanced multimedia and communication capabilities,
the NB100’s size will not be a deterrent in performing demanding
business or multimedia applications. It also offers entry-level 3D
graphics with an internal graphics controller, stereo speakers and
full video-playback capability. Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR, Wifi (802.11
b/g), 10/100 Ethernet and three USB ports easily connects the NB100
with computer peripherals, Internet access points, and other digital
multimedia devices.
“We expect the NB100 to become a hit with
consumer now that a netbook has a Toshiba name on it,” said David
Woon, senior specialist, product marketing for South and Southeast
Asia, Toshiba Computer Systems Division. “We brought quality and
innovation in a very stylish device together with advanced
communication and multimedia capabilities.”
Similar to the objective of other netbooks
currently in the market, the Toshiba NB100 is positioned as a
primary or secondary ultraportable network computer for experienced
users who occasionally require a lightweight device for office
mobility, and designed to complement the active and social lifestyle
of today’s digital consumers.
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