Toshiba Is Clamming Up Its Technologies

I recently read in a buisness week article that Toshiba is keeping its new, own R&D technologies for itself. All those goodies - New HDs that its making (that now have 1/3 more capacity storage), and those great new 1 minute recharge batteries will be exclusively sold on Toshiba branded products only. In addition, new screen technologies, currently in the works with Canon will only be sold on its TVs (and hopefully its laptops too!). I'm wondering if Toshiba is its Renaissance for Revival.

Article: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_51/b3964044.htm?chan=gb

 

That's really interesting. I wonder why Toshiba would stop sharing and licencing its technologies, espcially the battery stuff, to other companies.

 

Probably because Toshiba used to be the best laptop manufacturer in the world - and most popular. However with times changing and companies sharing around technology, Toshiba has fallen down heaps. Maybe they are trying to come back?

 

I don't blame em personally. I do miss the days when they use to make some really nice notebooks. The 1998 Satellite my dad owned was rock solid.

 

I agree, I say good on Toshiba for trying to make back some ground!

:toshiba:

 

Yeah, I've had great experiences with some of their past notebooks, I'm really rooting for em, I hope they can become as respected as they were years ago and catch up to the big players and maybe even surpass em, they can do it! Go Toshiba! Its kinda weird for me to say this considering I have an HP. But I wish Toshiba the best of luck!

 

You know those "glossy screens" that has everyone hyped-up in laptops? Toshiba, along with Canon, developed those about 5 years ago (My old Satellite has an early version of Toshiba's TruBrite). Toshiba then licensed the "glossy" screen technology to companies like Sony and Fujistu who then renamed them (X-Brite for Sony and Crystal Shine for Fujistu I think), and tweaked them for their liking. Toshiba still holds the title as the best "glossy" screen quality maker in their Qosmio line.

 

Actually, I believe the best notebook screen has to be the ASUS v6va. 15" SXGA+ with brightness rated at 500nits!!!

Anyway, I, too am rooting for Toshiba. But I think that their past problems are their own doing. One of the reasons that I haven't bought a Toshiba notebook since the 90s is that their product quality went down for a while (you have to admit they built some real stinkers). Whose fault is that?

...waiting for 17" WSXGA+, dual core CPU, 256MB x1600, 4+ hr battery,...

 

The Qosmio G25 has a screen brightness of 600nits actually. Asus' still have great screens though. I actually really like Sony's X-Brite along with Toshiba's TruBrite.

 

Really? I thought Sony developed em and the first notebook I ever saw to have that technology was Sony's TR series. I find Toshibas TruBrite to be one of the best glossies I've seen outside of Sonys.

 

Good on them I say! It's what will keep Toshiba at the top end of the market. You pay a slight premium for Toshiba notebooks but it's well worth it IMO.

 

Well, I'm hoping they improve their build quality - some of the lower end models are really bad in this area. There are rumors that Toshiba is creating a fast charging battery for notebooks (like as in a 5 minute charge as opposed to a 2-3 hour charge).

 

Yeh I must admit their lower range of notebooks leave quite a bit to be desired build quality wise. But their Portege and Tecra range are number 1.

Yes the rumors are true. There was an article in a local PC mag here in Oz called Atomic discussing this new technology. Apparently tho, mass produced samples of these batteries are still a fiar way off.