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Toshiba Tackles Needs of Growing U.S. Mobile Workforce with New Thin-and-Light Notebook; New Tecra(R) M5 Delivers Optimal Balance of On-Demand Performance, Reliability, Security and Mobile ProductivityIRVINE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Feb. 7, 2006 -- In response to the increasing mobility needs of corporations and individual users, Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the Tecra(R) M5 notebook computer. The newest member of Toshiba's flagship business notebook line, the Tecra M5 Series establishes a new standard for business mobility by addressing the growing needs of the mobile workforce through an optimal balance of performance, reliability, security and longevity. According to an IDC study, "The United States had the highest percentage of mobile workers in its workforce in 2004, and is expected to reach over 70 percent mobile workforce penetration by the end of the forecast period (2009), thereby making the U.S. the most mobile-enabled workforce." IDC predicts the number of mobile workers worldwide is expected to exceed 850 million in 2009; translated, corporate globetrotters will represent more than one-quarter of the workforce worldwide. "The Tecra M5 is an indispensable tool for business professionals on the move," said Jeff Barney, vice president of marketing, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems. "Featuring a host of innovations unique to Toshiba built on top of industry standardized technologies, the Tecra M5 effortlessly handles everyday business demands, increasing business productivity. We fully expect this notebook computer to be the premier mainstream thin-and-light notebook in the market." Designed for performance and mobility, the Tecra M5 is powered by the Intel(R) Centrino(R) Duo Mobile Technology. This new mobile technology reduces power consumption and component size while boosting overall performance, from graphics to wireless capabilities, and enhancing security. All three of the major Intel(R) Centrino(R) Mobile Technology components have been updated in the new platform, including the Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo Processor, the Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express chipset and the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945 ABG network connection. Furthermore, the Tecra M5 delivers breakthrough mobile performance through the adoption of a high-performance Serial-ATA Hard Disk Drives, NVIDIA's Quadro(R) NVS 110M with 128MB DDR discrete graphics memory(1) plus up to 128MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory(1) using NVIDIA(R) TurboCache technology, a swappable DVD-SuperMulti optical drive and up to 4GB of DDR2 667MHZ Dual Channel memory(2). Toshiba offers a recommended configuration for Tecra M5, in addition to allowing business and individual users to configure the notebook to best meet their mobile computing needs. In addition to incorporating the latest mobile technologies, the Tecra M5 was manufactured with the environment in mind. This notebook is fully compatible with the new EU RoHS environmental directive(3) addressing restriction of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The Tecra M5 is the flagship of Toshiba's Tecra product family notebook computers and encompasses company's exclusive, value-add EasyGuard(TM) technology(4) to protect user investment and prolong product life. Toshiba's EasyGuard is a series of hardware and software enhancements to business-class notebooks and Tablet PCs that help boost mobile security, system integrity, network connectivity and overall ease of use. EasyGuard technology consists of four elements: Protect & Fix, Secure, Connect and Optimize. Protect & Fix Utilizing a multi-level approach to data protection, this thin and light notebook incorporates specially made shock-absorbing materials to help safeguard critical components such as the hard drive and LCD display. Internally, the hard drive and display are housed within their own casings for better isolation against shock and impact. The sleek industrial design integrates impact bumpers on the four corners of the notebook to establish protection zones to separate internal components from the outer enclosure. The Toshiba Hard Disk Drive Protection System helps safeguard the notebook's hard drive against possible damage resulting from accidental dropping, turbulence, impact or vibration. Through the integration of a 3D accelerometer, the Toshiba HDD Protection System detects when the Tecra M5 experiences unsafe, sudden "acceleration" in any direction. Once danger is detected, the hard drive immediately places itself into a protected mode and parks the hard drive head until the system determines it is safe to resume normal operation. The Tecra M5 also features an enhanced spill resistant keyboard(5) that affords users time to save work and shut down the system. If an accident should occur, this feature will help prevent the loss of data. Secure The Tecra M5 employs a multi-pronged approach to security in order to help defend itself against unauthorized access, data theft and virtual attacks. The root of Toshiba's security design is the Trusted Platform Module, an embedded security chipset that stores encryption keys, passwords and user credentials to ensure that data cannot be accessed or seen by anyone but an authorized user. Further building on its security infrastructure is an integrated biometric fingerprint reader with single sign-on functionality. This added security feature associates the user's passwords for the BIOS, hard drive and operating system with one's fingerprint. Assigning passwords to three critical components of the notebook presents unauthorized users with three unique password challenges just to launch the system's operating system. Large and small businesses will appreciate the ability to implement complex password schemes to maintain the integrity of secured data and applications. On an individual basis, users can benefit from the simplicity of password management for quick and easy access to the system and data. Connect To simplify wired and wireless connectivity, the new Tecra M5 is outfitted with a complete suite of communication technologies including Gigabit Ethernet, and V.92 modem and the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (802.11 a/b/g) (6) as part of the notebook's standard configuration. Additionally, the Tecra M5 can be configured with optional Bluetooth(R) v.2.0+EDR technology to connect with the growing number of Bluetooth(R) devices. The Tecra M5 features proprietary technologies such as Toshiba's recently upgraded ConfigFree(R) and the company's patented Diversity Antenna. ConfigFree is Toshiba's intuitive graphic connectivity management utility created to simplify the connectivity experience when using wired and wireless Ethernet or Bluetooth(R). Toshiba's Diversity Antenna design delivers superior wireless signal reception through the integration of strategically placed Bluetooth(R) technology and dual-band Wi-Fi antennas in the notebook's display. Optimize The fourth element, Optimize, is a series of