Toshiba introduces the world's first 4K laptops at CES 2014

By Michael Archambault
published

While 3D technology seemed to fall through relatively quickly, the 4K revolution may just be a real thing. This year at CES 2014, Toshiba introduced the world's first laptops with 4K resolution displays. The movement marks a huge milestone for fans of Ultra HD displays and promises to deliver the ultimate entertainment (and even work) solutions. 

The first machine with the new 4K display is a slightly chunky Toshiba Tecra W50, but that is okay as this Tecra machine is not meant to be a light and super portable Ultrabook. The new Tecra W50 is a professional workstation aimed at those who might be working with graphic intensive applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, and AutoCAD programs. The unit showcases a beautiful 15 inch 4K display and backs its self up with professional NVIDIA Quadro graphics. 

If you are simply looking for a machine to dazzle your eyes and don’t care much for supreme power, then the second option from Toshiba might be the perfect machine for you. The new Toshiba Satelllite P50t will also feature a 4K display (the exact same one used in the Tecra W50) along with a thinner body and full touch screen support. The unit itself will be available mid-2014. 

While we honestly didn't see Toshiba to be the company with the 4K display breakthrough, the introduction of such a high resolution display can truly make Windows 8 shine. It is true that the resolution can make it more difficult to work on the desktop, but when using the Windows 8 UI imagery is simply stunning. 

No prices have been announced for either unit as of now, but we are going to guess that Toshiba will be charging a pretty penny for their "World First" 4K laptops. 

For more information from CES 2014, stay tuned to our feeds and of course, we will work hard to get a review unit in hands later this year. 

What do you think about 4K laptops – too much or candy for the eyes?

Source: Microsoft

Michael Archambault
Michael Archambault
48 Comments
  • I already have one
  • I already have two.
  • I think when 1080p becomes mainstream in the lower end market, 4k resolution would come down to mid range laptops.
  • 1k hasn't even reached midrange, so do you think 4k will reach midrange before 2k❔... I doubt that..
  • Well since 2k is pretty much 1080p and 2k isn't even on the radar for consumer displays, yes, it will happen just like that I would imagine.
  • Yeah, but this guy is suggesting that were going to skip 2k.. I doubt that...
  • I think 2k will be skipped or at least not widely used. It is barely more pixels than 1080p. I'm not kidding, check the 4k wiki. It wouldn't make sense to create a whole new format when 1080p is everywhere already. Plus I haven't seen anything on the radar about 2k tvs. 4k is where it's at.
  • True... I'm thinking about it from a smartphone screen standpoint, but we're talking about larger screens here... I guess it's different whether you're talking about smartphones, tablets, laptops, or TV's.. The same standard can't be applied across the board.
  • 4k is a hit or miss technology.
    Movies like True Grit that rely on Cinematography, really pop. Others like Burlesque aren't worth it. Even American Hustle which is 4k, doesn't make use of the technology. And Imax is already 4k with the help of 2 2k digital projectors. I hear that they also have HFR Imax. That technology is also hit and miss.
  • Movies are already shot at 4k and 6k. Www.red.com they are downsampled to 1080p. Audio is also mixed at more channels and clarity than the 7.1 you're getting in your typical home theater setup. Hit and miss, hardly.
  • True, and this is so that they are captured for use with future technology... Amongst other reasons... I hate when people are quick to dismiss new technology, and doubt its benefit..
  • Gamo62- The point is not movies, it is a computer. Games / software/ AND movies.
  • 4k is said to remove the need for anti-aliasing. If this turns out to be true that's huge for PC gaming.
  • Good for 15 inch+, but lower, no.
  • Why not for lower❔ Oh, don't tell me we wouldn't be able to see the difference...
  • You got that right and you need a super microscope to see it :-P
  • Really❔.. Like you guys said we couldn't see the difference between 720p and 480p❔ Like you guys said the we couldn't see the difference between 768p and 1080p on a 6" screen❔... Yeah, OK.
  • I understand those, but 4K, on a surface for example, won't be much better than, for example, 2k.
  • Why❔
  • Why? Because we said so ha ha ha, and I can't believed that you didn't noticed tongue sticking out with my comments that I'm being sarcastic.
     
