Toshiba Australia has given their consumers a tablet twice the price of the iPad that acts more as a laptop than an iPad.

According to the Sydney Morning Herold, the Libretto W100 will launch soon with 2 screens, either can become the keyboard. This is very much like the laptop One Laptop Per Child created for children in third world countries.

The price is set high - $1599. However, this shouldn't be a shocker seeing that it comes with the full install of Windows 7. With Windows comes the need for more processing power, thus higher priced hardware. In addition, while the iOS used in the iPad was built in house and Android in tablets like the Dell Streak is free, Windows comes with a price tag to the manufactures using it.

Also making this more laptop than tablet (other than the two side design and a full, albeit bloated operating system) is the processor- a Intel U5400. The device will also come with 2GB of RAM, a USB port and a camera on the front and back of the device.

This is not a laptop replacement, it is a modern laptop - hopefully the future of laptops. With touch screens the idea of having a physical keyboard just doesn't make sense anymore.

The company would like to see the device hit the Australian shelves this year, but it should be available in the outback by 2011 at the latest. The better question will be when does it get to the U.S. and the rest of the world?

Bookmark/Search this post with:

Delicious  |  Digg  |  StumbleUpon  |  Reddit  |  Magnoliacom  |  Newsvine  |  Facebook  |  Google  |  Yahoo