Dynabook Tecra

Tecra
	Tecra S1
Manufacturer	Toshiba (1996–2016); Dynabook Inc. (2018–present)
Release date	1996; 28 years ago
Operating system	Windows
Related	Portégé; Satellite;

The Tecra is a series of business laptops currently manufactured by Dynabook Inc., a subsidiary of Sharp Corporation formerly owned by Toshiba. The number of Tecra notebook models available for sale is strictly dependent on the location: North and South America, Europe, Africa and South Africa, the Middle East or the South Pacific region.

History[edit]

Origin[edit]

The first Tecra notebook models were released in 1996, including the Tecra 500CS and the Tecra 500CDT. Both notebook models had the same design and featured similar hardware specification. The Tecra laptops built in 1996 dimensions of 299 x 235 x 58mm, with a weight of 3.4kg with integrated AC adaptor. The Lithium-Ion battery (not used in Satellite notebooks before 1997) offered a standard productivity up to two hours. The original designers of the Tecra were two engineers working at Netel communications. Kenneth Rolls and Kenneth Bailey. Original release of the Tecra was to the engineers of Nextel communications, to improve workflow and speed. Mostly used for process of cellular data. Then released general public.

Toshiba marketed both 500CS and 500CDT as fast notebooks that feature information highway with no speed limits. Toshiba included in Tecra 500CS and Tecra 500CDT important hardware features for 1996, including Intel Pentium SL Enh (120 MHz), standard main memory of 16 MB EDO RAM expandable to 144 MB EDO RAM, a hard drive of 1.350 million bytes, both floppy disk and CD-ROM drive (optional), two CardBus, Desk Station V Plus PCI bus, Card Station II, PCI bus, and ZV Port. However, the Tecra 500CS had a 12.1 inches STN LCD color display with a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels, while the Tecra 500CDT has a 12.1 inches TFT LCD color display with the 800 x 600 pixels resolution.

By September 2000 Toshiba implemented a common platform philosophy which delivered the investment protection that IT decision makers demanded. The Tecra 8100 notebook reduced long term Total Costs of Ownership. Toshiba offered the Tecra 8100 with four different processor speeds (Pentium III 500 MHz, Pentium III 600 MHz, Pentium III 650 MHz, and Pentium III 700 MHz). The basic configuration was also available in two diagonal display, 13.3 inches and 14.1 inches. The Tecra 8100 also included a floppy disk, CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, S3 Savage MX graphic adapter, two PC Card Type II or one PC Card Type III, Card Bus support, memory expansion slot, SelectBay modules, and Lithium-Ion battery (with an autonomy up to four hours). By 2000 Toshiba was adding special features to Tecra notebook models, such as Toshiba Hibernation and Resume, Toshiba Power Extensions, SecureSleep, Wake-On-LAN and Service Boot, and System Password Security.

Sharp era[edit]

Portfolio[edit]

Toshiba is updating the Tecra series by upgrading older models or launching new notebooks, such as Tecra A11. Depending on the location there are currently three notebooks in the Tecra series. Toshiba implemented two latest upgrades in the current Tecra series. The first upgrade regards the operating system. Recent Tecra notebooks are shipped with Windows 7 operating system, while the second upgrade regards the 2010 Intel Core processor Family, which includes faster processors that deliver higher performances with Intel Turbo Boost technology and Intel Hyper Threading technology (available in three performance levels). Toshiba included in the Tecra series features for protection such as PC Health Monitor. Other Tecra laptop features are eSATAp Sleep-and-Charge combo port, and fingerprint reader for a better security. Furthermore, the Tecra series includes notebooks with either 14.1 inches diagonal display or 15.6 high resolution diagonal widescreen. Some current Tecra notebook models have durable texture finish with chrome buttons.

Models[edit]

Current Products[edit]

Depending on the location the Tecra series includes:

Previous Products[edit]

1995-2001[edit]

Toshiba Tecra 500 series models
Model no.	Processor	Display	RAM	Graphics	VRAM	Audio	Toshiba datasheet
500CS	Pentium 120	12.1" DSTN 800x600	16MB - 144MB	C&T 65550	2MB	CS4232 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_500cs
500CDT	Pentium 120	12.1" TFT 800x600	16MB - 144MB	C&T 65550	2MB	CS4232 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_500cdt
510CDS	Pentium 133	11.3" DSTN 800x600	16MB - 144MB	C&T 65550	2MB	CS4232 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_510cds
510CDT	Pentium 133	12.1" TFT 800x600	16MB - 144MB	C&T 65550	2MB	CS4232 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_510cdt
520CDT	Pentium MMX 166	12.1" TFT 1024x768	32MB - 160MB	C&T B65555	2MB	Yamaha OPL3 SA3	tecra_520cdt
530CDT	Pentium MMX 166	12.1" TFT 1024x768	32MB - 160MB	C&T B65555	2MB	Yamaha OPL3 SA3	tecra_530cdt
550CDT	Pentium MMX 266	12.1" TFT 1024x768	32MB - 160MB	S3 Virge MX 3D	4MB	Yamaha OPL3 SA3	tecra_550cdt

