Toshiba delivers Portege Z10t Ultrabook laptop with detachable tablet mode

While Windows 8 has been available for several months now, Toshiba has just released its first business laptop using the new(ish) operating system in the form of the Portege Z10t, an Ultrabook that features a detachable display to provide tablet functionality.

The Z10t joins a bevy of Windows 8 convertible devices like the Dell XPS 12 and Lenovo Yoga 11S and ThinkPad Helix that hope to marry the productivity of a laptop with the media-consumption convenience of a tablet. It's built around a 11.6-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen display with Corning Concore Glass, and a digitizer pen for easier inputting comes standard. Its innards include an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, 4GB of RAM, and either a 128GB or 256GB solid-state drive.

The screen attaches to a locking hinge that's combined with a LED-backlit, spill-resistant keyboard and touchpad for Windows 8's gestures support. The total package is a mere 0.49 inches thick and weighs just 1.91 pounds. Though it ships with Windows 8 Pro, Toshiba points out that it will also support Windows 7 in both its 32- and 64-bit varieties. Other business-friendly features are Active Management Technology (AMT) and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) support.

The impressive package doesn't come cheap, however. The starting configuration with 128GB SSD will run $1,499 when it becomes available soon. While the company's press release says the Protege Z10t should be ready to order on Toshiba's web site, it does not appear available yet. Will it be worth the wait at that price?