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Satellite Pro

Toshiba Satellite S40t Windows 8 laptop
Also known as	Toshiba Satellite Dynabook Satellite
Developer	Toshiba (until 2016) Dynabook Inc. (since 2020)
Type	Laptop
Lifespan	1992–2016 (Satellite) 1994–2016, 2020–present (Satellite Pro)

The Satellite Pro (also formerly the Satellite) is a line of laptop computers designed and manufactured by Dynabook Inc. of Japan, which was formerly Toshiba's computer subsidiary. The Satellite Pro is currently positioned between their consumer E series and their business Tecra series of products.

The earliest models in the series, introduced in the early 1990s, were one of the first to directly compete against IBM's ThinkPad line. Models in Toshiba's Satellite family varied greatly—from entry-level models sold to consumers at major retailers to full-fledged business laptops, with the "Pro" suffix, sold through enterprise channels. In 2016, the Satellite line came to an end when Toshiba exited the consumer personal computer market; in 2020, after Sharp Corporation purchased the computer division as Dynabook, the Satellite Pro was relaunched.

History

The early models did not come with an internal CD-ROM drive, but these soon appeared as mobile technology progressed. Such models can link up with an external CD-ROM drive through the parallel port on the rear (since USB ports came later as well). Some Satellites also lacked an internal floppy disk drive, but a port on the side allowed the use of a proprietary external module for such. These machines tended to be smaller in physical size than their contemporaries.

A Toshiba Satellite personal computer was used to send the first email ever sent by President Bill Clinton during his presidency. The email was sent using the personal computer of White House Medical Unit Emergency Physician Dr. Robert G. Darling, and was sent to astronaut John Glenn as he was aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Notable models included the Satellite 5005-S507 which was the first to ship with NVIDIA GeForce 4 440 Go GPU and cost $1,999. The Satellite 5105-S607 was the first laptop with cPad technology and cost $2,499. The Satellite 5205-S703 was the first laptop with built-in DVD-R/RW drive and cost $2,699.

Sharp Corporation obtained 80.1% of Toshiba's computer subsidiary in October 2018. In April 2019, Sharp renamed the subsidiary Dynabook Inc. In 2020, Toshiba sold their remaining shares to Sharp. Sharp resurrected the Satellite Pro series that year.

Satellite models (until 2016)

Numeric

The Satellite line was introduced in 1992 with the T1800 and T1850 models, the T1850C variant of which was one of the first notebooks with passive-matrix color LCDs. Succeeding entries in the line followed this naming scheme, such as the Satellite T1900, T2110CS and T2130CS. Beginning with the barebones 100CS and 100CT in February 1996, Toshiba began using only numbers to name their Satellites, a convention which continued until 2003 with the introduction of the Satellite A series.

Lettered

Toshiba began using letter prefixes to differentiate its concurrent series of Satellite laptops. These included the A series; the C series; the E series; the L series; the M series; the P series; the R series; the S series; the T series; the U series; and the W series. CNET wrote in 2011 that "Toshiba may not run out of new product lines until it runs out of letters".

A series

The A series was Toshiba's first premium consumer line of Satellite laptops. Introduced with the A10 and A20 models in 2003, the A series originally targeted high school and college students and workers of small offices and home offices, before becoming a premium line by the late 2000s. The A series was succeeded by the P series in 2011.

C series

The C series was Toshiba's budget consumer line of Satellite laptops. Screen sizes on the C series ranged between 14 and 17 in diagonally; the laptops were offered with Intel or AMD processors.

E series

The 2010s-issue E-series Satellites were Best Buy-exclusive midrange consumer models.

K series

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2023)

L series

The L series Satellites were Toshiba's mainstream consumer line of Satellite laptops. The first models of the L series came out in 2005. The 2010s-issue L series was priced just above of the C series and included similar features but featured improved keyboards, trackpads, and speakers, USB 3.0 ports, and Core i7 processor configurations. Toshiba targeted the L series at students.

M series, U series

The M and U series Satellites were marketed as multimedia-oriented machines, powerful enough for casual gaming and video playback while still being lightweight enough to be easily mobile. Toshiba marketed the U series as the more stylish of the two.

P series

The P series was Toshiba's second premium consumer line of Satellite laptops. Introduced in 2003, it later eclipsed the premium A series. The first entry in the series, the P25, was one of the first laptops to feature a widescreen 17-in LCD; it was also one of the first laptops to feature an internal DVD±RW drive. P series models introduced in 2012 were priced at US$800, $100 higher than their midrange S series counterparts.

R series

The R series was a convertible laptop in the Satellite line released from 2005 to 2006. It comprised the R10, R15, R20, and R25; all featured a swivel-hinge display that the user could rotate 180 degrees to cover the keyboard and use the laptops with a stylus. A non-convertible midrange entry, the R845, was released in 2011.

S series

The S series was Toshiba's midrange line of Satellite laptops introduced in 2012. It was positioned above their mainstream L series but below the premium P range. Features included Nvidia GeForce graphics processing units, Harman Kardon speakers, optional touchscreen displays and optional backlit keyboards; it was the lowest price entry of the Satellite family to offer discrete graphics. Displays ranged from 14 to 17.3 inches diagonally in size.

