Satellite Pro
Toshiba Satellite S40t Windows 8 laptop
Also known as
  • Toshiba Satellite
  • Dynabook Satellite
Developer
TypeLaptop
Lifespan1992–2016 (Satellite)
1994–2016, 2020–present (Satellite Pro)

The Satellite Pro (also formerly the Satellite) is a line of laptop computers designed and manufactured by Dynabook Inc. of Japan, which was formerly Toshiba's computer subsidiary. The Satellite Pro is currently positioned between their consumer E series and their business Tecra series of products.

The earliest models in the series, introduced in the early 1990s, were one of the first to directly compete against IBM's ThinkPad line. Models in Toshiba's Satellite family varied greatly—from entry-level models sold to consumers at major retailers to full-fledged business laptops, with the "Pro" suffix, sold through enterprise channels. In 2016, the Satellite line came to an end when Toshiba exited the consumer personal computer market;[1] in 2020, after Sharp Corporation purchased the computer division as Dynabook, the Satellite Pro was relaunched.

History

The early models did not come with an internal CD-ROM drive, but these soon appeared as mobile technology progressed. Such models can link up with an external CD-ROM drive through the parallel port on the rear (since USB ports came later as well). Some Satellites also lacked an internal floppy disk drive, but a port on the side allowed the use of a proprietary external module for such. These machines tended to be smaller in physical size than their contemporaries.

A Toshiba Satellite personal computer was used to send the first email ever sent by President Bill Clinton during his presidency. The email was sent using the personal computer of White House Medical Unit Emergency Physician Dr. Robert G. Darling, and was sent to astronaut John Glenn as he was aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Notable models included the Satellite 5005-S507 which was the first to ship with NVIDIA GeForce 4 440 Go GPU and cost $1,999. The Satellite 5105-S607 was the first laptop with cPad technology and cost $2,499. The Satellite 5205-S703 was the first laptop with built-in DVD-R/RW drive and cost $2,699.[2]

Sharp Corporation obtained 80.1% of Toshiba's computer subsidiary in October 2018. In April 2019, Sharp renamed the subsidiary Dynabook Inc.[3] In 2020, Toshiba sold their remaining shares to Sharp. Sharp resurrected the Satellite Pro series that year.

Satellite models (until 2016)

Toshiba Dynabook Satellite 220cs

Numeric

The Satellite line was introduced in 1992 with the T1800 and T1850 models, the T1800C and T1850C variants of which were one of the first notebooks with passive-matrix color LCDs.[4] Succeeding entries in the line followed this naming scheme, such as the Satellite T1900, T2110CS and T2130CS.[5][6] Beginning with the barebones 100CS and 100CT in February 1996, Toshiba began using only numbers to name their Satellites,[7] a convention which continued until 2003 with the introduction of the Satellite A series.

Lettered

Toshiba began using letter prefixes to differentiate its concurrent series of Satellite laptops. These included the A series; the C series; the E series; the L series; the M series; the P series; the R series; the S series; the T series; the U series; and the W series.[8][9] CNET wrote in 2011 that "Toshiba may not run out of new product lines until it runs out of letters".[8]

A series

Satellite A300
Satellite C650

The A series was Toshiba's first premium consumer line of Satellite laptops. Introduced with the A10 and A20 models in 2003, the A series originally targeted high school and college students and workers of small offices and home offices, before becoming a premium line by the late 2000s.[10][8] The A series was succeeded by the P series in 2011.[11]

C series

The C series was Toshiba's budget consumer line of Satellite laptops.[12] Screen sizes on the C series ranged between 14 and 17 in diagonally; the laptops were offered with Intel or AMD processors.[13][9]

E series

The 2010s-issue E-series Satellites were Best Buy-exclusive midrange consumer models.[14]

K32V

K series

L series

Toshiba Satellite L750

The L series Satellites were Toshiba's mainstream consumer line of Satellite laptops.[14][15] The first models of the L series came out in 2005.[16] The 2010s-issue L series was priced just above of the C series and included similar features but featured improved keyboards, trackpads, and speakers, USB 3.0 ports, and Core i7 processor configurations.[15] Toshiba targeted the L series at students.[17][18]

M series, U series

The M and U series Satellites were marketed as multimedia-oriented machines, powerful enough for casual gaming and video playback while still being lightweight enough to be easily mobile. Toshiba marketed the U series as the more stylish of the two.[19]

P series

The P series was Toshiba's second premium consumer line of Satellite laptops. Introduced in 2003, it later eclipsed the premium A series. The first entry in the series, the P25, was one of the first laptops to feature a widescreen 17-in LCD;[20][21] it was also one of the first laptops to feature an internal DVD±RW drive.[22] P series models introduced in 2012 were priced at US$800, $100 higher than their midrange S series counterparts.[9]

R series

The R series was a convertible laptop in the Satellite line released from 2005 to 2006. It comprised the R10, R15, R20, and R25; all featured a swivel-hinge display that the user could rotate 180 degrees to cover the keyboard and use the laptops with a stylus.[23][24][25][26] A non-convertible midrange entry, the R845, was released in 2011.[27]

S series

The S series was Toshiba's midrange line of Satellite laptops introduced in 2012.[28] It was positioned above their mainstream L series but below the premium P range.[9] Features included Nvidia GeForce graphics processing units, Harman Kardon speakers, optional touchscreen displays and optional backlit keyboards; it was the lowest price entry of the Satellite family to offer discrete graphics. Displays ranged from 14 to 17.3 inches diagonally in size.[29][15]

T series

The T series was Toshiba's line of Satellite ultrabooks.[30][31]

