That fancy new Toshiba E305 we checked out back in January is up for pre-order now, and it’s brought along a pal from Sony (the VPCSC1AFM/S) to affix the correct Buy-exclusive Blue Label party. When it comes to specs the 2 machines are practically identical — both boast a 2.3GHz Core i5-2410M, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hybrid hard drive , a Blu-ray drive, WiDi (and an adapter to your TV from Netgear), and a WiMAX radio. The large differences between the 2 PCs are price and size, with the 14-inch Toshiba weighing in barely under 5 pounds and costing $900, while the Sony squeezes in under the 4-pound mark for $950. Considering the wealth of extras, including a year of Kaspersky anti-virus, 90 days of Geek Squad support, and a protracted two-year warranty, the Blue Label machines are literally a fine bang in your buck and price about $100 lower than comparably equipped systems from their respective makers. If you happen to don’t care about such things as Blu-ray or WiMAX, and distrust the Geek Squad though, you can save yourself some cash by skipping on these pre-configured models and going with a customised rig from Sony or Toshiba directly. PR after the break.
Collaboration with Intel, Sony and Toshiba yields two new notebooks that meet consumer expectations for performance and protection
MINNEAPOLIS – April 14, 2011 – Today Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) launches the net pre-sale of Blue Label 3.0 laptops, the most recent computing solutions in an exclusive line created by and for consumers. Developed and manufactured in partnership with Intel®, Sony and Toshiba, both new Blue Label notebooks deliver a mix of features akin to pre-loaded anti-theft technology, streaming wirelessly for your TV in 1080p and solid state hybrid technology.
Blue Label 3.0 laptops are the newest arrivals within the customer-inspired You Spoke, We Listened program at Best Buy. The hot Toshiba Satellite® E305 (priced at $899.99) and Sony VAIO® VPCSC1AFM/S (priced at $949.99) can be found for online pre-order beginning today, and on the market in-store and on-line starting May 1.
“Three years ago, once we first launched Blue Label, we created thin, lightweight laptops with backlit keyboards and prolonged battery life because those were the features people said were really important to them,” said Jason Bonfig, vp of Computing at Best Buy. “Today, those form factors are really the recent basics, and what we’re creating now are notebooks with a complete new set of essentials that improve performance and deliver better data protection.”
“Best Buy’s Blue Label 3.0 program is bringing great PC innovation like 2nd Generation Intel® Core Processors, Intel® Anti-Theft Technology and Intel Wireless Display 2.0 to the market in attractive form factors. And when great performance and innovative features come together in cool form factors, consumers win,” said Mooly Eden, vice chairman and general manager of Intel’s PC Client Group.
Blue Label 3.0 laptops offer a broad range of features to handle consumer expectations for purchasing fast, reliable and safe performance from their notebooks. With a backlit keyboard and improved battery life to seven hours, the laptops also feature:
PC Theft Defense (PCTD) service powered by Intel Anti-Theft Technology provides hardware-enabled security for extra peace of mind. If the computer is lost or stolen, PCTD service will automatically shut down the computer and lock down the info stored at the PC. Built directly into the hardware, Intel Anti-Theft provides local protection that works although a thief reinstalls the operating system, uses a brand new hard-drive or stays off the web. These Blue Label 3.0 systems include three years’ of PC Theft Defense service.
A built-in Blu-Ray drive and Wireless Display technology with push button streaming to supply easy transfer of content from the laptop to the television in 1080p without wires. Included within the package is the NETGEAR Push2TV™ adapter that connects to the HDMI port at the television.
A Seagate solid state hybrid drive with as much as 50 percent faster boot-up time over 7200 RPM1.
A two-year extended manufacturer’s limitedwarranty, 90 days of Geek Squad phone and remote support, and yr of Anti-Virus protection.
Additional information about Blue Label 3.0 laptops is obtainable by visiting www.bestbuy.com/bluelabel. Customers may conveniently pre-order a brand new laptop at this site for gratis in-home delivery beginning May 1.
About You Spoke, We Listened
Since their launch in late 2008, laptops emerging from the You Spoke, We Listened program at Best Buy have changed the dynamics of ways computers are designed. Each generation originates with insight into desired features, styling and function gleaned from Best Buy’s own customers and employees. These are translated into product specifications for further development by the retailer’s computing partners. The resulting laptops are offered under the logo names Blue Label, Next Class and primary Glimpse, and come exclusively at Best Buy stores and online.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations within the Usa, Canada, Europe, China and Mexico, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment services and products with a commitment to growth and innovation. The suitable Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates greater than $50 billion in annual revenue and includes brands corresponding to Best Buy, Audiovisions, Best Buy Mobile, The Carphone Warehouse, Five Star, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, Pacific Sales, and The telephone House. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to aid bring some great benefits of these brands to life for purchasers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Websites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the style Best Buy does business. In fiscal 2011, the corporate donated approximately $25 million to enhance the vitality of the communities where its employees and customers live and work. For more info about Best Buy, visit www.bby.com.
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