Toshiba is to launch three new high performance Qosmio laptops in autumn, two designed to handle high-end audio and video applications, and one aimed at gamers.
The Qosmio F50 and Qosmio G50 sport Toshiba's brand new "SpursEngine" Quad Core HD Processor, based on the same powerful cell architecture in use by Sony's PS3, consisting of four Synergistic Processor Elements (SPEs). This allows for processor-intensive functions such as real time DVD upscaling and video editing.
Reading around, it seems that this new chip can process high-end video applications faster than an Intel Core 2 Quad processor. It allows the laptops to simultaneously handle DVD upscaling and Toshiba's Gesture Control system, which uses the built-in webcam to interpret a user's hand movements to control various multimedia functions, such as starting and stopping a DVD.
Each laptop features a generous 18.4-inch widescreen display, motion sensor, up to 640GB hard drive and 8GB memory, gloss black casing and LED accents.
The processor should certainly be up to the job of handling high definition content, but given Toshiba's exit from the
high definition disc market, and its own ideas on providing "high definition content", it's not clear exactly how to get that content on to the laptop in the first place.
Also announced is the X300 laptop designed for gamers. It features an Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme processor, dual hard drive, GDDR3 SLI graphics, NVIDIA GeForce graphics processors, Harman Kardon speakers and subwoofer, and "Fire Shark" case design.