T series

The T series was Toshiba's line of Satellite ultrabooks.

Satellite Click, Satellite Radius

The Satellite Click and Satellite Radius were convertible laptops introduced in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The Satellite Radius had a folding hinge, while the Satellite Click's display was entirely detachable.

Satellite Pro models (since 1994)

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2023)

As of 2023, Dynabook produce Satellite Pro models C40-K, C50-K, and previous generation C40-J and C50-J.

Satellite Pro 400 series

The Satellite Pro 400 series was manufactured by Toshiba from 1995 to 1999. Almost all entries in the line feature Pentium processors from Intel, with the final models featuring the Mobile Pentium II. Toshiba oriented the Satellite Pro 400 series at professionals who wanted multimedia features in a compact package; accordingly, all models feature a slot for a CD-ROM drive, built-in audio, and accelerated graphics. The Satellite Pro was a major market success for Toshiba and helped the company become the number-one global laptop manufacturer for much of the mid-1990s, beating out major competitors such as IBM and Compaq.

References

1. "Toshiba retreats from the consumer laptop market". Digital Spy. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
2. Cheng, Cisco (May 13, 2010). "Toshiba's Laptops, Through the Years". PC Magazine. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
3. "About Dynabook :: About Dynabook :: Dynabook :: Laptops/Notebooks, Storage & Accessories". anz.dynabook.com. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
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11. Barton, Seth (April 6, 2011). "Toshiba launches new L-series and P-series laptops". Expert Reviews.
12. Torres, J. C. (June 18, 2015). "Toshiba's new Satellite S, C, and L series cover all bases". SlashGear.
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16. Staff writer (November 8, 2005). "Toshiba Satellite L20/ L25". Notebook Review. TechTarget. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015.
17. Martinez, Juan (June 18, 2015). "Hands on: Toshiba Satellite L review". TechRadar Pro. Future US. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
18. Staff writer (July 24, 2013). "Toshiba gets the jump on Windows 8 laptops for education". Fox 8 Cleveland. Gray Television.
19. Oliver, Shawn (June 26, 2009). "Toshiba Outs Satellite A, M, P and U Notebooks". Hot Hardware. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
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External links

• Official website (Archive) of Toshiba Satellite
• Official website (in Japan) of Toshiba Satellite (dynabook.com)
• Official website (Archive) of Toshiba Satellite Pro

v t e Dynabook Inc.
Subsidiary of Sharp Corporation†
Products	Current Portégé Satellite Pro Tecra Former Libretto W100 Qosmio Satellite A series C series P series S series Satellite Pro 400 series T series T1000 LE T1100 T1200 T3100
See also	Former Sharp computers Laptops and portables Actius RD3D MM10 Muramasas PC-4500 PC-5000 PC-7000 WideNote Pocket computers PC-1211 PC-1251 PC-1350 PC-1401 PC-1403 PC-1500 PC-1600 PC-3000 PC-E220 PC-E500S Wizard Zaurus Home computers MZ X1 X68000 list of games Former Toshiba computers Pasopia 5 7 16 IQ
† Subsidiary formerly fully owned by Toshiba; majority shares bought by Sharp in 2019; remaining Toshiba shares sold to Sharp in 2020 Sharp computers Toshiba computers

v t e Toshiba
Divisions and subsidiaries	Current Digital Products Group Electronic Devices & Components Group Infrastructure Systems Group Defunct Landis+Gyr Sord Computer Corporation Toshiba Information Systems Corporation Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation Toshiba Memory Corporation OCZ Storage Solutions Toshiba Telecommunication Systems Division Westinghouse Electric Company
Joint ventures and shareholdings	Current Ikegami Tsushinki (20%) TMEIC Defunct Dynabook Inc. Toshiba EMI (Founded as Toshiba Music Industries) Youmex Co. Japan Display Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Inside Films Inside The Beauty Inside The Power Inside
Predecessors	Hakunetsusha Shibaura Seisakusho Tanaka Seisakusho
Products, services and standards	Current AP1000 Cell JNR locomotives Class ED76 Class EF58 Class EF60 Class EF64 Class EF65 Freight Class EH500 Freight Class EH200 Freight Class EH800 Freight Class HD300 Class EL120 Media-embedded processor Regza SpursEngine TG01 TOSLINK Past 902T DeKi 600 e310 HD DVD JNR locomotives Class EF62 Class EF63 Class EH10 Class ED75 Class ED79 SmartMedia Thrive TS921 Computers Libretto W100 Pasopia 5 7 16 IQ Portégé Qosmio Satellite Pro 400 series A series C series P series S series T series T1000 LE T1100 T1200 T3100 Tecra
People	Toshiwo Doko Tanaka Hisashige
Places	Lazona Kawasaki Plaza Umi-Shibaura Station
Other	HDMI Licensing Sony Toshiba IBM Center of Competence for the Cell Processor Time Sculpture Toshiba Brave Lupus Toshiba Classic Toshiba S.C. Toshiba Science Institute
Now integrated into other Toshiba divisions or business groupings Sold Spun off Category Commons

• Computer-related introductions in 1992
• Consumer electronics brands
• Dynabook Inc. laptops
• Ultrabooks