Customer Reviews

Toshiba libretto W105-L251 7-Inch Dual Touchscreen Laptop (Silver/Black)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ordered it via 2 day shipping, delivered today via UPS next day. It was defective out of the box. Called Toshiba tech support, spoke to Tier 1 (twice) and Tier 2. Toshiba USA DOESN'T support this product and at this time they don't know who will. The dual screen would not work.
Level 1 support gave me a number. It was a toll number and when I called it was "local computer store" in CA. (Did not to post the number to protect the poor store owner)
Called again and got Level 2, he too was not helpful.Said he would get Level 3 to call me. He "spoke to the higher ups in Toshiba" and has no answer or help at this time.
My case may be unique so here is my short summary (Based on 6 hours of use) .

PROS:
1. Looks Cool, great concept, dual screen
2. Small form factor
3. USB Port
4. External battery can be replaced
5. Inbuilt camera
6. Flash compatible.


CONS:
1. No tech support for now
2. Not sure if the defective machine is a software or hardware issue and if it limited to just this one computer.
3. No replacements in stock any where, if you have defective machine.
4. Expensive, for $1300 can get a lot of computer if you can live without the "Dual screen" and form factor
5. Touch screen has no stylus, if you have thick fingers you are out of luck, can't make it work, will keep hitting the wrong icon or text.
6. Noisy fan, (placed in the top screen), runs almost the minute you turn it on.
7. Speakers have a very weak output.

COMPARISON TO OTHER MACHINES
None to do so. Small form factor, dual touch screen. It would be a stretch to compare to iPad, but the iPad is cheaper, easy to use and in stock every where, but it has no dual screen, limited os, no USB, No flash


SUMMARY: I think I am going to return it to Amazon, defective product. Would suggest that buyers hold off this laptop. Save your money and buy something else.

UPDATE:
Trying to restore the device to make it work. No help from Tech Support.

UPDATE 2:
Toshiba has a utility that restores the device to the "out of box state"
Went ahead and did it as a last resort and finally after about a 15 minute process the the OS was reinstalled and that finally made the dual screen work.

Have now used it and seems to be working fine and have decided to hold on to it, and changed the rating to 2 stars.
Still no support from Toshiba. (They took down my numbers and never called me, apparently this is how Level 3 responds to you).
So for now NO SUPPORT.
In case somebody need's it like I did, here are steps: (are also in the manual). Prior to doing this please back up any info.
A)Turn off the computer.
B) Ensure that the power cord is plugged in
C) While holding down the Keyboard button (left side if the bottom screen, when using as a standard laptop configuration), turn on the computer.
D) Will turn on as a safe mode type screen.
E) Choose restore and then restore out of box and will ask that confirmation twice.
F) Need to choose "out of box restore"

The whole process will take about 15 min, is faster due to the SSD drive. It worked for me.

I got mine last week..paid under $1000 from Amazon.

I love this. I am 47 so I need to use my magnifying glasses to view the screen but I expected that. The touch is very responsive. I have no trouble clicking links in internet explorer or scrolling by swiping the screen. The keyboard is pretty responsive although you have to be in a different position directly over the keys..unlike a 3d keyboard where you type more at an angle.

I did buy a stylus but havent needed to use it. I bought one of those tiny usb mouses and that has really helped to speed navigation. I have perfected a combo of the mouse the keyboard and touch that makes this device a productivity whiz.

The screen is amazing. the processor very speedy. Programs download and install quickly. Web surfing is fast.
As far as the dual screen, it is nice to open windows and split them. I have used the accelerometer when I have enarged windows using the pinch technique too large to view a whole window.. turning the device lets me see the bottom or viewing the page over the two windows does also. One tip maximizing with the keyboard open..the page goes under the keyboard so close it to see it! I didnt realize this right away.

