Toshiba "Quad Core HD Processor" Laptop On Sale Next Month

[mikemorel]

I was going to post this in the previous Toshiba super resolution thread, but I just found that one closed.

Anyway...Quad Core HD Processor = SpursEngine SE1000.

Exclusive Hands-On With the Qosmio G55: First Gesture Control Laptop

June 13th, 2008 by Jeffrey L. Wilson

Toshiba is looking to redefine desktop replacement notebooks in a a big, big way, and we’re the very first to bring you a hands-on with the groundbreaking Qosmio G55, which will go on sale next month for $1,549. This 18.4-inch beast isn’t notable just for its futuristic good looks (a combination of a slick black chassis, LED illumination, and metal highlights), but because it’s the first notebook to boast a dedicated Quad Core HD Processor (powered by the same Cell Processor that runs the PlayStation3). This enables gesture control, blazing fast video encoding, and more. Read on for our first impressions.

Hands-Free Media Control

Thanks to the dedicated Quad Core HD processor, the G55 is the first notebook that lets users control music and video playback (Toshiba’s DVD player and Media Center), as well as PowerPoint, using just their hands-no remote or keyboard required.

The webcam senses your movement from 3 to 10 feet away and the Quad Core HD processor interprets your hand motions in real time. This was, obviously, the most talked about feature when the Qosmio G55 arrived in the office. After getting some significant time with the control scheme, we can say that we’re quite impressed.

After manually activating the gesture control software, we were able to launch the cult classic Xanadu (we were also able to pause and resume video, skipchapters, and even turnof the G55) by using only our hands (or fists since your hand really should be clenched as you move the pointer).

The controls on this pre-production model can be a overly sensitive, and, frankly, extending an arm for a period of time can be tiring, but all in all it’s a really cool tool for controlling the media player and TV tuner software.

It should be noted that stopping/resuming video requires you to have a flexible wrist as you have to raise an open palm to the screen in a “stop in the name of love” position. Editor Avram Piltch was able to get his hand into a near 90-degree position, which allowed him to pause/resume with ease. My stiff wrist not only left me unable to stop or resume Xanadu, but left me more than a little bit sore and a little frustrated that I couldn’t silence Olivia Newton John’s craptastic dance numbers on my own.

Forming a fist allows you to move the cursor around the screen, and pressing your thumb down on top of your fist makes a selection. We did this to adjust the volume from across the room. Pretty cool.

We think the motion control feature has a lot of potential for other types of applications, especially games. Fortunately, Toshiba says that it will be making an SDK available for the Quad Core HD Processor.

Specs and Other Unique Features of the G55

The same Quad Core HD Processor that powers the gesture controls also increases video encoding and transcoding times by leaps and bounds (when it’s used in tandem with the bundled new Ulead DVD Movie Factory software), catalogs clips based on subjects’ faces, and even upscales standard-def movies to 1080i on the fly–when footage is outputted via HDMI. Unfortunately, gesture control doesn’t work with upscaling enabled.

This 10.8 pound desktop replacement also offers a nice array of other high-end features at a price that you probably wouldn’t expect. Our test model includes Intel’s next-generation Centrino 2 technology (exact clock speed to be announced later), Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics (which is 30-percent faster than the GeForce 8600M GT), 4GB of RAM, dual 250 GB hard drives, stereo speakers and a subwoofer, FM tuner, an 18.4-inch (1680 x 945 pixel) display, and WIndows Vista Home Premium.

In terms of ports, the G55 serves up plenty: Three Sleep-and-Charge USB ports (for powering gadgets when the system is in sleep mode or powered down), eSata/USB, FireWire, RGB, S/PDIF, a Bridge Media Card slot, an ExpressCard slot, and headphone and mic jacks. Not bad at all for $1,549.

What’s On Deck

We’re eager to dig into this this groundbreaking machine more thoroughly in upcoming days. Expect in-depth testing of the video editing, upscaling, and indexing features to see if they deliver on Toshiba’s promises. Stay tuned.

