If you're looking to spend less, Toshiba also has a few other new business laptops, most notably the other Tecra R10 and and Portege A600. The latter is a bit thick to be called an ultraportable, but it's only 3.2 pounds and starts at $1399. The Tecra R10 is a cousin to the A10 and M10 launched back in July, so not a whole lot different there.

Toshiba Launches Newest Ultraportable Innovation with Portégé R600 Laptop

At 2.4 Pounds and 0.77-Inch Thin, Portégé R600 Laptop PC Combines Executive Mobility with Innovative Features

IRVINE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Toshiba’s Digital Products Division, a leading provider of mobile computing solutions, today announced the Portégé® R600 laptop PC. At 2.4-pounds(1), 0.77-inch thin(2), this engineering marvel incorporates an integrated 7mm DVD-SuperMulti drive making the Portégé R600 Toshiba’s ultimate ultraportable laptop.

As the successor to the award-winning Portégé R500 platform, the Portégé R600 offers its own unique collection of new features, such as Toshiba’s fourth-generation EasyGuard® Technology(3) with PC Health Monitor, an extended life battery, an enhanced LED backlit transreflective display and a durable chassis. Prices for the ultraportable Toshiba Portégé R600 start at $2,099 (MSRP)(4).

“As Toshiba’s signature laptop PC, the Portégé R600 embodies the company’s rich tradition of mobile computing innovation,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. “The Portégé R600 builds upon Toshiba’s legacy of innovation and delivers a superior mobile experience by providing performance, functionality and flexibility in an extremely lightweight form factor weighing 2.4 pounds.”

Designed, engineered and manufactured by Toshiba the Portégé R600 provides users with high-quality and enhanced reliability in a laptop PC. Toshiba’s Portégé R600 includes the following leading-edge technologies:

* Design Enhancements: The Portégé R600 features an enhanced LED backlit transreflective display for a better viewing angle and contrast and a durable chassis with out increasing the size or weight of the laptop. The laptop PC's touchpad has been moved to the center and the buttons feature a tighter, firmer and more solid design. While the keyboard has been enhanced to provide a better tactile feel for touch typists.
* EasyGuard® Technology: Toshiba’s Portégé R600 laptop features Toshiba’s fourth-generation EasyGuard Technology with PC Health Monitor. This new feature is a preventative maintenance utility that continuously checks the performance and functionality of a laptop’s critical hardware components and will alert users when the system is in need of a tune up. PC Health Monitor tracks the status of critical components, such as hard drive status, battery life and CPU temperature and system cooling warnings. In addition to PC Health Monitor, Toshiba’s EasyGuard Technology is a proprietary, value-added series of hardware and software enhancements designed to better protect and secure one’s laptop during everyday computing. Components include HDD Protection, a spill-resistant keyboard(5), fingerprint reader and Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
* LED Backlit Transreflective Display: The notebook features a special button to allow users to toggle between indoor/outdoor modes depending on the lighting environments. Indoors, the LED backlit transreflective display produces an image rich in saturated color and of superb quality. Outdoors, the transreflective screen lets the sun’s light pass through and reflects it out, bringing images on the display to life.
* Solid State Drive (SSD): Select Portégé R600 configurations feature a 128GB SSD(6), making it one of the world’s lightest and thinnest laptops with an SSD. With no moving parts, SSD technology provides customers with an enhanced level of protection, reliability and fast data access.
* USB Sleep-and-Charge/eSATA Combo Port(7): This unique port provides convenience and speed by allowing data transfers to and from an eSATA external hard drive at rates up to five times faster than USB 2.0, and the ability to charge select USB mobile devices whether the laptop is on, off, or in sleep or hibernation mode.
* Green Attributes: The Portégé R600 is ENERGY STAR® 4.0 compliant and has achieved a Gold status through the Green Electronics Council’s Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).

Complete product specifications for the Portégé R600 models are available at http://explore.toshiba.com/laptops/portege.

The Portégé R600 is available with a three-year standard limited warranty(8), which includes carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout the country such as UPS Stores and Mail Boxes Etc. locations.

