Toshiba has introduced a new premium notebook brand, labeled Kira, that brings one the first Windows 8 portables to rival the Retina MacBook Pro’s pixel density. The Kirabook features a 13.3-inch display with 2560×1440 resolution, equating to 221 pixels per inch but falling just short of the 1560×1600 spread on Apple’s 13-inch Retina notebook.
Google earlier this year took aim at Apple’s high-end notebook, releasing the 12.85-inch Chromebook Pixel with a 2560×1700 touchscreen, though Chrome OS has yet to make a large dent in the market dominated by Mac and Windows machines. Samsung also promised a 2560×1440 display in an upcoming Series 9 notebook, however the device has yet to arrive on the market.
Toshiba also chose to offer the Kirabook with an optional touchscreen, while a 0.7-inch thick magnesium-alloy housing utilizes a honeycomb structure to help keep the weight down to 2.6 pounds. Other features include Harmon Kardon speakers, a 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM and a choice between Intel Core i5 and i7 processors.
The is expected to arrive on May 12, after pre-orders begin on May 3, with prices ranging from $1600 to $2000 depending on configuration options.
