When it was announced that Windows 7, the new operating system by Microsoft fully supported multi touch capable hardware it seemed like very few of the major manufacturers of personal computers took advantage. This would be the first time in history that the development of software will usher in a trend for new hardware and was apparent with the first Toshiba touch screen laptop since the launch of Windows 7. There have been many software changes that are designed to enhance the user experience as well as to better integrate the hardware.

The first notable improvement that Windows 7 offers to various laptops who did take advantage was the boot speed. Indeed the Toshiba Satellite M505 and U505 Touch models claim to have improved not only the boot speed but also the recovery speed when the computer is resumed from sleep mode. It offers some proprietary software such as Bulletin Board which allows the user to organize activities and calendar events and is integrated into the software as sort of an app. The improvement in the management of background software allows for greater battery life which is always appreciated with an ultraportable touch screen laptop such as these Toshiba laptops.

The problem with most touch screen laptop computers is the price. Since the multi touch display offers an exciting way to interact with the laptop, it is does come at a price that some might not be willing to afford. For a similar traditional laptop in the price range of a touch screen laptop, there is much more processing power to be had. Other specifications that are often upgraded include the SDRAM and hard drive space which will obviously come at an additional cost. The real difference between the two Toshiba laptops is the screen and the exterior finish. The M505 is built around a 14 inch screen and comes in a fusion finish sonic black while the U505 is a smaller 13.3 inch touch screen display and comes in a textured finish in luxe brown.