When Toshiba first showed off its dual-screen Libretto W100 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its notebook division, few actually believed it would become a production model.
Defying all sorts of conventions, though, Toshiba has released the innovative device in America for a limited run starting at $1,099.99 (£858 including VAT).
For those who need a reminder, the W100 features two LED-backlit 7in touchscreens in a familiar clamshell design, each with a 1,024x768 resolution. The lower screen can be turned into a virtual keyboard or trackpad, or just enjoyed as an extension of the main screen.
Under the hood, the Libretto has an Intel Pentium U5400 ULV CPU, 2GB of DDR3 memory and a 62GB SSD running Windows 7 Home Premium. On top of this, Toshiba has included its custom LifeSpace applications to properly make use of the unique form factor.
We aren't sure exactly how usable the notebook would be, but it's definitely an impressive technical showpiece. We also have to salute the manufacturer for having the confidence to actually bring such a novel device to retail.
Unfortunately, we're unlikely to ever get our hands on the W100. Toshiba has asserted that this is - at least for the time being - a limited edition, and Amazon, the exclusive US retailer, has sold out before the device has even gone on sale.
We have heard rumours of European availability sometime in the coming months, but Toshiba hasn't offered any confirmation as yet.
