The ToyBox

Ricardo Bilton & Gloria Sin

Toshiba Qosmio X770 3D brings the third dimension to games, movies and even video chats

By | June 1, 2011, 2:57pm PDT

Summary: Toshiba’s flagship gaming laptop demos 3D capabilities in mobile computing, with help from the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics card. But are you willing to wear 3D glasses while you game?

The Toshiba’s flagship gaming laptop, the Qosmio X770 3D, just launched in Europe earlier this week and was introduced at Computex 2011 as one of the first to ship with the newly released NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics card. This machine is geared for 3D enthusiasts who need a powerful yet portable computer that can handle all the latest PC games.

Powered by the Intel’s quad-core i5 or i7 CPU with up to 8 GB of RAM, a 4G solid state hybrid drive (with 500GB at 7,200rpm) and of course the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M card with 1.5 GB of video RAM (GDDR5), the X770 3D should be able to “run the latest games at playable framerates on a 1080p screen with maximum detail — save antialiasing,” according to Engadget. (Check out this chart from NVIDIA to see how this video card compares to the GTX 540M when rendering the most recent titles.)

With a 17.3” HD 3D display, backlit keyboard and shortcut keys in red, combo DVD and Blu-ray read and write drive, HDMI adapter, as well as Harman Kardon stereo speakers plus subwoofer, it is one fierce entertainment powerhouse (even if you don’t game).

What sets this laptop apart from its non-3D cousin (the 770X) is its three-dimensional capabilities, of course. Thanks to its 3D-capable display and underlying technology from NVIDIA, users can see images that seem to pop from the screen when they wear active shutter glasses. It can show fast action scenes without any blur due to its “fast 5ms response time,” according to its press release, so 3D games and movies on this laptop should be smooth.

But the X770 3D goes beyond just displaying three-dimensional content; it is also capable of creating 3D material due to its state-of-the-art components. The built-in 3D Web cam has two lenses that can capture 3D photos as well as create the illusion of 3D video chats. It also has computing power to convert DVD movies and PC games from 2D to 3D, so you won’t be reduced to watching reruns of The Last Airbender 3D on this machine.

The 770X 3D is set to arrive in Europe by end of June with no word yet on when it will land in North America. No prices for the laptop or the 3D glasses are currently available.

While the 770X 3D’s specs are certainly impressive, I just don’t know how feasible it is to have to sport a pair of 3D goggles on top of regular glasses for a marathon gaming or video chatting session (besides, wouldn’t your friend rather see you and not your dorky 3D glasses?). How much is 3D worth to you? Would you want a Toshiba Qosmio X770 3D or the non-3D 770 (with similar specs minus the 3D functions and Web cam)?

Other tech specs:

  • Display: 43.9cm (17.3”) TruBrite Full HD display (16:9) supporting active shutter 3D technology, LED backlighting (120Hz), 1,920 x 1080 pixels, 5ms display response time
  • Connectivity: WLAN (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, Gigabit LAN
  • Ports: 3x USB 2.0 plus 1x USB 3.0 with USB Sleep & Charge, HDMI-CEC, Multi-Card Reader
  • Weight: starting at 3.4 kg/7.93 lbs
  • Dimensions: 413.6 mm x 274 mm x 28.0mm / 57.9mm

[Source: Engadget]

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Gloria Sin is a freelance journalist based in New York City.

Disclosure

Gloria Sin

I have no stocks or investments in any companies or interests which may lead to a conflict of interest in my coverage.

Biography

Gloria Sin

Gloria Sin is a New York-based freelance journalist who writes about the tech toys that you can't live without for ZDNet. She has little patience for poorly designed user experiences, and is not afraid of opening the guts of her own machines for repair or hacking her gadgets for new uses.

She has written for FastCompany.com, Popular Science, Olympic News Service; she currently covers the startup scene in the Tri-State area for NYConvergence.com.

Prior to ZDNet, Gloria was the online editor for Dance International, and dabbled in web design and social media consulting. When she is offline, you will find her at an ice rink living out her figure skating dreams. Follow her on Twitter.

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RE: Toshiba Qosmio X770 3D brings the third dimension to games, movies and
awkward hug 2nd Jun
the only non-glasses mass consumer product that doesn't require glasses, that I can think of, is Nintendo's 3DS. Which is a terrible experience. But its not a misnomer to call it 3D.

I want a better experience and I don't think I'm getting it when I'm wearing chunky glasses, getting a headache or being straining my eyes.
Complete waste of time and a misnomer. 3D is when I can see a holograph in fromt of me without having to wear glasses, rather than this fake 2D stuff.
the only non-glasses mass consumer product that doesn't require glasses, that I can think of, is Nintendo's 3DS. Which is a terrible experience. But its not a misnomer to call it 3D.

I want a better experience and I don't think I'm getting it when I'm wearing chunky glasses, getting a headache or being straining my eyes.

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