  • Why you❕❕
  • 4k is here. Tvs are already for sale on amazon at reasonable prices, bluray players are already upscaling to 4k, HDMI standards now embrace 4k. Look for more of it. A lot more of it.
  • Yep, and I've been waiting for this since around 2006 when I first heard it was coming.. I'm surprised because they always said it wouldn't be available until the end of the decade... The only thing that's still holding 4k back is storage medium... The only way to playback 4k media is to download it onto a HDD.. What are we talking about like 4 50gb BR disk??.. Lol❕
  • True. I wonder if a push to stream with some new compression technology is in the works.
  • Maybe that's what they're fooling with white noise for... We simply need greater bandwidth.
  • Yes! A laptop that looks good under the microscope!
  • You will be able to see the difference... When will some of you learn... You still don't see the benefit of a 1080p 6" screen on a WP device, do you❔
  • Ok I'm having the hardest time trying to figure out whether you're serious or trolling. The only thing I'll notice on my laptop will be smaller windows 8 tiles. Otherwise the only time I'll notice an ultra high def on laptop or 1080p on a mobile phone is if I stick my face onto the screen. That's assuming IF there will be 1080p content other than the tiles.
  • Isn't that high resolution already in apple Macs?
  • No... No it is not...
  • No. Retina is not 4K
  • Finally some high resolution loves on a windows platform.  Now please give us a 23" 4k desktop monitor. 
  • Here ya go. Its still just a little bit pricey. https://www.windowscentral.com/e?link=https2F%2Fclick.linksynergy.co...
  • The most important factor is cost. If they're going to charge $2,000.00 (just guessing) for a laptop and I can get the same laptop with a 1080p display for $700.00, why would I pay more when the only difference is the display?
  • Yes, you would pay for the display. The thing you spend all your time looking at.
  • ... And then not noticing the difference. There, I finished your sentence.
  • is it so hard to work on office or surfing the internet with 1080P ? even games will suffer from 4k displays
  • Actually, Photoshop is unusable at that resolution until Adobe gets around to fixing it to work properly on high density displays for Windows. (Something they have already done for Apple.)
  • This really is the key. Until developers start taking high density displays into consideration, I think 4k on a 15-inch screen would be borderline unusable.
  • I'll get a nice big 1080p LED 3D TV first, scientists have already said the human eye is incapable of resolving 4k at appropriate TV/Computer/phone distances. The only place I've seen it make a difference is in movie theatres, 4k digital is a far clearer image than IMAX.
  • What do you mean "resolving"? This comment is believable and actually interesting. (not sarcasm)
  • It means if you saw an image of alternating black and white vertical lines that are each 1 pixel wide, it would just look like a gray smudge at normal viewing distances. Because your eyes don't have a high enough density of cone cells to resolve details that fine.
  • Good answer. This is why 1080p on a tv is still ok because you sit many feet away from it! Not 6 inches away like when using your phone.
  • The benefits come from increased workspace on the desktop, granted you need a sufficient enough screen size for this to matter. Also Imax cameras shoot at 70mm, 4k is the equivalent of 35mm, the only reason an Imax film would have less clarity is if they aren't using Imax cameras.
  • No thanks, I'll take the Y50, a presumably nicer-looking tablet from a company I've heard nothing but praise about.
  • By this time next year all laptops over 700€ need to be 4k and cheaper ones 1080p, period.
  • i for one think that may take a little over 4 years for 4K to be standard for high end machines as there is no single mobile graphics card that can push those pixels yet at decent frames in games yet,and there is nothing thats bugs a gamer as much as being able to play games at the native display resolution.thats would potentially cripple sales of 4K laptops.    
  • Good more Variety on windows platform more better hardware is good!