Wireless notebooks are the future, and the two new Libretto L5 series from Toshiba are just one more step in that direction. The L5 Series Model 080TNKW specifically features built in 802.11b wireless lan capabilities with 128-bit WEP encryption.

Wireless is a power hungry process so it will be interesting to see how battery life is augmented between normal operation of the Toshiba Libretto L5 and when it is connected to the network wirelessly. For the record, the L5 series are spec'd out at 4.5 to 13.5 hours depending on the battery size.

Both Libretto L5 notebooks were introduced in Japan today with only a few points separating them - essentially one version has wireless, and the other does not.

What you get for your hard earned money ($1000-$1300USD) is a Transmeta TM5800 Crusoe processor running at 800MHz, 256MB of SDRAM (expandible to 512MB), a 20GB ATA66 hard drive, and a 10.5" XGA LCD display capable of 1280×600 resolutions.

The L5/080TNKW weighs just under 3 pounds and comes loaded with Windows XP home edition.

In the first few months of this year Transmeta experienced a lot of problems keeping up with its ability to deliver TM5800 processors to manufacturers like Toshiba in volume. The release of the Toshiba L5 is a very good signal for Transmeta who has had its stock shrunk down to about $2.60 from an initial price of $40/share.

Model name			L5 / 080TNKW	L5 / 080TNLN
			PAL5080TNKW	PAL5080TNLN
Processor			Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 800MHz
Tip/chip set			ALi corporation make M1535B
Cache-memory			128KB L1 cache 512KB L2 cache
BIOS ROM			512KB (flash ROM), ACPI 1.0b
Memory	Standard / maximum ( 1)		256MB / 512MB (PC133 SDRAM)
	Memory slot		1 slot
Display	Internal display		10.5" low temperature polysilicon wide TFT color liquid crystal 1,280×600 pixels
	External display (Option) ( 3 )		Largest 1,600×1,200 pixels
		Simultaneous indication ( 4)	Largest 1,280×600 pixels
	Video RAM		8MB
	Accelerator		ATI Mobility Radeon-M
		Resolution: Indicatory color number	1,600×1,200 pixels, 1,280×1,024 pixels, 1,280×600 pixels, 1,024×768 pixels, 800×600 pixels
Input Device	Substance keyboard		84 keys (OADG109A key type conformity), key pitch: 18mm and key stroke: 2mm
	Such as one-touch operation button		Wireless communication switch	-
	Pointing device		scroll button
Memory Device			20GB Ultra ATA66
		Software Possession quantity	3.7GB
Communication	Modem		Data: Largest 56kbps (V.90), FAX: Largest 14.4kbps
			IEEE802.11b and WiFi, 128bit WEP	-
Sound function			AC97 AC-LINK connected sound system (16 bit stereo), Microphone and speaker built-in
PC card slot			TYPE II×1 slot (PCMCIA)
SD card slot			1 slot
Interface Ports			RGB (exclusive use) ×1 USB×2 Microphone input (3.5mm mini- jack) ×1 Headphone output (3.5mm stereo mini- jack) ×1 modem (RJ11) ×1 LAN (RJ45) ×1
Security function			Power on password, instant security, security locks
Power saving function			Control, HDD control, CPU control and high spring of display - stand-by function
Power source	Battery		Lithium ion (battery pack)
		JEITA measurement method 1.0	Standard battery: Approximately 4.5 hours, large capacity battery: Approximately 13.5 hour
		Charge time	Standard battery: 3 hours, large capacity battery: 4.5 hours / (at the time of power source OFF) Standard battery: 3 hours, large capacity battery: 5.5 hours (at the time of power source ON)
	AC adapter		AC100V - 240V and 50/60Hz
Electric power consumption	Maximum		30W
	In energy-saving method it is based Energy consumption efficiency		S division 0.00098
External size (projection section not being included)			268mm (width) ×167.2mm (depth) ×20.5 - 29.3mm (height)
Mass			1.1kg (at the time of battery pack installing)
Main accessory			AC adapter and AC power source cable, manual and guarantee, Battery pack (spare), Mini- RGB cable, modular cable other things
Preinstallation OS			Microsoft Windows XP Professional	Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition