The ultrabooks keep coming at IFA 2011. Toshiba’s entry into the space features a extremely light chassis — yes, even lighter than either the MacBook Air or the Acer Aspire S3.
Ultrabooks are meant to be portable, and weight is the enemy of portability, something that Toshiba’s designers clearly targeted with the Portégé Z830; at around 1.13kg it’s claiming the crown of the world’s lightest ultrabook. That’s largely due to a magnesium alloy body and extremely thin display keeping the weight down. At 15.9mm it’s not as thin as the Acer Aspire S3 that’s due to be previewed in Australia this week, which makes me wonder if there’s yet another vendor out there who’ll crack the thin and light matrix in one go.
On the specifications side, it’ll take up to a Core i7 Sandy Bridge processor, supports HDMI out and USB 3.0. The release only notes the presence of a 128GB SSD with no other option. A mechanical drive would undoubtedly pump up the carrying weight, but it’s a pity there doesn’t seem to be a larger capacity option, at least for now.
NewGadgets.De has a quick hands-on of the Portégé Z830:
The only word we’ve got on Australian availability is that it’ll ‘launch into the Australian market later this year.’ The full (US) release is below:
TOSHIBA UNVEILS PORTÉGÉ Z830 SERIES OF ULTRABOOK SYSTEMS
The World’s Lightest 13.3-inch Platform, Sub-2.5 Pound Portégé Z830 Series Match Style, Supreme Portability and Enhanced Functionality at Affordable Prices
IRVINE, Calif.—Sept. 1, 2011—Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today unveiled the Portégé® Z830 Series, the company’s first Ultrabook™ using 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ processors. Weighing less than 2.5 pounds and featuring a 0.63-inch (15.9 mm) profile, the Portégé Z830 Series is about 20 percent lighter and 40 percent thinner than the award-winning ultraportable Portégé R830 Series. These new systems offer unprecedented portability, durability and essential features with visibly smart style and responsiveness—and start at under $1,000 MSRP.Supporting the latest 2nd Generation Intel Core processors and ultra-fast DDR3 memory, the Portégé Z830 Series provides the performance needed for work and entertainment plus improved power management for great battery life. The Ultrabook device’s 128GB solid state drive delivers an extremely responsive experience, increased durability and increased energy efficiency. Paired with Toshiba’s new exclusive Hi-Speed Start Technology, the Portégé Z830 can power on and get users up and running at work or home in just seconds.
“The Portégé Z830 Series sets a new standard for thin and light systems, not just in portability, but also in affordability for such cutting-edge designs,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “Toshiba’s engineering achievements and expert craftsmanship have resulted in a brilliant and fully thought-through innovation that exceeds expectations, perfect for both mobile business professionals and consumers.”
The Portégé Z830 Series is built with a host of convenience-driven features such as a full-size LED Backlit and spill-resistant keyboard that makes typing easy in low light conditions and helps guard against accidents. The Ultrabook also includes Toshiba’s USB Sleep & Charge technology to give users the freedom to power up their smartphones even while the system is powered down. Stereo speakers with enhanced audio technology from Waves Audio make the Portégé Z830 ideal for listening to music, watching movies and video chatting.
The Ultrabook devices feature a light, yet durable magnesium alloy casing that is reinforced with an enhanced Honeycomb Rib design and new internal structures that provide shock absorption and increased rigidity. The systems also feature Toshiba’s EasyGuard® Technology, designed to address the security, reliability and durability issues mobile users encounter.
Images: Toshiba US