proprietary software enhancements, enabling users to customize notebook settings for maximum system performance and battery life based on individual needs and preferences. Features include Toshiba Power Saver to maximize battery life and breeze through a meeting fully connected, Toshiba's Presentation button, a one-touch button to display the screen's image onto an LCD projector or external monitor easily and instantaneously, and a wireless on/off switch enabling and disabling the integrated wireless LAN (Wi-Fi(R)). With a chassis designed to deliver both mobility and performance, the Tecra M5 weighs 5.2 pounds(7), houses a 14-inch diagonal display and a six-cell battery for up to four hours of computing time(8). The Tecra M5 includes one-touch docking functionality by using the Advanced Port Replicator III+ for better cable management and faster desktop environment access. The Tecra M5 is now available through the company's Reseller Partners and mail order with prices starting at $1,699(9). Service and Support Toshiba Tecra M5 is available with a standard one- or three-year limited warranty. The standard limited warranty includes carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout the country, or customers may utilize any of the more than 3,000 UPS Stores and Mail Boxes Etc. locations for packaging and delivery of the product to a centralized depot for prompt service turnaround. Customers can also choose to upgrade the notebook's service plans, including up to four years of extended warranty coverage. As part of the company's support program, Toshiba offers Ask Iris(R) Online, an instant response information service that can alert users to security software patches or provide other information regarding their product from Toshiba engineers and technical support staff. -0- *T Tecra M5-S433 Recommended Configuration (ESUP $1799(9)) Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo Processor T2400 (1.83GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)(10) Operating System: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Professional Display: 14.1-inch diagonal XGA (1024x768 native resolution) System Chipset: Mobile Intel(R) 945PM Express Chipset Graphics Controller: NVIDIA(R) Quadro(R) NVS 110M with 128MB DDR discrete graphics memory(1) plus up to 128MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory(1) using NVIDIA(R) TurboCache technology Memory: 512 MB DDR2 667MHz SDRAM (max 4GB)(2) Hard Drive: 100GB HDD(11) (5400rpm, Serial-ATA) Optical Drive: Slim SelectBay DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive Communications: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless Network Connection 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g)(6), Intel(R) 10 Base-T/100 Base-TX/1000 Base-T Ethernet, Toshiba V.92 modem. Optional Bluetooth(R) v.2.0+EDR technology Ports: ExpressCard(TM) slot, PC Card slot, SecureDigit slot (supports SDIO) Video: RGB monitor port, S-Video port Audio: microphone jack, headphone jack Data: i.LINK(TM) IEEE-1394, 3-USB (v.2.0), RJ-45 LAN, RJ-11 modem, Serial, 240-pin docking port Battery: 6-cell lithium ion battery (4700mAh) Dimensions: 12.4-inch x 10.3-inch x 1.23/1.35-inch (f/r) Weight: Starting at 5.2 lbs.(7) Warranty: Standard three-year limited warranty(12) *T About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS) Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of three divisions: Digital Products, Digital Solutions and Storage Device. Together, the three divisions provide mobile products and solutions, Internet access plans, communications, storage and imaging products and services. Products include industry-leading portable computers, projectors, DVD/CD recordable products and hard disk drives, telephony products, digital imaging systems, wireless solutions and services. TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of information products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independently operated company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, a world leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, products and systems. Toshiba has global sales of over $52 billion and more than 300 subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.toshiba.com. -0- *T (1) Graphics. GPU performance may vary. See Graphics Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com. (2) Memory. Memory size may vary. See Memory Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com. (3) RoHS. This product is compatible with European Union Directive 2002/95/EC, Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS), which restricts use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE. This regulation goes into effect on July 1, 2006. (4) All EasyGuard features (with some exceptions) are integrated into specific Toshiba notebook models. Not all models will support all EasyGuard features. See specs for each model individually for included EasyGuard features. (5) Spill-Resistant Keyboard. Under Toshiba testing conditions, the spill-resistant keyboard delayed the time for a water spill to reach the PC's main board to allow more time to properly close down the machine. Toshiba's standard limited warranty terms and limitations apply. Visit www.warranty.toshiba.com for details. (6) Wireless. May require purchase of additional software, external hardware, or services. Transmission speeds may vary. See Wireless Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com. (7) Weight. Weight may vary. See Weight Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com. (8) Battery Life. May vary considerably from specifications depending on product model, configuration, applications, power management settings. See Battery Life Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com. (9) Reseller prices may vary. ESUP means "Estimated Single Unit Price." (10)Processor. CPU performance may vary. See Processor Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com. (11)Hard Disk Drive Capacity. Hard drive capacity may vary. 1 Gigabyte (GB) means 1000 x 1000 x 1000 = 1,000,000,000 bytes using powers of 10. See Hard Disk Drive Capacity Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com. (12)Warranty. The terms and conditions of Toshiba's standard limited warranty, extended warranty and service upgrade terms and conditions are available at www.warranty.toshiba.com. *T (C) 2006 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All rights reserved ConfigFree and Tecra are registered trademarks of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. and/or Toshiba Corporation. EasyGuard is a trademark of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. and/or Toshiba Corporation. Intel, Intel Centrino and Core are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The Bluetooth(R) word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Toshiba is under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. While Toshiba has made every effort at the time of publication to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, product specifications, configurations, prices, system/component/options availability are all subject to change without notice. |
