Toshiba launches first HD DVD laptop

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 10 Apr 2006 at 12:58

The Qosmio G30/697HS will be the first laptop to feature an HD DVD-ROM drive. Toshiba is launching a version of its high-end, multimedia laptop with the next-gen optical disc support in Japan in mid-May.

Along with playback of HD DVD content, the latest Qosmio can read and write DVD and CD discs, including DVD+/-R DL (dual-layer) and DVD-RAM. The slim-type drive bay is 12.7mm high.

Other elements of the machine's spec include a 17-inch widescreen display (a WUXGA resolution of 1,920 x 1200), a dual-core CPU, the Intel Core Duo T2500 (2.0GHz) and the Nvidia GeForce Go 7600 for graphics, including the playback of HD DVD content. Two TV tuners are also integrated.

Note, however, that Toshiba is still cautious about compatibility or performance issues with third party products, such as the GeForce. 'The HD DVD Application Logo (HD DVD-ROM) represents the optical drive's compliance with the HD DVD physical format, and does not represent compliance with the specification for the HD DVD General Logo defined by the DVD Forum,' states Toshiba. Specifically, advanced interactive and navigation features of the HD DVD Video format, such as Picture in Picture (PIP) and network download features, are not supported by the Qosmio.

Toshiba has already staked its HD DVD claim on the high street, launching the first HD DVD player, the HD-XA1, in Japan.

Toshiba, of course, is the main backer of the HD DVD optical disc format, with supporters including NEC, Intel and Microsoft. Sony, by contrast, is behind the Blu-ray high capacity optical disc format, which is backed by Pioneer, Samsung, Matsushita, Philips and Apple, among others.