Satellite Click, Satellite Radius

The Satellite Click and Satellite Radius were convertible laptops introduced in 2013 and 2014 respectively.[32][33] The Satellite Radius had a folding hinge, while the Satellite Click's display was entirely detachable.[34]

Satellite Pro models (since 1994)

Toshiba Satellite Pro C870
Satellite Pro 400CS

As of 2023, Dynabook produce Satellite Pro models C40-K, C50-K, and previous generation C40-J and C50-J.[35]

References

  1. ↑ "Toshiba retreats from the consumer laptop market". Digital Spy. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  2. ↑ Cheng, Cisco (May 13, 2010). "Toshiba's Laptops, Through the Years". PC Magazine. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  3. ↑ "About Dynabook :: About Dynabook :: Dynabook :: Laptops/Notebooks, Storage & Accessories". anz.dynabook.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  4. ↑ Quinlan, Tom (August 31, 1992). "Toshiba introduces color screen in low-cost notebook". InfoWorld. IDG Publications. 14 (35): 24 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Lee, Yvonne (May 24, 1993). "Toshiba notebooks to sport Intel chip". InfoWorld. IDG Publications. 15 (21): 40 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ Lee, Yvonne (June 12, 1995). "Low-cost 75-MHz DX4 notebooks debut". InfoWorld. IDG Publications. 17 (24): 10 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Staff writer (February 5, 1996). "Pipeline". InfoWorld. IDG Publications. 18 (6): 25 – via Google Books.
  8. 1 2 3 Ackerman, Dan (April 21, 2011). "Toshiba Satellite L655-S5161 review". CNET. Red Ventures.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Wollman, Dana (April 10, 2012). "Toshiba announces fresh C, L, S and P series laptops for back-to-school season". Engadget. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ Staff writer (July 7, 2003). "Toshiba launches notebooks for students". The Globe and Mail – via ProQuest.
  11. ↑ Barton, Seth (April 6, 2011). "Toshiba launches new L-series and P-series laptops". Expert Reviews.
  12. ↑ Torres, J. C. (June 18, 2015). "Toshiba's new Satellite S, C, and L series cover all bases". SlashGear.
  13. ↑ Burlacu, Alexandra (June 19, 2015). "Cortana On Your Keyboard With Toshiba's New Line Of Back-To-School Windows 10 Laptops". Tech Times.
  14. 1 2 Smith, Sherri L. (April 15, 2014). "Toshiba's 2014 Satellite Laptops Slim Down, Get Bigger Audio". Laptop. Future US. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 McDonough, Meghan (June 3, 2012). "Toshiba updates Satellite series with Haswell processors and touchscreens". Digital Trends. Digital Trends Media Group. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  16. ↑ Staff writer (November 8, 2005). "Toshiba Satellite L20/ L25". Notebook Review. TechTarget. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015.
  17. ↑ Martinez, Juan (June 18, 2015). "Hands on: Toshiba Satellite L review". TechRadar Pro. Future US. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  18. ↑ Staff writer (July 24, 2013). "Toshiba gets the jump on Windows 8 laptops for education". Fox 8 Cleveland. Gray Television.
  19. ↑ Oliver, Shawn (June 26, 2009). "Toshiba Outs Satellite A, M, P and U Notebooks". Hot Hardware. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  20. ↑ Howard, Bill (September 16, 2003). "Large-Screen Notebooks Push the Limits of Portability". PC Magazine. Ziff-Davis. 22 (16): 24 – via Google Books.
  21. ↑ Staff writer (December 2003). "Toshiba Satellite P25-S609". Popular Science. Time4Media. 263 (6): 89 – via Google Books.
  22. ↑ S., W. P. (November 25, 2003). "Toshiba Satellite P25-S607". PC Magazine. Ziff-Davis. 22 (21): 118 – via Google Books.
  23. ↑ Staff writer (June 24, 2005). "Toshiba Satellite R10 review". CNET. Red Ventures.
  24. ↑ Cheng, Cisco (January 13, 2006). "Toshiba Satellite R15-S822". PC Magazine. Ziff-Davis.
  25. ↑ Kliem, Andrew (October 16, 2006). "Toshiba Satellite R20". Good Gear Guide Australia. IDG Publications.
  26. ↑ Staff writer (August 20, 2006). "Toshiba Satellite R25-S3503". CNET. Red Ventures.
  27. ↑ Staff writer (August 4, 2011). "Toshiba Satellite R845-S80". PC Magazine. Ziff-Davis.
  28. ↑ Stein, Scott (August 30, 2012). "Toshiba Satellite S955". CNET. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  29. ↑ Domingo, Joel Santo (June 3, 2013). "Toshiba Updates Satellite, Qosmio Laptops, Unveils New AIO Desktop". PC Magazine. Ziff-Davis. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  30. ↑ Stein, Scott (December 14, 2009). "Toshiba Satellite T115-S1105 review". CNET. Red Ventures.
  31. ↑ Bradford, K. T. (November 25, 2009). "Toshiba Satellite T115 Review". Laptop. Future US.
  32. ↑ Howley, Dan (October 17, 2013). "Toshiba Satellite Click Review". Laptop. Future US.
  33. ↑ Westover, Brian (November 24, 2014). "Toshiba Satellite Radius 11 (L15W-B1302)". PC Magazine. Ziff-Davis.
  34. ↑ Howse, Brett (September 3, 2015). "Toshiba Announces UHD Satellite Radius 12, Satellite Radius 14, And Satellite Click 10 PCs At IFA". AnandTech.
  35. ↑ "Our Products". Dynabook. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
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