Toshiba Tecra M7

Business notebooks have been much slower to go widescreen than consumer models - it's taken time for people to appreciate the extra usable workspace they provide - and convertible tablets even more so. But with research firm IDC predicting that all notebooks will be widescreen by 2008, the M7 is likely to be the first in a long line of similar products.

In this instance, however, we can't recommend the M7 outright. Even if the ability to watch DVDs or fit several documents onscreen are reasons enough to specify a widescreen on a business notebook, the lacklustre performance of the Tecra's display adds little weight to the idea. It's also too hefty to really benefit from any ergonomic benefits.

All that said, there's plenty to like if you're in the market for such a product: it's got price on its side for one; in fact, it's the cheapest convertible tablet we've seen. And the fact remains that if you want a widescreen tablet, the M7 is currently your only choice.

Author: David Fearon