Toshiba Unveils First Full-Featured, High-Performance Color Pen Tablet Computer

March 28, 1994 — Bringing the first high-performance color pen tablet computer to market, the Computer Systems Division of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. (TAIS) Monday unveiled the Dynapad T200 Series.

These lightweight pen tablet computers provide the exceptional design, functionality and capabilities that can be found in Toshiba’s award-winning notebook computers, yet offer superior ease-of-use and expandability for today’s pen-centric operating environments.

According to Steve Lair, vice president of marketing for the Toshiba Computer Systems Division, “Our success in several pen computing vertical markets including health care, utilities and field force automation has enabled us to obtain customer feedback that resulted in the new Dynapad T200 models. These enhanced features, such as increased processing power, a larger hard disk drive, longer battery life and color are requirements for many pen tablet applications, allowing Toshiba to further penetrate these existing markets by fulfilling the needs of this class of users as well as develop applications for other vertical markets like the insurance industry.”

Target Markets

Designed for users who require greater portability for mobile and field input capabilities, the Dynapad T200 Series is a full-function, pen tablet computer system that meets even the most demanding customer requirements. Target markets include:

— Health Care Fields: These users require a large display and hard disk drive for forms generation, patient record access and imaging display; high-performance for forms-based applications; a color display for better readability and conflict notification; PCMCIA communications capabilities; and long battery life.

— Utility Fields: These customers require exceptional battery life to collect data in mobile environments; a transreflective monochrome screen for outdoor use; high performance for forms-based applications; a rugged design; long battery life; and light weight.

— Field Force Automation: These users need high performance and a large hard disk drive for storage-intensive applications; PCMCIA communications options; a color display and SVGA port for presentations and field service applications; and long battery life.

While the pen computing market is considered vertical, “the size and potential of these markets actually exceed many of the horizontal markets. Essentially, the Dynapad T200 may be targeted to niche markets based on applications, but customers can achieve full-functionality and expandability of a desktop computer by connecting the Dynapad T200 to an optional third-party port replicator, an external keyboard, monitor and an external floppy drive,” stated Lair.

Dynapad T200 Key Features

Toshiba implemented an array of new features on this next generation of pen tablet computers. Most notable is the integration of Lithium-Ion battery technology first demonstrated in the highly successful Toshiba Portege T3400 ultra-portable computer. Achieving three to six hours of battery life, the Dynapad T200 models meet the customer requirement for long battery life. To further enhance productivity and optimize form-based applications, these models include a high-performance 40MHz 3.3-volt i486DX2 processor, local bus video, hardware graphics accelerator and a large 80MB hard disk drive with 4MB RAM, expandable to 20MB. All of these elements combined adds to the performance of the operating software options available which includes Windows for Pen Computing, PenRight! and Pen DOS.

The addition of color is another significant new feature of the Dynapad T200 Series. As the first color system on the market, a 9.5-inch Dynamic-STN dual-scan color screen offers the customer better readability for enhanced productivity and also serves as an effective presentation tool. For outdoor applications, a 9.5-inch transreflective STN-monochrome screen is available. Customers may also utilize the new external SVGA port for connection to an external monitor.

Pen tablet users cited expandability as another critical feature required for pen-based applications. Because many of the Dynapad T200 customers need access to their corporate office while away on a business call, Toshiba included two separate PCMCIA expansion slots (5mm Type II and 10.5mm Type III) for a variety of communications and hard disk drive options.
Keeping in line with the need for light weight and a rugged design, the Dynapad T200 monochrome model and T200CS color model weight 4.4 pounds. “These weights of the Dynapad models are much less than tablets from convertible-based PCs where the user is forced to pay a portability penalty to have desktop performance,” Lair commented. Both systems measure 10.6″ (W) x 8.2″ (D) x 1.6″ (H).

Pricing and Availability

The Dynapad T200CS color models will begin to ship at the end of April and the T200 monochrome models will ship at the end of May. Pricing will be announced at time of shipment.

Three-Year Warranty and Product Support Services
The Dynapad T200 series is available with Toshiba’s three-year limited warranty for parts and labor, including international coverage in 22 countries at no cost. For a modest fee, customers may take advantage of other new service pro-grams including no-fault coverage for screen damage, on-site service and shipping services. In addition, Toshiba offers on-line technical assistance through its toll-free number, 800/999-4273, an electronic bulletin board service, a Compuserve forum and dealer referrals for authorized service providers.

With headquarters in Irvine, Calif., with annual sales of approximately $1 billion, TAIS is comprised of seven divi-sions, which manufacture and market a wide range of business and information-oriented products in the United States. Products include portable computers, printers, disk drives, plain-paper copiers, facsimile systems, electronic key tele-phones and PBX systems and toner products.

TAIS is an independent operating company, owned by Toshiba America Inc., a subsidiary of the $39.9 billion Toshiba Corp., a world leader in high-technology products with 134 major consolidated subsidiaries worldwide.

Recognized as a leading manufacturer in portable computing, the TAIS Computer Systems Division markets the broadest range of subnotebook, notebook, mobile multimedia and pen computers in the industry. For dealer referral or product literature call: 800/334-3445.

Toshiba Dynapad T200 Series Key Features

— Productivity enhanced by a high-performance 40MHz i486DX2 CPU, local bus video, graphics accelerator, large 80MB hard disk drive and 4MB RAM, expandable to 20MB.

— Revolutionary Lithium-Ion battery provides exceptional battery life required for pen-based applications (3-6 hours of battery life; recharge time of 3 hours when off; 8 hours when on).

— Two displays offered to meet specific applications requirements; a 9.5-inch transreflective STN-monochrome screen (T200) ideal for outdoor use and a 9.5-inch Dynamic-STN dual-scan color screen (T200CS) for health care, field force automation and other Windows-based applications.

— Communications capabilities can be accessed, via separate 5mm and 10.5mm PCMCIA expansion slots, through Type I, II and III PCMCIA cards.

— Super light weight allows easier handling and holding of system for long periods of time (4.4 pounds).

— Three-year limited warranty on parts and labor. -0-
NOTE: Full product specifications and photography are available on request.

CONTACT:
Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.
Howard Emerson, 714/583-3925
or
Maples & Associates
Bob Maples, 714/253-8737