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Fujitsu soldiers on with its Tablet PC lineup

Ever since Steve Jobs introduced the MacBook Air Tuesday at Macworld 2008, the whole Internet has been abuzz about the 3-pound notebook. Within hours, every sub-notebook from the past and present was compared to Apple's ultra-thin "halo" product.

Although Fujitsu doesn't have the massive advertising budget or sex appeal of Apple's line of products; the company recently introduced a tablet that is worthy of attention.

The new Fujitsu LifeBook P1620 makes use of a 1.2GHz ULV Core 2 Duo processor (U7600), 512MB of DDR2 memory (Micro-DIMM, upgradeable to 2GB) and an 8.9" WXGA touch screen display. Like the MacBook Air, the LifeBook P1620 has to make do with a 1.8”, 4,200 RPM HDD; albeit a 60GB unit.

Other features include an integrated fingerprint reader, two USB 2.0 ports, a PCMCIA slot, Secure Digital (SD) slot, 802.11a/b/g wireless, GbE, a docking connector and a 3-cell battery. With the included 3-cell battery, the LifeBook P1620 weighs just 2.2 pounds -- opting for the 6-cell unit will boost weight to a still manageable 2.5 pounds.

When it comes to operating systems, Fujitsu gives customers the choice of Windows Vista Business, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 or Windows XP Professional.

The Fujitsu LifeBook P1620 starts at $1,749 with 512MB of RAM and a 60GB HDD. Stepping up to 1GB of RAM, 60GB HDD and a 6-cell battery will set you back $2,094. Opting for the top of the line model with 1GB of RAM, 80GB HDD, Bluetooth and a 6-cell battery will cost you $2,224.



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I'd Prefer...
By noirsoft on 1/18/2008 1:30:19 PM , Rating: 3
I'd prefer a true slate tablet rather than a convertible, and an option for 2 gigs of memory.




RE: I'd Prefer...
By amanojaku on 1/18/2008 1:39:37 PM , Rating: 4
I'm not sure if people would accept the slate since it most likely would not have a keyboard. Maybe a USB keyboard would work, though.

On the other hand, 512MB of RAM?!? WTF was Fujitsu thinking? That pretty much boots Windows. I know a tablet isn't meant to play games, but seriously why would I pay $2K for a bulky electronic notepad?


RE: I'd Prefer...
By bhieb on 1/18/2008 5:11:08 PM , Rating: 2
Funny I have 70+ computers that I support here at work and very few of them have more than 512, we are on XP of course but the average business person simply does not use more than 300MB or so once you clear off all the crap programs that don't need to be running. Heck right now I am only using 407.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By dcalfine on 1/18/2008 1:45:23 PM , Rating: 2
lighter and better featured than the macbook air
but not as thin

tough choice


RE: I'd Prefer...
By noirsoft on 1/18/2008 1:46:26 PM , Rating: 4
No choice for me. I'll take features + windows over thin + macOS any day.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By headbox on 1/18/08, Rating: -1
RE: I'd Prefer...
By Naviblue on 1/18/2008 2:04:33 PM , Rating: 3
Why do people even want thin anyways? To pick up chicks or something? This tablet pc is kind of cool but I think I'd rather go with a G series Asus over this.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By akugami on 1/18/2008 2:33:38 PM , Rating: 3
Ever try to lug one of those things? Sure 6lb's doesn't sound like a lot but even after a 15 minute walk between classes (I just started school again after a decade of lazing around) I can tell you that it gets pretty heavy. Add in one textbook and it's a strain on your back. A sub 3lb notebook is very welcome. I'm seriously tempted to get a Eee PC.

And yes, it is a G series Asus I was lugging around.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By jimbojimbo on 1/18/2008 3:51:59 PM , Rating: 2
You could just lose 3lbs.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By elpresidente2075 on 1/20/2008 10:58:04 AM , Rating: 2
Your mom could lose three pounds!

Now that we've dispensed with them, no more cheap shots please.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By Vanilla Thunder on 1/21/2008 5:33:28 PM , Rating: 2
Start working out girly man. Oh no, 6 lbs. of notebook and a textbook!!! I'm surprised you have the energy to type after all that heavy lifting. Insert MANPON and try to make it through the day.

;)

V.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By Polynikes on 1/18/2008 2:34:08 PM , Rating: 1
Thinner = more breakable. Sounds like my kinda gear.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By jimbojimbo on 1/18/2008 3:51:20 PM , Rating: 3
That's what Apple's hoping for. Break it and then send it in for repairs that ONLY Apple can do charging whatever they want to.

The thinner that display the less protection it has. Once the display's gone, it's a goner.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By tayhimself on 1/18/2008 3:32:26 PM , Rating: 2
Better featured?
512 MB vs 2 GB
1.2 Ghz vs 1.6 Ghz
60 GB vs 80 GB

They're different products for different people. Stop hating and get what you want.


RE: I'd Prefer...
By winterspan on 1/18/2008 6:08:16 PM , Rating: 2
Yea, Apple should certainly get slapped on the wrist for not squeezing in at least an ethernet port, and expresscard. (and FireWire for that matter).
But You have to give Apple credit for being able to work with Intel to get a small form factor (SFF) "Not-quite-standard voltage-Not-quite-low-voltage" Core 2 duo.

Most of the subnotebooks from Sony, Panasonic, et al have these POS Core2 Duo ~1.06ghz "Ultra Low Voltage" chips. God they are miserably slow... I hope at least when the 45nm Penryn small-form-factor chips are out in a few months, All these other subnotebook vendors toss out the ULV chips for good!


RE: I'd Prefer...
By AnnihilatorX on 1/18/2008 7:24:46 PM , Rating: 2
I agree with the OP

The Fujitsu Stylistic ST5112 with 2GB of RAM should be around $1700 or less.

I have had it for over a year and a half now. It's absolutely brilliant.


Nice Deal
By AlphaVirus on 1/18/2008 1:31:08 PM , Rating: 2
That is a nice offer but I wonder how much would it be if the touchscreen was not included. I am sure thats about $400 of the cost. Take that out and include the extra options and you have a great competitor to the MBAir




RE: Nice Deal
By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 1/18/2008 1:37:36 PM , Rating: 2
Once you go tablet you can't go back ...


RE: Nice Deal
By PB PM on 1/18/2008 2:38:51 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe, I mean there are some nice aspects about a tablet, such as for drawing, but if you don't do that what is the appeal? I suck at drawing/art, so I'm not drawn to tablets one bit. I watch my manager at work use one, I think I've seen him use it in tablet mode maybe three times, to draw a circle around some important text... what a waste of money.


RE: Nice Deal
By deeznuts on 1/18/2008 5:50:01 PM , Rating: 2
I had an HP tablet for a few months and never used any tablet functions, which one did you use? I'm curious because I like this tablet.


Vista
By Shawn on 1/18/2008 1:47:47 PM , Rating: 2
Does Vista Business support all of the tablet features that are included in XP Tablet Edition?




RE: Vista
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/18/2008 1:53:13 PM , Rating: 2
AFAIK, yes.