Toshiba made available today its 9th generation M700 tablet PC, the current highest-end tablet PC offered by the company, and the first to offer multi-touch capability.

Besides being the first convertible laptop from Toshiba to feature a multi-touch backlit LED display, it is also the only tablet currently available in retail to incorporate a swappable Ultra SlimBay for an internal optical drive, second hard drive, or just to lighten the overall package.

Two Portégé M700 packages are currently available on csd.toshiba.com, and toshibadirect.com, for $1,699 and $1,799.

Both models work on an Intel Core2 Duo Processor T7500, 2.2 GHz 4 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB, have a 160 GB 5400 RPM Serial-ATA hard drive, a 12.1" display with 1280 x 800 native resolution, an integrated DVD SuperMulti drive, Intel Wireless 802.11a/g/n and 82566MM 10/100/1000 ethernet, an integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam with microphone, and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR.

For $100 more, the M700-S7002 model comes with Vista Business instead of XP Tablet Edition 2005, 2048 MB SDRAM instead of 1024, and includes an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with 8-251 MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory.

The full suite of Toshiba's EasyGuard technology -- HDD skip protection via 3D accelerometer, shock absorbing design, and spill resistant keyboard -- are also included with both models.

Naturally, the announcement of this laptop has caused speculation about Dell's Latitude XT tablet which has, as to be expected from the company, been expected in retail for about a month. Some have even speculated tomorrow to be the release date. If so, tablet fans may be looking forward to a merry Christmas.