Japanese tech brand Toshiba is globally-renowned for innovation, technology and most of all, for the quality and reliability of its products. Just when you thought it was impossible to pack even more features into a thinner, sleeker machine, Toshiba, which has ?Leading Innovation? as its tagline, has managed to surprise gadget lovers with its new ultra-thin, ultra-light laptop called Portege Z930. It boasts of full-size ports, an 8-cell battery, and a bigger 33.8 cm (13.3-inch) screen on a machine that weighs just 1.12 kg. So much from something that weighs so little! Amazing, isn?t it?

Toshiba?s pioneering efforts include the introduction of notebook personal computers and high definition DVD players and recorders, plus contributions to advanced innovations in medical imaging, microchips and multifunction copiers/peripherals. The company?s 13.3-inch Portege Z930 is a small, neat and lightweight business-grade ultrabook with mobile broadband support. However, it?s expensive at R96,250. But it is a smart mobile business laptop and I am sure there would be many takers in corporate circles for this device.

We spent almost one week with the Portege Z930 to answer this one question: is it right to call it the productivity powerhouse? At the outset, let me state that Toshiba?s Z930 sets a new standard for mobility with its ultra-thin design, ultra-responsive performance and superior craftsmanship. By any yardstick, this working tool can make a good choice as a portable business laptop. It?s thin, extremely light and has good build quality. Features are abundant and it?s a fast performer too. And mind you, together with its slim 0.63-inch profile, it won?t slow you down. Powered by the third generation Intel Core processors and the ultra-fast solid state drives, this Toshiba innovation can resume from sleep in two seconds to provide the outstanding performance for work and entertainment. It offers high-efficiency performance and handles the most demanding of tasks and multitasking with ease.

This carefully crafted machine features a spill-resistant, LED-backlit keyboard and reinforced magnesium alloy casing. Some explanation is required here. When the room is dim, you can keep right on typing thanks to a LED-backlit keyboard on your Toshiba laptop. The LED-backlit screen has a 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution and a non-reflective finish, which should help viewability in bright lighting. Great for working on planes or in poorly lit cafes; it not only looks cool, but helps make the laptop more energy efficient too. And the unique honeycomb structure within the magnesium alloy chassis gives this PC increased durability, rigidity and thinness.

The product supports a host of full-size ports including VGA, HDMI and several USB ports for easy and fast connectivity. It integrates stereo speakers enhanced with SRS Premium Sound 3D that provides rich surround sound and a high-definition Web camera that allows for sharp and clear video chats. There?s no optical drive. Nevertheless, the machine?s USB Sleep & Charge technology gives users the freedom to power up their smartphones even while the system is powered off. It supports a long battery life of up to eight hours.

Overall, it is a small, neat and light computer with powerful performance for work and play.

SPECS

Display: 13.3-inch WXGA HD LED back-lit (300 nits) TFT display (16:9) anti-glare type

Resolution: 1,366 x 768 pixels

Processor: Ultra-low voltage 3rd Generation Intel Core i5 3427U processor

OS: Windows 7 Professional 32 & 64-bit

Chipset: Intel QM77 Express Chipset

System memory: 6 GB (2 GB + 4 GB) DDR3 1600 MHz

Graphics: Intel QM77 Express Chipset, Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000

Hard disk: 128 GB SATA Solid State Drive

Estimated street price: Rs 96,250