Today Toshiba has announced the KIRAbook Ultrabook. This modern Ultrabook’s most compelling selling point is its display; Toshiba has equipped the KIRAbook line with a 13.3-inch “PixelPure Ultra-High resolution display” offering 221 ppi, which has been colour-calibrated in the factory. It’s the first Windows Ultrabook with such a high-res screen.
The KIRAbook Ultrabook is said to reveal “the luxurious side of Toshiba” and alongside the outstanding screen pixel density the range shares most of the usual components of other high end Ultrabooks. Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America, said “At the core of the KIRA brand are products derived from inspired engineering”. He said the KIRA range is more than the sum of the hardware parts “Products that will carry the KIRA name will be more than a collection of the latest hardware technologies, but a statement of craftsmanship, fit and finish, and features built for the consumer's benefit, not technology's sake.”
The new line of KIRAbook laptops will be available in a range of specifications and prices but all of them share the same ultra-high resolution display. At launch time there will be three configurations available; at $1,599 you will get a KIRAbook with an Ivy Bridge Core i5 CPU, a 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM, and a backlit keyboard. For $1,799 you will get the same i5 KIRAbook but equipped with a touchscreen. The most expensive model at $1,999 will also include a touchscreen and an Intel Core i7 processor.
KIRAbook specs
- Display: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1440, 221 ppi display, with 10-point touchscreen (not base model) and Gorilla Glass
- CPU: Choice of 3rd generation Intel Core i5 or i7
- RAM: 8GB of 1600 MHz memory
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Ports: include HDMI, 3x USB 3.0, audio and memory card reader, Bluetooth 4.0, Centrino Wireless-N 2230, 2x2 BGN
- Battery: Li-Polymer battery offers “day long battery life”
- A/V: stereo speakers by Harman Kardon, audio processing by DTS, dual microphones, HD webcam
- Physical properties: a slim 0.7-inches thick, weighs 1.18Kg, constructed from AZ91 pressed magnesium alloy
- OS: Windows 8 Pro
- Warranty: 2 years standard
In the US the Kirabook will be available for pre-order online from 3rd May and will be available in bricks and mortar stores from 12th May. We don’t have any details about UK/Europe availability or prices.
