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Topic: Tablets

Toshiba announces business-ready Portege Z930 Ultrabook

Summary: Toshiba has refreshed an older model and branded it a new one, the laptop maker hasn't scrimped on the specs. The Portege Z930 could be a serious competitor to Apple's MacBook Air.

Zack Whittaker

By for Between the Lines |

Toshiba, skimming off the success of its Portege Z835 Ultrabooks, has announced the Portege Z930 that includes the latest Intel Core i5 "Ivy Bridge" processor --- a real competitor to Apple's MacBook Air.

The business-friendly 13-inch Ultrabook is light and efficient. Boasting up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, it has the power and reliability one needs in a laptop.

it is one of the lightest in the featherweight categories weighing less than 2.5 pounds --- lighter than the ultra-thin MacBook Air.

The battery life will last around 8 hours --- more than equipped for a transatlantic flight or a day out of the office --- and includes embedded biometric security to prevent unauthorised access and a TPM chip for enterprise-grade security.

At its thinnest point, the device is just 8.3mm. Of course, it includes the usual bits, such as two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port, HDMI and VGA support, and Bluetooth 4.0.

Its slightly painful pricetag of $1,249 for what is effectively a minor upgrade to the older lineup is somewhat pushed aside considering it skims close to other devices in that range.

Having said that, all eyes are on Apple, which is expected to refresh its MacBook lineup in the coming week.

The Z930 may not have the consumer appeal as the Apple device but coming at $50 more for a Windows-powered machine with all the specs one would expect from a business-ready device, it's hard not to look at this device with nothing but adoration and respect.

Image credit: Toshiba/Flickr.

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Topic: Tablets

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5 comments
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  • Like the 13" form factor but drop the USB2 and go USB3 all around

    keep working on it tosh and get that price down.
    Johnny Vegas
    Reply Vote

    • and drop the darn VGA

      .
      polarcat
      Reply Vote

      • I agree .....

        What is the freaking point of a VGA port??? It has an HDMI port in it.

        If VGA is needed, provide an (optional) "converter" and don't waste hardware space.
        wackoae
        Reply Vote

  • VGA, Yes, it's good business!

    I know it's easy to get the "that's so 2011 fever", but having an ultra book with VGA port is smart. I am writing this note on my Toshiba Z835 and I used the VGA port yesterday and the day before. Business meetings are often centered around a presentation and virtually all the presentation are projected and I have yet to be in a meeting where the projector has a HDMI port, but they all have a VGA. Sure you can drop the VGA port and force the user to buy, carry, and loose just before the big presentation, a port adapter. I support many trade shows and many users bring their Macs and many of those presenters have madly scrambled to find their VGA adpater or to have the adapter wiggle-loose mid presentation. ARG!. For the business person keep the VGA and have an edge over the other ulrabooks. Perhaps in a few years retire it, but not before the propensity of projectors support HDMI. If you are not a business person and don't need the VGA, then don't worry about it. It's like the headphone/mic jacks, I don't use them, but I'm glad they are there just in case. Cheers.
    irv_tech
    Reply 1 Vote

  • Bought it .. sent it back

    I bought one last week - $2200Aus!!
    The backlight on the keyboard didnt work. Sent it back.
    Im was not that happy with it.
    Screen clarity was dissapointing.
    Reformatting to 64bit was a hassle.
    Sticking with my Satellite Pro T110 for now - 3 years old and only $700Aus.
    Mark Laforest
    Reply Vote
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