Intel's new Core Duo processors are showing up in all kinds of intriguing PC designs, including what Toshiba calls the ultimate thin and light Tablet PC convertible. The 4.5-pound Portege M405-S8003 combines a Core Duo T2400 (1.83GHz) dual-core CPU with 1GB of DDR-2/533 memory, a 100GB Serial ATA hard drive, modular DVD±RW SuperMulti drive, and a swiveling 12.1-inch XGA display at a retail price of $2,000.

The Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005 system strengthens security with an integrated biometric fingerprint reader plus Trusted Platform Module embedded chipset. Besides flipping between notebook-with-keyboard and tablet-with-stylus modes, the Portege provides a Presentation button that switches the display to an external monitor or projector with one touch. Gigabit Ethernet and Intel's Pro/Wireless 3945ABG controller take care of network connectivity, while a six-cell lithium-ion battery is rated at up to five hours of unplugged use.