Toshiba Intel's Core i3 and i5 Line of Processors Ultraportable Notebook

The ultraportable notebook marketplace is hotter than ever before. In years past, buying a sub-14" machine generally meant a couple of things: low power and high price. Today, it's still fair to say that ultraportables are generally less powerful and more expensive than the standard-sized 15" machines that sit above them, but the gap is closing fast. Intel's Core i3 and i5 line of processors has ushered in an entirely new segment of thin-and-light machines, and we're getting to the point where 13.3" machines can finally be taken seriously from a performance standpoint.

Toshiba's 13.3" Portégé R705 is one of the sleeker, more potent ultraportables on the market today, and in general, we have always admired the Portégé design scheme. The R705 keeps a good thing going, with its 3.2lb. chassis and its rigid, high quality construction ensuring a solid feel throughout. Toshiba has also gone their own way on a number of design cues, but they've ensured that the internal build sheet wasn't neglected while the designers were having their fun on the outside.

Our review unit is the Portégé R705-P40, though there are a number of R705 configurations available through Toshiba's website, with this particular model striking a nice balance between power and performance. There are higher-end versions available with Intel's WiDi (Wireless Display) technology for those that would take advantage of it, as well as lower-end models with smaller hard drives and a Core i3 CPU instead of a Core i5. Let's take a more detailed look at the hardware here:

Toshiba Portégé R705 13.3" Notebook Specifications and Features (as tested)

Intel Core i5-460M CPU (2.53GHz; dual-core with 3MB L2 cache) 4GB of 1066-DDR3 RAM  13.3" LED-backlit LCD (1366x768 resolution) Integrated Intel HD Graphics 500GB (5400RPM) Hitachi Travelstar 5K500.B HDD 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi DVD SuperMulti Burner (+/- Double Layer) 1.3 Megapixel Webcam VGA and HDMI Outputs USB 2.0 x 2 USB 2.0 / eSATA Combo Port RJ-45 (Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000) Headphone / Mic Input Jacks SD / MMC / SDHC Multimedia Card Reader Stereo Speakers Spill-Resistant 'Tile' Keyboard Gesture-Enabled Synaptics Multi-Touch Trackpad 3.2 Pounds (with 6-cell battery installed) Removable 6-Cell (66Wh) Li-ion Battery "Up To 8 Hours" Claimed Battery Life 12.44" (W) x 8.94" (D) x 0.72-1.01" (H) (Dimensions) Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) 1-Year Warranty Price (MSRP): $929.99

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Samsung AMOLEDs At CES-Transparent and Flexible

Friday, December 31, 2010 - by Ray Willington

Is the future e-paper? LCD? Plasma? AMOLED? It's probably a mixture of all of them, plus a few display technologies that don't even have a name yet. But in the mobile realm, display technology is of particular importance. With the explosion of smartphone growth, people are paying more attention to the size, screen resolution and quality of their mobile displays. Samsung Mobile Display is intent on making sure the future is filled with amazing mobile screens, and they're planning to showcase a slew of new, crazy, wild technologies at CES 2011 next week.

Among the stars at the show will be a 4.5" WVGA flexible AMOLED, which offers the world's highest flexible display resolution. SMD is presenting a prototype of the most advanced flexible AMOLED display, which is only 2mm thick, and uses a WVGA 800 x 480 resolution. Wilder still, it can be rolled down to a one centimeter radius. At WVGA, this new concept prototype offers a display resolution four times that of the previous most flexible AMOLED prototype in the industry, thanks to the use of a new plastic substrate that can withstand the 450-500 degree temperatures required in the manufacturing process.

Then there's a 19" qFHD transparent AMOLED screen. This definitely isn't for a smartphone, but a transparent screen will certainly get people talking. It's being called the world's first large-screen transparent AMOLED production prototype, designed for use in applications from PC monitors to TVs. Whether the prototype AMOLED display is turned off or on, it maintains up to a 30% transparency. The average amount of transparency elsewhere has been below 10 percent.

Samsung isn't coming clean with actual production dates for these, but simply showcasing them gives us hope that they aren't too far out from mass production. Maybe a good New Year's resolution, SMD?

Samsung Mobile Display Unveils Next-generation AMOLED Displays at CES 2011: Digital Experience!
2011 International CES

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Mobile Display (SMD) will be demonstrating leading-edge, next generation AMOLED displays at Pepcom’s The Digital Experience! press event during the Consumer Electronics Show, at the Caesars Palace Hotel on Wednesday, January 5th from 7 to 10pm.

1. A 4.5-inch WVGA Flexible AMOLED offering world’s highest flexible display resolution

SMD is presenting a prototype of the most advanced flexible AMOLED display. Only 2mm thick, the 4.5 inch flexible AMOLED runs at a WVGA 800 x 480 resolution and can be rolled down to a one centimeter radius.

At WVGA, this new concept prototype offers a display resolution four times that of the previous most flexible AMOLED prototype in the industry, thanks to the use of a new plastic substrate that can withstand the 450-500 degree temperatures required in the manufacturing process.

Typically, flexible displays use plastic substrates instead of glass substrates because this helps the display become lighter and thinner. Furthermore, the new plastic substrates are not prone to breakage during manufacturing. Previously, plastic materials melted at temperatures over 400 degrees during the manufacturing process, making commercialization difficult.

Development of the 4.5 inch Flexible AMOLED prototype, designed for smart phone and tablet PC displays, is a major step on the road to mass production.

2. A 19-inch qFHD Transparent AMOLED for TVs and monitors: World's first large-screen transparent AMOLED production prototype

SMD is showing the world’s first large transparent AMOLED Display prototype, designed for use in applications from PC monitors to TVs.

Whether the prototype AMOLED display is turned off or on, it maintains up to a 30% transparency. The average amount of transparency elsewhere has been below 10 percent.

SMD’s transparent AMOLED prototype provides the highest resolution on a transparent large screen TV (over 19 inches) or monitor display.

Uses may include searching the Internet while watching TV, or watching TV on windows, including car windows for backseat passengers.

SMD will also be exhibiting a 14-inch qFHD transparent AMOLED for notebook PCs.

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