We'll file this one in the "you snooze, you lose" department for now, but it looks like anyone who was contemplating bringing home Toshiba's latest dual-screen goodness, the Libretto W100, may have missed their window. According to a check on its US website, Toshiba appears to have exhausted the entire supply, less than 48 hours after the diminutive UMPC went on sale here Monday.
The Libretto W105-L251, which is the official US version, was initially available for purchase on Monday direct from Toshiba with a two to three week shipping estimate. Besides the direct route, it was also available as a preorder through Amazon, but things have quickly changed. One of our forum members has noted that his Amazon order from Monday was cancelled, and a quick check of the product page claims that the Libretto is currently unavailable.
Even though the US-model may be sold out, don't worry, because the Japanese-spec W100 is still available as an import through Conics.net, where the price comes in around $1600 or so once shipping is figured in. On the surface, this might seem like too much of a premium over the $1100 US-model, but there are some differences, namely the fact that the import version includes both a standard and extended battery, plus integrated WiMAX.
It was always known that the W100 was strictly a limited-edition run, but could Toshiba really have sold out this quick, or is it just a matter of underestimating the US market? My imported unit should be here Friday, and let me just say that I haven't been this excited about a new device in quite a while, so I hope the Libretto can live up to my expectations.