Yes the fan is louder than expected but it is not on all the time and sounds almost like light static mroe than a fan.
If you are used to using an ipod touch you will love using windows in the same manner. If you are looking for a mini laptop this isnt really how it functions.
Bravo toshiba..this is the future of mobile computing!

Update Oct 6,2010.
Now that I have had a chance to play with this thing I absolutely love it! My favorite thing is reading kindle books..in full screen.. i open it like a tablet and it divides the page into an upper and lower screen. I find my reading is much more focused because I am not scanning an entire page..the hinge makes a great partition for brain concentration. It surfs the web amazingly fast.. I have grown to love Toshiba's bulletin board which I thought was hokey at first. Now that I am used to the finger mechanics i rarely use the usb mouse.
I took this to the car dealer today during my service and the car was done too fast lol! Much better than my ipo touch.. i just wish windows gadgets were more like apple apps. I updated my rating to 5 star!

Who am I? [...]

The Toshiba Libretto W100 (the W100 is the Japanese version with a WiMax radio and the W105 is the practically the same hardware sans WiMax sold in the US) is most exotic computer form factor to be released in years, Toshiba after all branded it a "concept" device. Whatever it is called or compared to (Nintendo DS, Courier, iPad) the W100 is a mix of the tried and true spiced with uniqueness while delivering a compelling product. For most people it is probably too expensive but there isn't any other device on the market this size that has this level of functionality, in essence it is a pound and a half miniature laptop with virtual input devices.

Build & Design

The most striking characteristic of the W100 is unquestionably its two 7" 1024x600 touchscreens housed in a diminutive clamshell package measuring 7.95" x 4.84" x 1.2", weighing 1.55 lbs. with the 4 cell battery and about 1.8 lbs. with the 8 cell power source. It's much smaller and lighter than the average 10" netbook and it'll easily fit in a woman's purse and even fits in some of my pants pockets. After reading other comments about the new Libretto I don't think enough emphasis is put on just how small and portable it truly is, arguably the coolest things about this device.
One design aspect to note is that the CPU and motherboard comprise the top of the unit, the reverse of practically all other clamshell computers. As a result the top does get warm, not scalding but not comfortable to hold for long periods of time especially if the unit is running hard. This issue is part of the reason why I don't think the Libretto's portrait mode is particularly useful, and the fact that the portrait orientation of 600x1024 simply doesn't work well for many things as the horizontal width is simply too narrow. I've read a lot of discussion about fan noise and while the fan is audible much of the time almost any amount of ambient sound will practically drown it out and when it's on my beside table it doesn't keep me awake at night while on. It's definitely a matter of individuality but the fan noise hasn't in any way impacted where or the way I use the W100.

Screen(s)

The W100's screens are centerpiece of the device since there's literally nothing else and they do the job well. They are based on Toshiba's TrueBright technology and have good brightness, color accuracy, viewing angles and text is laser sharp. In standard clamshell laptop mode the bottom screen can appear a little dark compared to the top screen but fortunately screen brightness can be set independently for each screen so it's possible to make the bottom screen brighter than the top and thus evening out the brightness. The screens are glossy so the W100 isn't good for outdoor use but it works as well as any laptop in shade.

Keyboard & Mouse

The virtual keyboard and mouse are most impressive and are controlled manually via the button on the left of the bottom screen; press it once to toggle the keyboard and quickly twice to toggle the mouse. Both work on either screen even simultaneously and they provide haptic feedback on both screens as well. The keyboard has six different layouts that allows it to be configured for optimum size and features based on the task at hand. I find typing on this keyboard MUCH better than any other touch screen keyboard I've tried and even with pretty big hands (I wear extra-large men's gloves) I can get 40+ WPM out of it. I typed this review on it and while it's not something I'd do normally writing large amounts of text on this device is practical if not entirely efficient but it's awesome for on the go and walking around typing.
The virtual track pad while virtual is very much like any physical track pad found in netbooks and laptops, many are just smooth surfaces these days anyway. Ironically the W100's track pad isn't multi-touch enabled and it is not quite as effective as the keyboard but it helps immensely by adding increased precision and comes in particularly handy in situations where apps are a little difficult to work with in Windows 7 given the small screens, the old argument that Windows doesn't work well on small screen devices is largely mitigated by the track pad.

