Toshiba unveils new affordable Windows tablets with Wacom pen support

Toshiba has today unveiled the Encore 2 Write family of affordable Windows tablets at CES in Las Vegas. The devices support pressure-sensitive pens, just like the Portege Z20t, provided by Wacom's feel pen technologies. The new Encore 2 Write tablets are available in 8- and 10.1-inch configurations.

So what's inside the Encore 2 Write tablets? They're both powered by the Intel Atom CPU, sport 2GB of RAM, 802.11n dual band Wi-Fi, 64GB of internal storage (with MicroSD support), Micro HDMI, and can run for 11 hours straight. The specifications aren't bad for the price.

Toshiba states the tablets will be available for purchase from January 11, 2015 at select retailers, including Microsoft Stores. The 10-inch model will be priced at $399.99, while the cheaper 8-inch version will go for $349.99.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CES 2015, LVCC Central Hall Booth #11028-– Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its Encore™ 2 Write tablets featuring a pressure-sensitive pen and an ultra-responsive screen for more paper-like precision. These progressive devices are the first Windows 8.1 tablets to feature latest-generation feel™ pen technologies by Wacom®, enabling new productivity possibilities for everyday users, while delivering well-balanced performance in a thin and light form factor with great battery life. Available in 8-inch and 10.1-inch diagonal screen sizes, Encore 2 Write tablets are available for a starting price of $349.99 MSRP2.

"Committed to People, Committed to the Future"

"Whether you're a compulsive scribbler, sketch artist or simply prefer handwriting notes in meetings, this tablet features technologies that make writing on screen feel more natural than ever. And because it's a Windows tablet, it's compatible with your favorite Office programs and apps, so you can get going right out of the box," said Philip Osako, senior director of product marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division.

Toshiba's exclusive TruPen™, included with Encore 2 Write tablets, is a "pro-grade" pen with a fine tip and 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, enabling sharp strokes while minimizing lag for greater precision and accuracy. In hand, it virtually feels as natural as writing on paper.

"This is a very important milestone for Wacom, too, since the Encore 2 Write tablets are the first products adopting Wacom's Active Electrostatics pen technology (branded feel™)," said Hidetoshi Kamoto, Head of the Component Business Unit at Wacom Co, Ltd. "By working with leading partners like Toshiba for more natural and intuitive user experiences on mobile devices, we are aiming to make the world a more creative place."

Encore 2 Write tablets include a one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal, featuring full-versions of the latest Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook. Work online or offline and keep files in sync across devices with unlimited storage through OneDrive.

Also included with the tablet is Toshiba's exclusive suite of Tru apps designed for the way you work. Included apps are:

TruNote™

Toshiba's powerful yet easy-to-use note-taking app lets users effortlessly take lecture or meeting notes, make markups on photos and graphics, draw, doodle, paint and more. Featuring an all-new user interface that works with Microsoft Office, TruNote makes it easy to switch pen colors and textures, import images and photos, and organize notebooks. The app's search functionality intuitively finds handwritten characters in any note, and any text, drawing or image can be easily selected and exported into Word, PowerPoint or Excel. In addition, left-handed users will love the app as it features a mode that switches the menus from the left to the right side of the screen.

TruCapture™

Use the tablet's built-in high resolution 8MP camera to capture notes from textbooks, blackboards, whiteboards and chalkboards and automatically straighten, sharpen and brighten the text for greater readability, which can then be imported into TruNote. It also features character recognition to quickly and easily extract information from printed text.

TruRecorder™

The next generation of audio archiving, Toshiba's powerful TruRecorder app makes it easier than ever to record meetings, lectures and conversation and revisit them later. TruRecorder can parse the audio of a multi-party conversation, differentiating each speaker's unique voice, and make it available for selective playback, providing an icon for each speaker.

Optimized for Productivity

Powered by the quad-core Intel® Atom™ processor and 2GB of RAM5, Encore 2 Write tablets provide all the performance and speed necessary for getting work done all day as well as fast start-up, browsing and multitasking in Windows 8.1. The tablets offer up to an 11-hour battery life6 for general usage and up to 8 hours of video playback. Stereo speakers plus Dolby® Digital Plus audio provide an immersive audio experience, while 802.11n dual band Wi-Fi® offers speedy streaming and smooth browsing. Encore 2 Write tablets additionally make it easy to enjoy content on compatible HDTVs with a built-in Micro HDMI® port (available on the 10") and wireless display support right out of the box.

"Toshiba's new Encore 2 Write with TruPen technology and Microsoft OneNote provide users with a new level of digital productivity," said Peter Han, VP of Worldwide OEM Marketing, Microsoft Corp. "And the ability to sync their OneNote data in the cloud enhances their connected experience across devices."

The tablets also feature 64GB of storage, a full array of tablet sensors, including GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope and e-compass, a micro USB 2.0 port for powering the devices plus easy syncing and sharing with smartphones as well as a microSD card slot that supports up to 128GB cards to expand the storage capabilities.

Pricing and Availability

The Encore 2 Write tablets will be available for purchase starting on January 11, 2015 at select retailers, including Microsoft Stores and on toshiba.com/us. The 10.1-inch Encore 2 Write is priced at $399.99 MSRP and the 8-inch model is priced at $349.99 MSRP.

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

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.