Toshiba follows Microsoft with Windows 10 hybrid notebook
Equipped with a high-precision pen, the new DynaPad is designed for taking notes and drawing on the screen and can convert between a laptop and a tablet.
Toshiba has unveiled a new 2-in-1 notebook built to take advantage of Windows 10.
Dubbed the DynaPad, the new device comes with a detachable keyboard, so it can function as both a traditional laptop as well as a standalone tablet. The 12-inch screen packs in 1,920x1,280 pixels and offers both anti-reflection and anti-fingerprint coating. The DynaPad won't be a powerhouse as it will come with an Atom processor and just 4 gigabytes of memory. But its greatest appeal may be its ability to function as a digital note taker and image creator.
At its Windows 10 device event on October 6, Microsoft attempted to set the bar for what a Windows 10 notebook should be with the debut of its Surface Book . The 13-inch thin, light laptop/tablet includes a detachable keyboard, Windows Hello facial recognition and a pen for writing notes and drawing on the screen. Now it's up to other laptop makers to rise to Microsoft's challenge by creating devices to convince consumers that a new Windows 10 PC is worth buying. And that's just what Toshiba is trying to do.
The DynaPad comes with an ultra-thin keyboard dock and a high-precision pen, "so it's designed to replicate the natural feeling of writing with a pen on paper," according to a Microsoft blog posted late Monday. The pen offers 2,048 levels of pressure, which means that it provides extreme accuracy whether you're writing or drawing. And it works equally as well with users who are right handed or left handed.
With the included suite of apps, you can gather, organize and share your notes, images and files. You can also capture screen shots and share your handwriting in real time. Toshiba's suite also integrates with Microsoft Office for editing your files and documents.
The DynaPad will be available in the US and Europe in the first quarter of 2016 and is available for pre-order starting Tuesday in Japan where it will launch in December, according to Microsoft. Pricing has not yet been announced for the US or Europe, a Toshiba spokesman said. Pricing in Japan will be less than 130,000 yen (around $1,080), according to The Verge.