Toshiba has begun accepting pre-orders for their newest ultra-portable Portege laptop. Starting at $899, the R835-ST3N01 packs a dual-core Core i3-2310M processor with built-in graphics, 4GB of RAM, a 13.3-inch display with 1366 x 768 resolution, 640GB 5,400 RPM hard drive, Bluetooth 3.0, DVD burner, a 66-Wh battery rated for up to nine hours of run time, and everything you'd expect port-wise, including eSATA connectivity, USB 3.0, as well as HDMI.
Spending an extra $30 upgrades you to a quicker Core i5-2410M CPU, and there are a couple of other closely spec'd options on Toshiba's website, but so far it seems only the $899 R835-ST3N01 model is up for pre-ordering. Whichever route you take gets you a good-looking and performing laptop with a weight of around 3.2lbs and a thickness of 0.72-1.05 inches, featuring a crafted magnesium casing and a honeycomb rib structure to deliver extra durability.
The Portege R705 was very well received last year for being one of the lightest laptops you could find with both a roomy 13-inch display and a built-in optical drive. Now, refreshed with the latest Intel Sandy Bridge processors and improved integrated graphics, the 13-inch R835 is looking to be another winner from Toshiba.