Panasonic RZ4: 10 inch 2-1 laptop with Intel Core M (Broadwell)

Panasonic RZ4: 10 inch 2-1 laptop with Intel Core M (Broadwell)

Japanese manufacturer Panasonic has just announced its first device to use the new Intel Core M processor with the RZ4 convertible notebook. The RZ4 will run Windows 8.1 and arrive in Japan first in mid-October for a price of 160,00 Japanese Jen (or just under $1,500 USD) featuring a Full HD IPS LCD touchscreen display.

The RZ4 has already had several of us Mobile Geeks salivating, not least because it invokes our passion for the good old days of the humble yet game-changing netbook. The RZ4 is the Netbook re-born in many ways, but particularly in terms of the processor and the screen. Intel’s Atom platform still exists as a mobile system-on-chip, but in terms of low power, ultra portables, the Intel Core M is poised to shake things up with processors that promise excellent battery-life while still providing strong performance. The Panasonic RZ4 uses the Intel Core M-5Y10 processor with a choice of 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 512GB of SSD storage.

The screen on the Panasonic RZ4 is based on a 1920 x 1200 IPS LCD touch enabled panel that comes in a compact 10.1 inches. The screen can be pushed back a full 360 degrees for tablet-style, hand-held usage, as well the more traditional clam-shell type. Connectivity includes g/n/ac WiFi, HDMI, USB 3.0, Ethernet and what appears (oddly) to be a VGA port. The great thing is that it is a mere 2cm thick and weighs only around 750 grams.

If you are in Japan, look for a release on October 17th. Check out the video promotional Panasonic below.