As a responsible global corporate citizen, Toshiba designs all of its new laptop PCs to be RoHS compatible(9), effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances.

Toshiba is offering a new, free electronic trade-in and recycling program which includes all laptop PCs and other select electronics, regardless of manufacturer, that have no trade-in value. For more details, please visit http://explore.toshiba.com/green. No purchase is necessary to participate in the recycling program.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS)

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of four business units: Digital Products Division, Imaging Systems Division, Storage Device Division, and Telecommunication Systems Division. Together, these divisions provide mobile products and solutions, including industry leading portable computers; projectors; imaging products for the security, medical and manufacturing markets; storage products for automotive, computer and consumer electronics applications; and telephony equipment and associated applications.

TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of information products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, which is a global leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, products and systems, as well as major infrastructure systems. Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 740 companies, with 198,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing $76 billion. For more information on Toshiba's leading innovations, visit the company's Web site at www.toshiba.com.

[Businesswire, Businesswire, Businesswire]

TOSHIBA SATELLITE PRO LAPTOP ENHANCES INTEL CENTRINO 2 PROCESSOR WITH BUSINESS ESSENTIALS
First Satellite Pro With EasyGuard Technology, Docking Capabilities and Business Card Reader

IRVINE, Calif., (July 15, 2008) – Toshiba’s Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the expansion of its Satellite Pro family with the Satellite Pro® S300 laptop. This affordable laptop PC with Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology1 is packed with the key essential business features to increase productivity plus Toshiba’s fourth-generation EasyGuard® technology2, built-in docking capabilities and Webcam with business card reader software.

“The Toshiba Satellite Pro S300 laptop delivers the essential feature sets our customers need and more for an improved mobile computing experience at an incredible price point,” said Jeff Barney, general manager and vice president, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. “The design of the Satellite Pro S300 laptop is a direct reflection of customer feedback, providing mobile professionals with innovative and reliable computing performance that gives them the freedom to work or explore when they need and want.”

• Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor Technology: Based on the latest 45nm mobile architecture, this new technology provides mobile professionals with higher performance, advanced connectivity3 and long battery life4 while on the go. The Satellite Pro S300 also uses Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD to provide up to three times better graphics performance5.

Toshiba Satellite Pro Laptop Enhances Intel Centrino 2 Processor With Business Essentials
• EasyGuard Technology: Available for the first time in the Satellite Pro lineup, Toshiba integrated its fourth-generation EasyGuard Technology. Toshiba’s proprietary, value-add series of hardware and software enhancements is designed to better protect and secure the notebook during everyday computing. Components include HDD Protection, a spill-resistant keyboard6, fingerprint reader and Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
• Express Port Replicator: Toshiba’s Satellite Pro S300 is the first Satellite Pro laptop with built-in support for docking, giving users quicker access to a traditional desktop console and better cable management. This enhances the desktop experience plus mobile users can easily get up and go at the touch of a button.
• Webcam with Business Card Reader Software: Toshiba expanded the functionality of the standard 1.3 megapixel Webcam by integrating macro functionality with business card reader software to allow users to scan business cards and store them digitally.
• eSATA/USB 2.0 Combo Port: This port enables the high-speed transfer of files between the laptop and an external eSATA hard drive with transfer rates that are up to five times faster than standard USB 2.0. High-speed data transfer is
ideal for data backup.
• Sleep-and-Charge USB Port7: The Satellite Pro S300 features four Sleep-and-Charge USB ports, which enable users to charge select mobile devices such as, cell phones, MP3 players and PDAs whether the computer is on, off, in sleep
mode or hibernation mode.
• Green Attributes: The Satellite Pro S300 is ENERGY STAR® 4.0 compliant and has achieved a Bronze status through the Green Electronics Council’s Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). The Satellite Pro S300 series is available with a one-year standard limited warranty8, which includes carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout the country such as UPS Stores and Mail Boxes Etc. locations.

