Toshiba refreshes notebook line

A notebook computer equipped with desktop processing power and the ability

to send diagnostic data to technicians is among the new releases announced

today by the Computer Systems Group of Toshiba America Information Systems

Inc.

"The Tecra 8100 with the 750 MHz processor allows the federal user to get

the fastest CPU possible in the mobile space," said Craig Marking, product

manager for the Tecra and Portege lines of notebooks at Toshiba.

The Tecra 8100 also includes the new VirtualTech feature, an interactive

e-support function that can quickly send a full system report to a Toshiba

technician, who then can diagnose a problem without the user having to answer

a string of questions, said Marc Tanguay, director of product marketing

for portables.

"It's perfect for a government agency with a small or [nonexistent] IT staff,"

Tanguay said. "The active menu component and database communicate over a

satellite system with a database on Toshiba servers and the machine can

get updated without an IT staffer touching it, all at no cost to the consumer."

The Tecra 8100 is available immediately for about $4,300. Notebooks in the

Portege and Satellite Pro series will be ready for shipping by the end of

the month and pricing starts at around $2,000, Marking said.