I liked being able to navigate easily through Windows XP as opposed to Vista (Toshiba provide downgrade media at no extra cost), which many still find a frustrating (and resource-hungry) change. With its Intel Penryn chip it was able to keep up with my multitasking and web surfing; under the hood there’s a capable Intel T8100 Penryn 2.1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM.  If the latter sounds on the low side to you, then remember that XP is a lot less demanding than Vista; the U400 can stomach up to 4GB of memory if you’re still left unsatisfied.  The U400 Pro never exactly felt fast, but considering its sober, business aspirations perhaps it’s unfair to compare it to some of the multimedia powerhouses we’ve reviewed recently.

Given the U400 Pro has a 13.3-inch WXGA 1280×800 TruBrite display, you could be excused for worrying that the keyboard might be cramped.  Thankfully it’s actually one of Toshiba’s better efforts, showing little flex and avoiding the clacky, cheap-plastic sound that some notebook keyboards suffer.

I had a chance to compare the Satellite U400 to Toshiba’s regular Satellite with its glossy finish, and I have to say I enjoyed the look of the Pro much more; it didn’t call too much attention to itself and was far better at hiding fingerprints.  The U400 Pro does lack any of the more entertainment-minded connections, however; despite there being a blanking plate for it, there’s no HDMI nor even S-Video.  WiFi is a/b/g, no sign of draft-n, though there’s Bluetooth 2.1+EDR which should be useful for hooking up your cellphone and getting online via 3G.

During my time with the Toshiba I spent a lot of time testing out VoIP app Skype and playing with the built in webcam. In the past I have had to get out a separate webcam to use this feature, I found it very convenient and good quality.  It’s a shame, then, that Toshiba don’t offer a built-in WWAN option for on-the-go video conferencing.

Overall I enjoyed my time with the Satellite Pro D400, especially because it is hard to find a laptop that is able to keep up with my ADD brain and constant multitasking!  The Pro U400 will probably leave most home users relatively cold, but business customers (or anybody wanting a solid, XP-based option) will find the notebook, with its sturdy keyboard and average spec sheet, a suitable companion.

The Toshiba Satellite Pro U400 is available now, priced from $1,049.99.

[rating:3.4/5]

That means you could drive from New York City to Los Angeles on a little less than 19 gallons of gas

Other than the chic space age look of this vehicle the inside will surprise you, we are all use to having one passenger on our right side when we drive. When you drive this vehicle you will be doing so with a passenger on each side of you, including two extra sets of pedals for the passengers to help boost the car along on a dreary day.

This vehicle is a prototype right now, and unless you import one from Budapest, Hungary you won’t be seeing it here in the states for a very long time.

They first began going after companies when Dell release their Latitude XT tablet, now they have brought in more than 10 companies. Everyone is unclear as to how far they will get in these proceedings.

What we do know about the lawsuit is that Typhoon is hoping to use them to generate a steady stream of revenue, as they are seeking injunctions against the products involved until companies agree to pay a “reasonable royalty”, on top of the financial damages they’re asking for.

[via iPhoneAlley]

Lastly they give you the option of mounting your old hard drive into a usb external. This whole procedure done with overnight door to door shipping and all the add ones can cost you up to $510. The 500 Gig hard drive does feature 5400rpm but for that much I would much rather go and buy a 320 Gig for $150 and go to an apple certified repair and have them install it for an extra $80.

Maybe some day when money grows on trees I can afford a 500 Gig hard drive.

[via Macnn]

This business branded laptop comes preloaded with Windows XP (a system standard for business customers) and is very appealing in looks with its discrete matte finish. As for processing speed, the Pro U400 comes equipped with the T8100 Intel Penryn 2.1 GHz processor. One downfall is even though it comes with a decently fast processor, especially running Windows XP, it only comes with 1GB of ram. Other specifications include:

• 160 gigabyte hard drive
• Fingerprint reader
• Built-in webcam and microphone
• 6-cell Lithium Ion battery
• CD/DVD super drive (CD R+-/DVD+-R, DL)
• Intel X3100 Integrated graphics card

Check back in a couple of days for a full review and more stats on how well the computer runs!

For now, enjoy the unboxing ceremony and the images of the Toshiba Satellite Pro U400.