Seems like a great Media Center (500GB storage!?) if super resolution works as "advertised" (or not advertised). We shall see in the next few days.

[Lee Stewart]

Just a clarification . . .

The SpursEngine has little in common with the Cell BE (that the PS3 uses) other than it has 4 SPE's.

1. It is a co-processor only

2. It is CMOS

And I stongly doubt that Ulead DVD Movie Factory is the same thing as Super Resolution

http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm

[mikemorel]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

Just a clarification . . .

The SpursEngine has little in common with the Cell BE (that the PS3 uses) other than it has 4 SPE's.

1. It is a co-processor only

Processor is here: "Our test model includes Intel’s next-generation Centrino 2 technology"

And I stongly doubt that Ulead DVD Movie Factory is the same thing as Super Resolution

http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm

DVD Movie Factory is video editing software (something I used extensively this weekend...)

Finally we should find out how good this chip really is...

[viewsonic]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

Just a clarification . . .

The SpursEngine has little in common with the Cell BE (that the PS3 uses) other than it has 4 SPE's.

I believe the Spursengine uses a cut down PS3 Cell BE with half the SPU's and XDR Memory and running at half the speed of the PS3 one.

[crazzeto]

Except the spurrs engine is neither quad core, nor does it produce an actual HD image though I'm sure it looks excellent for upscaling.

[Praetorian]

Holy shit, 10.8 pounds? I might as well buy a desktop or wait a year for things to get smaller.

[Arkadin]

mike--a quick question--
do you work for Toshiba?
just wondering.

[mikemorel]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

mike--a quick question--
do you work for Toshiba?
just wondering.

No. Not even close. How about you?

Early June a rumour emerged that Toshiba would be launching a new attack on Sony, via the magic of new 'upscaling' technology. Of course, this is nothing new, with Toshiba themselves working on similar products for "some considerable years, at least 3-5 years", with DVD players, TVs and now laptops containing the upscaling chips, plus with their 'Super-resolution' imagery where SD-content is upscaled via an interpolation algorithm to 1080p.

However, today at a London event, Toshiba formally announced upscaling would be their next plan of attack on Sony, claiming they would be focussing on "taking standard content, and displaying in HD format".

[Badger3920]

Why does this forum have to have a continued high awareness of everything Toshiba is doing - especially when half the time it's related to upconverting STANDARD definition?

Toshiba was a big player in hd news for a while because they single-handedly fought one side of the format war. But now there isn't really a good reason to extensively cover a run of the mill, mid-level, CE. If you really feel the need to promote Toshiba around here still, why not talk about the Regza or something. That's a decent HD product

[aaronwt]

Originally Posted by Badger3920

Why does this forum have to have a continued high awareness of everything Toshiba is doing - especially when half the time it's related to upconverting STANDARD definition?

Toshiba was a big player in hd news for a while because they single-handedly fought one side of the format war. But now there isn't really a good reason to extensively cover a run of the mill, mid-level, CE. If you really feel the need to promote Toshiba around here still, why not talk about the Regza or something. That's a decent HD product

That depends on the model. The model I looked at had a cheap power supply which is the main reason why I chose the 40" samsung over the 42" Toshiba. Since this is the set I use during a power outage and a cheap power supply doesn't work well when running on a UPS.

[mikemorel]

Originally Posted by Badger3920

Why does this forum have to have a continued high awareness of everything Toshiba is doing - especially when half the time it's related to upconverting STANDARD definition?

Because it is highly likely that the quad core HD Processor's ability to create lemonade out of lemons will sway the masses away from $400 blu-ray players and $30 movies (hundreds to choose from ) and toward $100 players and $5 movies (100,000 to choose from). Unlike blu-ray, it's 100% compatible with DVD, because it is DVD. These laptops should also convert SD downloads to HD.

http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile...laptops-393431

In-built upscaling technology

The big announcement concerning the laptops was to do with the technology that's being used in them.

