KIRA Reveals The Luxurious Side Of Toshiba

IRVINE, Calif., April 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today introduced KIRA™, a new premium brand for consumers. The first device to launch under the brand is KIRAbook™, an all-new Ultrabook™ featuring the company's first ultra-high resolution PixelPure™ display and a striking new lightweight and compact design precision engineered with AZ91 pressed magnesium alloy. KIRAbook embodies the elegant nature of the new brand with a striking industrial design, premium build materials and an exceptional overall experience with a two-year warranty[1], plus complimentary Platinum service and support. KIRAbook will make its debut in the U.S. market in early May.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130418/SF97043)

"At the core of the KIRA brand are products derived from inspired engineering," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "Products that will carry the KIRA name will be more than a collection of the latest hardware technologies, but a statement of craftsmanship, fit and finish, and features built for the consumer's benefit, not technology's sake."

A Sensory Experience

KIRAbook is the first laptop from Toshiba to feature the ultra-high resolution, factory color-calibrated PixelPure display. With a native resolution of 2560 x 1440, KIRAbook delivers 221 pixels per inch to the device's 13.3-inch diagonal display[2] – a 90-percent increase over standard HD displays – resulting in razor-sharp clarity for text and a crystal clear view of photos, movies, games and more. Offered in both standard and touchscreen display configurations, KIRAbook's touchscreen models utilize Corning® Concore™ Glass, which offers damage resistance and a smooth, 10-point multi-touch surface to navigate the Windows 8 experience. To complement the display's broad range of true-to-life colors, KIRAbook also includes Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 11 and Premiere® Elements 11 software, so photo and video enthusiasts can master their creations quickly and seamlessly.

KIRAbook's sound system offers a luxurious listening experience. Equipped with high-quality stereo speakers by Harman Kardon®, a leader in premium audio, and complemented by audio processing by DTS®, KIRAbook marks an achievement in high-fidelity sound quality in the thin-and-light category.

Inspired Engineering

KIRAbook is the only Ultrabook of its kind to be constructed with AZ91 pressed magnesium alloy and a honeycomb-base. One hundred percent stronger than aluminum alloy[3], the use of AZ91 enables KIRAbook to maintain lightness with a styling edge. A manufacturing technique commonly used in aerospace engineering, honeycomb reinforcement is applied to key pressure point areas of the device such as the palm rest area to achieve a higher grade of durability and rigidity.

On the inside, KIRAbook features Toshiba's AirFlow II technology, a thin multi-phase fan cooling system, as well as a stabilizing hinge that increases the resilience of the lid when opening and closing the laptop and reduces screen bounce for touchscreen use. A high-capacity Li-Polymer battery is incorporated to let users work unplugged throughout the day with a long battery life rating, while a 256GB Solid State Drive[4] and 8GB of 1600 MHz memory[5] produce a fast and responsive experience. KIRAbook is powered by 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors[6].

Craftsmanship in Design

With KIRAbook, Toshiba achieved an all-new level of ultraportable design. Featuring clean lines and elegantly rounded edges, the device has a starting weight of a scant 2.6-pounds[7] and stands at an ultra-slim 0.7 inches, amazingly fitting its 13.3-inch display into an extremely compact body. The design also includes a sleek frameless LED backlit keyboard, making life easier while on-the-go.

Complimentary Platinum Service and Support

KIRAbook comes standard with Toshiba's Platinum Service & Support, turning owners into Toshiba VIPs. Customers will enjoy premium perks, including a two-year warranty, 24x7 phone support, plus access to dedicated U.S.-based agents, rapid repair, set-up assistance, annual tune-ups and more at no additional cost.

Protect the Stuff that Matters

KIRAbook also features a complimentary two-year subscription to a custom suite of industry-leading security products from Symantec, including Norton Internet Security, Norton Anti-Theft and Norton Online Backup, providing 25GB of online storage.

Pricing and Availability

The KIRAbook will be available for pre-order on May 3, 2013 and for purchase on May 12 at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, Microsoft Store, B&H and Adorama, and direct from Toshiba at ToshibaDirect.com.

Three configurations will be available ranging from $1,599.99 MSRP[8] to $1,999.99 MSRP, featuring Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processors.

Image Gallery: bit.ly/ToshibaKIRAbook2013

Connect with Toshiba on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ToshibaUSA, on Twitter at twitter.com/ToshibaUSA, and on YouTube at youtube.com/ToshibaUS.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS)

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of three business units: Digital Products Division, Imaging Systems Division, and Telecommunication Systems Division. Together,  these divisions provide digital products, services and solutions, including industry-leading portable computers; televisions, TV/DVD Combination products, Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD products, and portable devices; imaging products for the security, medical and manufacturing markets; storage products for computers; and IP business telephone systems with unified communications, collaboration and mobility applications. TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation. For more information on TAIS visit us.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba Corporation

Toshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances. Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 550 consolidated companies, with 202,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.1 trillion yen (US$74 billion). Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.

© 2013 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information including without limitation product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.

[1] Warranty. The terms and conditions of Toshiba's standard limited warranty, and extended warranty and service upgrade plans are available at www.warranty.toshiba.com

[2] Display. Any small bright dots that may appear on your display are an intrinsic characteristic of the thin film transistors manufacturing technology. See Display Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com

[3] A6063 aluminum alloy

[4] Solid State Drive Capacity.  Drive capacity may vary. One Gigabyte (GB) means 10⁹ = 1,000,000,000 bytes using powers of 10. See Solid State Drive Capacity Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com

[5] Memory. Memory size may vary. See Memory Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com

[6] Processor. CPU performance may vary. See Processor Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com

[7] Weight. Weight may vary.  See Weight Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com

[8] Price. Reseller prices may vary. MSRP means "Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price."

SOURCE Toshiba Corporation