Cut-Rate, High-Performance Portable PC

Cheap is often seen as a disparaging word — it smacks of caveat emptor — let the buyer beware. But cheap can by synomynous with being a bargain, particularly in the case of the Satellite S270 wireless notebook PC, Toshiba’s latest low-end laptop introduced this week.

Toshiba’s digital products division offers three different families of notebook computers. First, there’s the ultra-portable, ultra-mobile Portégé series of notebooks that offer all the flexibility of Tablet PCs, without sacrificing performance.

Then, there’s the Tecra product lineup, known for being “future proof” because the series features backward and forward compatibility with previous notebook PC models.

Finally, there’s the Satellite family of notebook computers, which includes products that represent a good value for small businesses seeking to balance price with performance.

Toshiba’s new Satellite A40-S270 wireless notebook PC is designed for small- and medium-sized businesses looking for an affordable, yet feature-rich, mobile computer.

Priced at $1,429, one version of the Satellite A40-S270 comes with Microsoft OneNote 2003, a digital note-taking program that allows mobile professionals to capture, organize and share data throughout a small office.

Certainly, penny-pinching small businesses can find portable PCs that cost less than the Satellite A40-S270. But it retains the quality that one would expect to see from such a computer maker as Toshiba.

For added flexibility and productivity, the new unit features integrated Wi-Fi 802.11g wireless connectivity (define), allowing users to keep competitive by staying connected to other employees, a secure network, customers or even suppliers, while working outside of the office.

The unit features a newly designed sleek blue chassis and weighs in at 7.7 pounds. The Satellite A40-S270 is ready to handle power-intensive business tasks, such as multimedia presentations and spreadsheet computing, while allowing users to remain mobile.

The Satellite A40-S270 comes with Microsoft Works, a low-end productivity suite, and Microsoft Office XP Small Business Edition 2003 software for added effectiveness in completing business tasks, such as tracking customer activities or developing marketing and sales materials.

The Satellite A40-S270 features an Intel Mobile Pentium 4 Processor operating at 2.80GHz. Small businesses can choose between Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Microsoft Works software. The base model has 60GB of hard disk storage, 512MB SDRAM, a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, and features a 15.0-inch diagonal XGA display.

The Satellite A40-S270 also comes with an integrated V.92 modem for wireline connectivity and an integrated 802.11g card for wireless connectivity. The Satellite A40-S270 is available immediately for an estimated selling price of $1,429, purchases can be made online or through Toshiba’s traditional distribution channels.