Ports and Integrated Hardware

There aren't a lot expansion ports or integrated hardware in the W100 understandably but the necessities are here, one USB 2.0 port, a micro-SD slot, one 3.5mm headphone jack, two internal microphones and a decent one megapixel web cam good for video calls and conferencing. Perhaps the biggest thing not here is a video output but it should be possible to hook up an external monitor or projector via the USB port.

Performance

For a device of this size and the less than mighty 1.2 Ghz U5400 Pentium Ultra-Low Voltage processor and on-chip Intel HD graphics the W100 is rather speedy. The performance overall equals a modern entry level laptop and is much better than the typical Atom-based netbook. The 62GB SSD helps to boost disk I/O tasks significantly in many cases and as a result the Libretto boots, shuts down and goes in and comes out of sleep quickly. My informal tests show the W100 cold booting and becoming responsive in about 40 seconds and that's with a few startup apps loading. I've been running Office 2010 for the last three weeks, primarily Word, Excel and OneNote with zero performance issues.

Entertainment

The W100's strengths are geared towards productivity but it's not just all work, it serves well as a media player imbued with all the power of Windows so just about anything you could want in the world of media will be possible. I found 1080P playback to be spotty but everything 720P and below played well, including regular DVDs using an external DVD drive. And while the W100 doesn't afford the ability to play the latest high-end blockbuster PC games there are thousands of casual and Flash games that will work great including the touchscreen classic Plants vs. Zombies (PvZ). You may have to disable one of the screens however as in the case of PvZ, I'd recommend turning off the top as the bottom stays cooler and that's now easily accomplished in Windows 7 using the Win+P keys. The internal speaker is VERY weak however, even in a quiet room there's just not much volume coming from it so for most media playback headphones will be needed.
For the avid reader, Windows supports all of the major eBook sources including Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook which both have basic touch support in Windows 7 and will sync up and share content with other reading devices such as standalone Kindles and Nooks. None of the readers I've tried work well in portrait mode as they are not dual screen aware but they do work well in landscape mode using both screens. Any type of document that breaks naturally like a web page should work fine spanning both screens.
The W100 really shines as a mobile web browser especially if you have the Japanese W100 with a WiMax radio. Any browser, any plug in (Flash, Silverlight, etc.) and at PC speeds compared to mobile device speeds. A nice development in the browser world is the inclusion of Windows 7 features in Firefox 4 including multi-touch.

Productivity

The W100 runs Windows so its uses as a productivity tool are limited only by imagination and I won't go into much detail but it's all here, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, etc., any application that will run well on an entry level laptop with Intel integrated graphics. If you find working on a netbook (a very fast netbook) a productive experience then the W100 should work as well as long as the virtual input devices agree with you and of course there's always Bluetooth keyboard and mice.

Wireless

The W100 includes both a WiFi 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR radio but the W100 proper, the Japanese version includes a WiMax radio. If you're lucky to live in a 4G area like me and have a W100 you'll at least want to try it out, it's amazing how much faster Sprint's 4G compared to Verizon's 3G which I have had on my Tablet PCs for four years. 4G coupled with the Libretto's portability make it a fantastic device for mobile web browsing and other on the go network action. If you have a good signal you may find WiMax preferable to WiFi because it can often be faster.

Conclusion

If the Libretto W100 were in the $500 to $700 range I don't believe Toshiba would be able to make enough of them, it's unique design and its full Windows 7 OS put a lot functionality in a little package. At its current price it's hard to recommend and it certainly won't win any value product awards but its FAR more than an overpriced toy, it's a full function computer that can go anywhere and do most anything. If the battery life isn't an issue for you there's simply nothing currently that will match the W100's mobile productivity.

