Toshiba Libretto W100 Review

On its 25^th anniversary, Toshiba redefines mobile computing by launching the Libretto W100 – the first ever dual touchscreen laptop to use Windows 7 in the world. By experts, it has been described as “an ultra-mobile PC that’s not quite a tablet and not quite a netbook.” We say that it is a curious little gadget that is cute enough to catch your eye.

If you want to get your hands on this gadget, you’d better do so fast. Toshiba has stressed that the Libretto is meant to be a niche product. It’s due for only a limited run in the market for early birds who want to check out what the whole razzmatazz is about. Toshiba isn’t looking to convince the mainstream to buy the Libretto; this launch is more of a tester to get a feel of the market and its response to their ultraportable device.

Okay, let’s come straight to the USP of the product – the dual touchscreen. The two 7-inch diagonal screens have a 1024×600 resolution. The Libretto’s unique form factor allows you to separate the screens and use them for different purposes. You can run separate apps on each screen. For instance, on one screen you can type a word document, while on the other, you can surf the internet. You can drag and drop icons, images, and information back and forth between the two screens, which by the way, can be used in a vertical mode thanks to the built-in accelerator that aids flip screen orientation. In addition, the Libretto can be used as a notebook too, which means you can take notes and draw as well. Finally, the Libretto gives you six different keyboard options to choose from, including a split solution.

Specifications-wise, the Libretto is a pretty standard deal and not much wows you there. The netbook, covered in a black brushed aluminum finish, is powered by a 1.2GHz Intel Pentium U5400 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD. The gadget also comes with a microSD card reader, a single USB 2.0 port, and 1-megapixel webcam. The Libretto W100 measures 202 x 123 x 30.7 mm, weighs 819g, and is 1.2 inch thick.

It’s no surprise that there is plenty to love in the Libretto W100. However, there are a few holes that need to be plugged. For instance, the battery life is good only for 3.5 hours. Which means, this can hardly be your reliable all day device. There should also be a decent amount of RAM, for the price they are charging ($1,100). The touchscreens don’t support multi-touch function and need calibrating.

However, the Libretto shows the potential to have the markets hooked on to it; and when Toshiba launches a similar device sometime in the future, they will surely have ironed out the creases by then.

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