Toshiba Tecra 700 series models
Model no.	Processor	Display	RAM	Graphics	VRAM	Audio	Toshiba datasheet
700CS	Pentium 120	11.3" DSTN 800x600	8MB - 40MB	C&T 65548	1MB	ESS688 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_700cs
700CT	Pentium 120	11.3" TFT 800x600	8MB - 40MB	C&T 65548	1MB	ESS688 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_700ct
710CDT	Pentium 133	12.1" TFT 800x600	16MB - 144MB	C&T 65550	2MB	CS4232 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_710cdt
720CDT	Pentium 133	12.1" TFT 1024x768	16MB - 144MB	C&T 65550	2MB	CS4232 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_720cdt
730CDT	Pentium 150	12.1" TFT 1024x768	16MB - 144MB	C&T 65550	2MB	CS4232 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_730cdt
730XCDT	Pentium MMX 150	12.1" TFT 1024x768	16MB - 144MB	C&T 65550	2MB	CS4232 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_730xcdt
740CDT	Pentium MMX 166	13.3" TFT 1024x768	16MB - 144MB	C&T 65554	2MB	CS4232 & Yamaha OPL3	tecra_740cdt
740CDM	Pentium MMX 233	13.3" TFT 1024x768	32MB - 160MB	S3 Virge MX 3D	4MB	Yamaha OPL3 SA3 & OPL4-ML2	tecra_740cdm
750CDT	Pentium MMX 233	13.3" TFT 1024x768	32MB - 160MB	S3 Virge MX 3D	4MB	Yamaha OPL3 SA3 & OPL4-ML2	tecra_750cdt
750CDM	Pentium MMX 233	13.3" TFT 1024x768	32MB - 160MB	S3 Virge MX 3D	4MB	Yamaha OPL3 SA3 & OPL4-ML2	tecra_750cdm
750DVD	Pentium MMX 233	13.3" TFT 1024x768	64MB - 160MB	S3 Virge MX 3D	4MB	Yamaha OPL3 SA3 & OPL4-ML2	tecra_750dvd
780CDM	Pentium II 266	13.3" TFT 1024x768	64MB - 192MB	S3 Virge MX 3D	4MB	Yamaha OPL3 SA3	tecra_780cdm
780DVD	Pentium II 266	13.3" TFT 1024x768	64MB - 192MB	S3 Virge MX 3D	4MB	Yamaha OPL3 SA3	tecra_780dvd

Other Tecra models[edit]

Tecra A5[edit]

Toshiba began production of the Tecra A5 in 2005. It has since been superseded by the Tecra A6. Older models include the Tecra 720CDT. They were produced at Toshiba's plants in Yokkaichi and Hangzhou.

The Tecra A5 has 14" WXGA wide screen LCD display with a native resolution of 1280x768 pixels. The laptop's exterior is mostly black but the back of the laptop lid has a silver finish. The laptop has stereo speakers which are located under the LCD display. When compared to its cousin the Satellite, the Tecra is generally more expensive and more business oriented, each having different features and capabilities.

Features:

The Tecra A5 has a DVD Burner, Multi card reader, Wireless, a headphone and microphone jack, four USB Ports, an S-Video port, RGB port, an internal 56k modem and an Ethernet port for connecting to LANs. Uses Intel Centrino Duo. Designed for Windows XP.

Dimensions: are 13.5" x 9.5" x 1.5" (about 340 x 240 x 40 mm) and it weighs about 5 pounds (about 2.2 kg).

Technical specifications:

Part	Details
Graphics Controller	Intel GMA 900 (up to 128 MB UMA video memory)
System Chipset	Mobile Intel 915GM Express Chipset
Memory	256-512 MB (standard) DDR 333 MHz memory
Hard Drive	40-80 GB capacity (5400 rpm)
Optical Drive	CD-RW/DVD-ROM
Wireless	Atheros 802.11b/g wireless
Battery	6-cell Lithium ion battery (4300 mAh)

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

Mobile Whack information on the Tecra A5

External links[edit]

Toshiba