I love this device and I can't put it down.

Cons
Mediocre battery life
Doesn't work well in portrait mode
Fan noise will bother some
VERY weak internal speaker

Pros
Great overall performance
Good virtual keyboard and track pad
Exceptionally mobile
Integrated 4G provides fantastic network speeds for great on the go web browsing and streaming video

This is an amazing item, i'm glad i didnt get anything defective. Mt libretto runs amazingly, the features are magnificent, and i love the sleek style of it!
I noticed they go for way more on here though....
I typically buy everything on amazon because i can find it cheaper, but this product turned out to be the opposite.
Toshiba's website sells this products for only 1,099.99 where as on here its going for 1,699.99.

After reading the reviews on Amazon for the Libretto W105 and after getting one myself I really don't understand how this wonderful UMPC got the reviews it did. Toshiba has put some serious thought into Windows 7 navigation with their add ins. The processor is zippy, and the ssd keeps pace nicely. Aesthetically this is a beautiful machine. As of now I've got it loaded with MS VS 2010, Enterprise Office 07, Blender, and Eve Online. All of which run perfectly. To give this device anything other than a 5 star rating is to not understand the product. This is not meant for the mainstream mass, but for those individuals who value portablity and performace, as well as the cutting edge. Honestly the fan is loud (but not that bad, some have real issues with this.) and the battery life is not as long as would be convienent. (Lasts about 2.45 hrs)Given it's size and form factor, these are not real negatives jsut a reality of current technology limitations.

product is good . software windows 7 functions well . the fan on the laptop should have been on my cieling instead.

I was looking for a compact, Windows OS, tablet PC and Toshiba fortunately decided to make this concept available to consumers on a limited basis. I am glad that they did.

I currently use a Lenovo X60 Tablet PC. Windows compatiblity is a requirement for my work. However, I wanted a multi-touchscreen device and something lighter than the X60. The Toshiba Libretto W105 fit the bill. While I thought I would miss the keyboard, the Libretto's haptic feedback keyboard on the bottom screen is suprisingly responsive and the ability to use the touchscreen simplifies navigation. This laptop/tablet, actually I am not sure how to classify it, because it is truly one of a kind, is fun to use, attracts attention, and offers way more productivity than something like an iPad that runs a much more limited OS. I can afford to make this my only PC if I am going away for the weekend. I would not feel that way about an iPad or any of the new tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab running Android.

I am an early adopter of technology, but usually not bleeding edge. This product is ahead of its time and I am glad I got one of the limited edition models. (My first order from Amazon was cancelled the day it was first put on sale, but they somehow found some more stock in early September!)

My only major disappointment with the machine is the short battery life, even with this "extended" battery. I will have to get a second one as a backup. But it is still much lighter than carrying my regular tablet pc or my Lenovo T60. It fits a niche, and it is perfect for me.

Anyone looking for a full-featured PC to use and who needs extra portability and doesn't want to lug around a heavy laptop for short trips or day trips out of the office will be happy with this machine.

Look I'm not going to sit here and say the Libretto isn't flawless because it is. But what device isn't? They all have issues it is up to you to decide if you can deal with it or not. Clearly the Libretto is pricey and not everyone will be able to justify purchasing it and that's fine you have no arguments from me that is totally understandable.

The biggest complaint I have seen people talking about is the noise the fan makes. It is loud you can't dismiss that but me personally it doesn't bother me. The funny thing is my computer fan makes more noise and irritates me more compared to what the fan on the Libretto does. Unless you have super sensitive ears I don't think you will notice it much though unless you are in a super quiet room in my opinion maybe other Libretto's are different and thus it is hard to judge for sure just how loud the fan noise is.
The battery life is clearly a concern as well but I'm not sure what else they could have done to make it better. I think with technology as it is today and the punch they put in this little portable computer they did a fine job doing so. I'm sure as other models are developed they will learn and be able to do more but this is the result of a first run model.

