Toshiba to preinstall OneNote on laptops

Furthering its efforts to spur adoption of OneNote, Microsoft Corp. has struck a deal with Toshiba Corp. to preinstall the new note-taking software on laptops and Tablet PCs.

Toshiba, one of the world's largest mobile computer vendors, will deliver OneNote preinstalled on laptops and Tablet PCs introduced after Oct. 21, the date Microsoft officially launches its new Office products, including OneNote, the companies said Tuesday.

The first Toshiba product to come with OneNote is a new Satellite laptop that will be announced on Oct. 21, said Terry Cronan, director of customer marketing for Toshiba's computer systems group. Satellite is Toshiba's laptop line for consumers, small and medium-sized businesses and the public sector.

The deal, to be announced at the World PC Expo event in Japan by senior Microsoft and Toshiba executives, is the first so-called OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreement for OneNote announced by Microsoft. Terms of the agreement are confidential.

The agreement with Toshiba is not exclusive, said Bobby Moore, product manager for OneNote at Microsoft. "OEM deals are a great way to deliver OneNote. You could imagine that we are talking with other OEMs, but we do see Toshiba as a leader in this space," he said.

Hewlett-Packard Co. and IBM Corp. together with Toshiba form the world's top three mobile computer vendors.

Microsoft's price tag for OneNote in the U.S. is $199. A $100 promotional mail-in rebate is offered to make the product more attractive. Toshiba's Cronan does not expect the price of Toshiba products to go up as a result of the inclusion of OneNote.

Microsoft is playing various cards to seed the market with OneNote. In addition to the $100 rebate for buyers of the product, the company last month announced it will give away the product to certain schools and colleges and offer special academic pricing.