Toshiba introduces four new HD DVD notebooks

Irvine (CA) – Toshiba has begun offering six new notebooks today, four of which include HD DVD drives as standard feature. The technology is moving quickly into the mainstream with HD DVD notebooks now being offered from $1150. Toshiba’s fall model refresh transitions to Intel’s Santa Rosa platform and covers the company’s two consumer product lines, reaching from the entry-level Satellite to the higher-end entertainment Qosmio models.

The most economical way to purchase a notebook with an HD DVD drive now is the Satellite 7468 for $1150, which includes an Intel Core 2 Duo 5250 CPU, 2 GB memory, a 200 GB hard drive, Intel’s X3100 graphics chipset and a 15.4" screen. The device is also available without HD DVD drive for $1000 ; if a 160 GB hard disk is enough, the price drops to $880.

HD DVD drives are now standard in Toshiba’s 17" desktop replacement notebooks Satellite P205. For $1250, customers can buy the S7476 with a Core 2 Duo 5250, 2 GB memory, a 200 GB hard drive and Intel’s X3100 graphics chipset. An additional $200 will upgrade the system to a 5450 CPU, a 300 GB hard drive and AMD’s Radeon HD 2600 graphics chip.

If you are looking for more performance, Toshiba is offering a bit more punch in its entertainment notebook series Qosmio, which originally introduced HD DVD drives to users. The HD DVD-equipped AV425 comes with a Core 2 Duo 7250 processor, 2 GB of memory, a 300 GB hard drive, a 15.4" screen, and GeForce 8600GT GPU for a suggested retail price of $1650. The model is also available with a 5450 CPU, a 250 GB hard drive and Intel’s X3100 chipset for $1300.