Toshiba Satellite Sleep and Charge USB Ports

Toshiba’s latest line of Satellite notebooks will charge mobile devices via their ‘Sleep-and-Charge’ USB ports, whether the notebooks are powered on, off, sleep or hibernate mode.

The recently announced Satellite U400, Satellite M300, Satellite A300 and Satellite P300 notebooks will come with Sleep-and-Charge USB ports.

This is a great feature for anyone that struggles to keep their mobile devices charged. I’ve been in the unfortunate situation waking up with a dead mobile phone and digital camera while on vacation because I’d attempted to charge them by plugging them into my powered-down notebook.

Toshiba goes a little overboard by calling Sleep-and-Charge ‘innovative,’ but it’s a feature that will come in handy. I don’t think it’s an important enough feature to influence consumer’s buying decisions, but Sleep-and-Charge is a nice bonus for Toshiba customers.

From Toshiba:

Toshiba Unveils Innovative Sleep-and-Charge USB Ports
Newly Designed Satellite lineup Capable of Powering and Charging Electronic Products When Off, On or in Sleep Mode

IRVINE, Calif., (April 1, 2007)—Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced that its newly designed Satellite laptops are equipped with innovative Sleep-and-Charge USB ports, which make it possible to charge and power electronic devices no matter if the laptop is powered-on, off or in sleep mode.

“Toshiba has long been a leader of innovation, and prides itself on creating solutions that make the digital lifestyle even better,” said Jeff Barney, vice president of marketing, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. “With the development of the Sleep-and-Charge USB ports, Toshiba has developed an innovative technology that helps ensure that our digital products are ready for use at the moment we need them.”

A common shortcoming among today’s laptops is that USB ports are only powered while the computer is on or in use. Once the laptop is turned off or placed in sleep mode the powered ports become dormant, leaving devices such as MP3 players, mobile phones, digital cameras or PDAs without a full battery charge. Toshiba’s innovative Sleep-and-Charge technology eliminates this problem by allowing users to charge and power their devices simultaneously via USB in a variety of power settings. While off or in sleep mode, as long as the laptop is plugged into an outlet, users are able to charge their devices at any time.

Toshiba’s four redesigned Satellite model series, the Satellite U400, Satellite M300, Satellite A300 and Satellite P300 are each standard equipped with Toshiba’s Sleep-and-Charge USB ports. Each Satellite model series will be available from a variety of major consumer electronics and computer stores nationwide, or directly from Toshiba at www.ToshibaDirect.com.