OK – so the Games Convention in Leipzig is fully underway, and as computer fans descend upon Germany in their masses, it’s time to take a look at what delights are emerging. Expectations of mindblowing technology and gaming revelations are high, and while farplaner is enthralled about what Pro Evolution Soccer has to offer in 2009, twobrothersandasister are discovering new delights with Mad World on the Nintendo Wii.

And it’s exciting news for Toshiba too, who will be showcasing the powerful new Qosmio X300 gaming laptop (pictured), featuring the latest Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX9300 quad-core processor technology together with the new Gaming X20 optical laser mouse. For more information, the notebook is given a good going-over spec wise by both Crave and Pocket Lint who say this notebook offers a “sleek design aimed at gamers”.

Elsewhere, marketnews blog suggests that “Gamers will likely gravitate toward something like the Toshiba Qosmio X300 that can serve as the device for “fun” time as well as when it’s down to business” and invoid.org agrees, claiming the X300 is “built for gaming purists”. It’s due to be released in Europe towards the tail end of 2008, but for those who can’t wait that long – it can be seen at Toshiba booth B02, Hall 4, at the show, from 20^th to 24^th August 2008.

So if you want more news of Mii’s rocking out on Wiis, Far Cry II, and of course Toshiba’s newest gaming laptop - better head to Leipzig.

Christmas is for new toys! But unfortunately for Jim Hughes of Feet Up, we at Talk Toshiba picked the rather difficult pre-Christmas period to send him the Tecra A8 to review – meaning that everyday ‘new laptop’ time had to be dedicated to Christmas parties, nativity plays, present buying and such like. However, he nevertheless managed to get enough time to give the laptop a fairly in-depth précis, which I can strongly recommend reading for anyone considering purchasing a Tecra.

It seems clear he was somewhat of a fan. “It’s a nice bit of kit, well made, very well specced and more than fast enough for 99.9% of the stuff you’ll want to do on any laptop.” A good start, although of course, there were issues. “On the minus side, it’s no midget and it’s got a trackpad rather than a ‘nipple mouse” – although as Jim himself admits, these are personal preferences.

Of the spec he suggests that the good bits are “pretty much everything”, and “Toshiba [have] bundled some interesting utils.” Would Jim buy it though? “No, but [he] would recommend one for someone who didn’t mind the size.”