[Back to contents] [Motivation] [Installation issues] [Windows 95] [OS/2 Warp 3.0] [Linux: RedHat 5.2 & Mandrake 6.0] [Epilogue]
Last update 13 June 2001
After some searching I stumbled upon a Toshiba Libretto 110 CT. Including peripherals like the external PCMCIA floppy drive (350 gr.), port replicator (150 gr.), power supply (100 gr.), power cord and other stuff it weighs almost 2 kilograms (the thing itself about 1.2 kilograms). It comes equipped with a 4.3 Gb harddisk partitioned into two FAT16 partitions of about 2 Gb each. Unless one takes care of saving the installation files somewhere, one must make a choice between Windows 98 and Windows 95. The selected operating system will be installed and the other option deleted forever (again, unless...). As both partitions are FAT16 and the second partition of 2000 Mb is only used for scratch, considerable space is wasted.
Later Libretto 110CT models featured only Windows 98. Optionally Windows NT could be installed.
It does feature a reset button (or rather, a reset "hole"). Many standard VESA modes and "Libretto" VESA-like modes 126, 127 & 128 hex (800x480 in 8, 16 and 24 color bits per pixel) are supplied. I found out that the included high-capacity battery lasts at least 31/2 hours, probably 4, and maybe even more if energy consumption is set to "low" (I use "intermediate" on the road) and maybe even much more Windows is bypassed (but then again, maybe not because the whole APM is interwoven with Windows). Charging an empty battery takes some 5-6 hours.
The Libretto does not seem to have a built in or emulated numeric keypad. But it's there for sure. Xin Feng found out that <Fn><F10> and <Fn><F11> can be used to toggle the numeric keypad on and off. Check out his site for a key-remapping picture and many other useful Libretto stuff (a.o. a Windows utility for controlling the mouse cursor and buttons with arrow keys - very handy on bumpy railroads!).
Further details can be found on the Toshiba web site and on the Adorable Toshiba Libretto website.
BTW 1: sifting out the various newsgroup archives accessible through links on the latter site may yield much valuable info.
BTW 2: Toshiba has a download site for drivers.
Although I suspected that the non-standard screen resolution (800x480) might prove challenging one day, I simply fell in love with the Libretto.
Concerning prices: I bought my 110CT just before Christmas 1998; I paid a hefty fl. 5800,- (Dutch guilders, incl. VAT). Ofcourse, two weeks later I saw it advertised for just under fl. 5000,-. Some months ago (i.e. 12 May '99) I saw it priced at just fl. 2800... (well, that's life these days.)
Toshiba has dropped the Libretto line altogether, save for some Japanese models (Libretto 1100 etc). Some stores may have one left on a shelf, but new ones are generally out of stock :-( But you might be able to get a second-hand one through the Internet.