Toshiba adds to netbook tally

Toshiba has announced that it will be adding to the wealth of netbooks already available with its own model.

The Toshiba NB100 will combine the usual mix of netbook components, with a 8.9in, 1,024 x 600 LED backlit display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB memory, Wi-Fi and 0.3-megapixel webcam. For storage, Toshiba has gone down the standard hard disk route with a 120GB 1.8in hard disk, the largest offered in a netbook. Toshiba told IT PRO the drive is a 2.5in unit, rather than a 1.8in unit, which are the usual choice for netbooks and is also used in Apple's latest iPod Classic.

Two flavours of software will be offered a Ubuntu Linux version with OpenOffice preinstalled, or Windows XP with Microsoft Works and an Office trial install.

Battery life is given as 3 hours 45 minutes and the three USB ports are said to be able to trickle charge external devices such as MP3 players and mobile phones even when in sleep mode.

A choice of colours will be on offers, with black, gold and silver finishes. The company says the device will weight less than a kilo and as you might expect from a tier one manufacturer, Toshiba is promising higher build quality levels.

Customers will be able to find out from October, when the NB100 becomes available. Toshiba would not confirm pricing to IT PRO but reports have suggested it will prices will start from 260.

The Toshiba NB100, adds to a long list of similar rivals such as the Asus Eee PC, the Acer Aspire One, the MSI Wind, the HP Mini Note, Lenovo's IdeaPads, LG's X110, and most recently Dell'sInspiron Mini 9.