NetbookShow

Toshiba today introduced two WiMAX-ready models of the Portege R700 13.3-inch ultraportable laptop series – the R700-S1332W and R700-S1322W.

Besides a built-in WiMAX wireless module, the Toshiba Portege R700-S1332W features the Intel Core i7 processor and a 128GB solid state drive, while the Portege R700-S1322W features the Core i5 CPU and a 320GB 7200rpm hard drive. Both models include 4GB of DDR3 memory.

The Portege R700 is claimed to be “the world’s lightest 13.3-inch full-performance ultraportable laptop with an integrated DVD drive”.

The WiMAX-capable R700-S1332W and R700-S1322W will be available on October 12, 2010 through select Toshiba resellers and e-tailers, with MSRPs of $1,699 and $1,349, respectively.

Toshiba’s announced more than enough laptops for us in the past week, but the 13.3-inch Portégé R700 is ranking pretty high up there on our favorite list. The ultraportable has gotten a complete redesign at its core — there’s a new magnesium chassis that’s been re-engineered with an internal honeycomb metal that aims to dissipate heat, as well as a new chiclet style keyboard. Yet, despite its mostly metal build and onboard optical drive, it measures less than an inch thick and only weighs three pounds — yep, Toshiba is in fact claiming it’s the lightest 13.3-inch laptop ever. Rather unexpectedly, it doesn’t chicken out with ultra-low voltage power — instead there will be Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 versions. And the pricing is really enticing — the Core i3 version with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive will retail for $999, the i5 model with a 320GB 7,200rpm drive for $1,299, and an i7 / 128GB SSD combo for $1,599. And there will also be a blue colored Best Buy version with a Core i3 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive for $899.