It seems the company is not yet ready to adapt its laptops for the Blu-ray market, instead opting to add technology that will enhance your viewing of standard definition material.

The new Quad Core processor has been added as it can upscale - in real-time - standard-definition video to 1080i high-definition.

Speaking about the announcement, Alan Thompson, CEO of Toshiba Europe, said: "If you go to Lovefilm.com, there are 70,000 standard DVDs available and only a few HD ones.

The majority of [visual] material available is standard definition. What we want to do is make this SD material look HD."

[Badger3920]

Originally Posted by mikemorel

Because it is highly likely that the quad core HD Processor's ability to create lemonade out of lemons will sway the masses away from $400 blu-ray players and $30 movies (hundreds to choose from ) and toward $100 players and $5 movies (100,000 to choose from). Unlike blu-ray, it's 100% compatible with DVD, because it is DVD. These laptops should also convert SD downloads to HD.

http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile...laptops-393431

I'm not sure who would want that aside from Toshiba. Blu-ray players are currently down to starting at $300, and movies can be had all over the place for around $20. Blu-ray players are compatible with dvd.

In any case, let's say that this is possible (to make something out of nothing), and it's true. Why would you post sd material on this site? Also, if it's your belief that it WILL be hd - wouldn't we wait to see that before we start discussing it? Shouldn't an hd-wannabe product have to prove it's actually hd before it's worth discussion ad nauseum on an HD enthusiast site?

What's wrong in waiting to see if this will:
1.) Exist
2.) Be HD
3.) Meet the above criteria in order to be appropriate discussion on this forum

?

[zombieflanders]

Originally Posted by mikemorel

Because it is highly likely that the quad core HD Processor's ability to create lemonade out of lemons will sway the masses away from $400 blu-ray players and $30 movies (hundreds to choose from ) and toward $100 players and $5 movies (100,000 to choose from).

So how is that any different from today's market? Oh, that's right, it's not...

BTW, not only did Toshiba refuse to compare to actual HD sources in their demo today, it was panned by those in attendance. So now, the only Toshiba is fighting against is upconverting DVD players, which are already priced under expected SUC/SRT/Super Resolution prices. Bet they wish they hadn't sold everyone out to the Chinese now.

[mikemorel]

Originally Posted by zombieflanders

So how is that any different from today's market? Oh, that's right, it's not...

You are right. Plain old dvd players are kicking blu-ray ass now. This should just make it a little worse.

Of course, if Toshiba starts selling these chips (with reference design) to the Chinese, we should a wave of DVD players with this tech next year. Maybe even a blu-ray player or two will include it. But then, it will provide even less motivation to buy DRM laden blu-ray discs.

[mikemorel]

Originally Posted by Badger3920

I'm not sure who would want that aside from Toshiba.

Of course you don't.

Blu-ray players are currently down to starting at $300, and movies can be had all over the place for around $20. Blu-ray players are compatible with dvd.

You think Toshiba's DVD players won't have net connections??? Show me a BD Live player for $300.

In any case, let's say that this is possible (to make something out of nothing), and it's true. Why would you post sd material on this site?

Everyone except the BDA and blu-ray fanboys wants their existing DVDs to look better. Because the chances of seeing some of our favorite movies/documentaries/concerts on blu-ray before we die is slim.

Also, if it's your belief that it WILL be hd - wouldn't we wait to see that before we start discussing it? Shouldn't an hd-wannabe product have to prove it's actually hd before it's worth discussion ad nauseum on an HD enthusiast site?

It's only "ad nauseum" for blu-ray fanboys. i have a boatload of DVDs that would benefit from this technology. For many of those DVDs it will be years, IF EVER, before they come out on BD.

What's wrong in waiting to see if this will:
1.) Exist
2.) Be HD
3.) Meet the above criteria in order to be appropriate discussion on this forum
?

Oh, Please. We should not talk about tech that makes our existing investment more valuable, but threads like "Badger buys a PS3" are interesting???