As a responsible global corporate citizen, Toshiba makes all new laptops to be RoHS-compatible9, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the Toshiba Satellite Pro Laptop Enhances Intel Centrino 2 Processor With Business Essentials use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances. During the third quarter of 2008, Toshiba will offer a computer trade-in and recycling program for all manufacturer’s PCs with no obligation for the consumer to purchase a Toshiba product.

TOSHIBA ADDS NEW INTEL CENTRINO 2 WITH vPro TECHNOLOGY TO FLAGSHIP BUSINESS LAPTOPS
Tecra M10, Tecra A10 Provide a Superior Balance of Performance, Mobility and Security for Business and Education Users

IRVINE, Calif., (July 15, 2008) – Toshiba’s Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the Tecra® M10 and Tecra® A10 laptops with Intel® Centrino® 2 with vProTM technology1. These new laptop PCs feature Toshiba’s fourth-generation EasyGuard® technology2, Webcam with business card reader software and common motherboard designs.

“The Toshiba Tecra M10 and Tecra A10 provide the real-world mobile computing features that our business customers need most — in the office or while traveling,” said Jeff Barney, general manager and vice president, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. “These new laptops give Toshiba’s customers the clear competitive edge and deliver Toshiba’s mission of creating innovative laptop PCs that improve the productivity and lives of our business customers.”

Toshiba’s Tecra M10 and Tecra A10 include the following leading-edge technologies:
• Intel® Centrino® 2 with vProTM Technology: This new micro-architecture helps keep mobile workforces, managed and secure. With hardware-assisted remote isolation, diagnostics and repair, IT professionals can manage their mobile workforce wirelessly, even if the system’s operating system is unresponsive.
• EasyGuard Technology: The Tecra M10 and Tecra A10 are Toshiba’s first laptops to incorporate Toshiba’s fourth-generation EasyGuard technology, including HDD protection, spill-resistant keyboard5, SmartCard reader, fingerprint reader and Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
• Webcam with Business Card Reader Software: Toshiba expanded the functionality of the standard 1.3 megapixel Webcam by integrating macro functionality with business card reader software to allow users to scan business cards and store them digitally.
• Common Motherboards: To better reduce the cost for customers and simplify the deployment of new laptops, the Tecra M10 and Tecra A10 feature a common motherboard and image, allowing companies to qualify both systems by qualifying one. This value-added feature also helps to lower the cost of service and support.
• eSATA/USB 2.0 Combo Port: With an increased emphasis on data backup and protection, Toshiba incorporated an eSATA port to enable the high-speed transfer of files between the laptop and an external eSATA hard drive with transfer rates that are up to five times faster than standard USB 2.0.
• Sleep-and-Charge USB Port6: All Tecra M10 and Tecra A10 feature Sleep-and-Charge USB ports, which enable users to charge select mobile devices, such as cell phones, MP3 players and PDAs whether the computer is on, off, in sleep mode or hibernation mode.
• Solid State Drive Option: Toshiba offers a full Build-to-Order configurability on these Tecra series, allowing customers to add a 64 or 128 GB solid-state drive8 for enhanced reliability.
• Green Attributes: The Tecra M10 and A10 are ENERGY STAR® 4.0 compliant and have achieved a Bronze status through the Green Electronics Council’s Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).

The Tecra M10 and Tecra A10 series are available with a one- or three-year standard limited warranty9, which includes carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout the country such as UPS Stores and Mail Boxes Etc. locations. As a responsible global corporate citizen, Toshiba makes all new laptops to be RoHS-compatible10, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances. During the third quarter of 2008, Toshiba will offer a computer trade-in and recycling program for all manufacturer’s PCs with no obligation for the consumer to purchase a Toshiba product.

[Toshiba]

So between the M6 and the MacBook, who's the better value? They both have a 1280x800 resolution screen, but the MacBook comes with twice the RAM, WiFi, and 20 Gigs more hard disk space. The killer knife in the eye? At $1059, the M6 only has a Celeron M processor. To get a Core Duo 1.83Ghz processor to match the one in the MacBook, you'll have to pony up another $190.

Not to belabor this point, but the era of Apple hardware carrying a huge price premium is pretty much over.

Toshiba Tecra M6: Slim & Core Duo [Digital Trends]