The internal speaker is weak no doubt about that but it's made to be a portable device so just use some headphones and you should have no problems.

I also can see how people may have issues with Windows 7 and being a touchscreen yes it can be a struggle at first navigating the "start" menu and what not but I think the more you use it the better you will get it doesn't happen overnight just play around with it and learn to adjust to it.

In short, I bought this machine for the dual screens. I have wanted a dual screen e-reader since I saw the first prototype back in 2003. That prototype was bought out buy a major bookseller and never saw the light of day. Since then no one even seemed to consider a dual screen reader. I waited patiently for the Courier, but Microsoft saw fit to kill that before it hit the market also.

When I heard about this Toshiba, I ordered one directly from the source as soon as it was available. Upon receiving my machine I don't think there has been a day that I have not not appreciated a new feature of it. I love the full operating system combined with an e-reader. That way I don't have to carry a laptop AND an e-reader. The form factor is perfect. And I love the backlit screen versus e-ink. I can read at night in a dark room without turning on a light and disturbing my husband.

I have no issues at all with the touchscreen. To be fair I am a small person with small fingers so hitting the wrong target has not been an issue for me.

One quibble that I do have, is with the Toshiba e-reader. I never could get it to resolve perfectly to both screens. My solution was to install the Mobipocket reader. This small piece of software is extremely versatile and will read many formats (including the opensource e-pub)and it is endlessly customizable as far as aspect ratio and text size is concerned.

The only other quibble is that the accelerometer only rotates in one direction. I'm so used to my iPhone working in both directions that I wish this did also. It's certainly not a dealbreaker.

I could add that I have an old Libretto 110 from Toshiba from 1998. It is tiny and super slow - but it is still usable if you can navigate Windows 98. That purchase never gave me a minutes trouble so I had no hesitation buying another Toshiba laptop.

I've seen this referred to as a "curiosity". I see it as a perfect combination of devices - all of which do exactly what I want.

I just got it from other source after Amazon cancelled my preorder. After a day of using it, the second screen wouldn't light up anymore, the other ran only in lower resolution, and the Libretto on screen keyboard wouldn't run; throwing an exception message.

A quick look at Driver Manager revealed that the Intel video driver won't load. I had to do a full restore following the instruction that other reviewer described. Mine, however, worked differently. By holding the keyboard button down and hit the power switch, the system power up into the normal Windows safemode options screen. Choosing one starts restore mode in Windows which requires login/password that required plugging in USB keyboard (because the on screen key wasn't working and Windows on-screen keyboard activation button wasn't there). The restore process went well and took about an hour total. Everything was up and running again like new again.

After a few more days, I still can't get the Libretto on-screen keyboard to work at the Windows login screen. I have to use the Windows on-key screenboard to enter login and password. It is smaller and is very clumsy to use so keep your username/password short.

The capacitive touch screen means you can't use any stylus with it other than the one intended for iPhone/iPad; which isn't really a practical stylus, IMHO, for anything but to touch and click. Using my finger on the screen isn't very practical either because most of Windows's UI features are much smaller than what my finger tip can precisionally activate (and I have small fingers). This results in many mis-firing.

I had thought I would be able to use handwriting recognition software like PenOffice which allows handwriting (to provide text conversion) into any Windows application. I have used it with my older HP tablet PC for 5 years and couldn't really live without it. But, without a stylus and having a smaller screen, it isn't practical; same goes with using Windows tablet handwriting input widget.

Overall, it's a bleeding edge and innovative device that Toshiba put out but still have a prototype-ish feel. It is solidly build, however, and it met my expectation of buying from an established/recognizable brand. I can't wait to see what Toshiba will do with the next generation; which you probably should just wait for.

Other down side, but nothing major, is the lack of display port and only one USB port. You can plug a hub there and use USB keyboard/mouse/display with it so it is not a big deal. The speaker is also pretty useless but it is to be expected from such a small device.