Digital Trends

Fujitsu LifeBook P7010D May 2nd, 2005 | by Ian Bell

Setup and Use

When we first powered up the LifeBook 7010, we opted to not create a user account on the system for fear that we would lock ourselves out using the biometric fingerprint scanner (silly us). But once the system was up and running we decided to give the scanner a try. If you want to skip password authentication all together you can setup the finger print scanner to scan your finger as a means of security bypassing the traditional password route. You will need to setup and create an account with the Softex OmniPass fingerprint software before using it. We thought the scanner worked pretty well. If you slowly run your finger across the scanner, it should have no problem recognizing you; just make sure not to run your finger across it too fast or it might have trouble.

Keyboard layout is typical for a system of this size and the keyboard does not feel too shallow or mushy. Keys have a nice feel overall and are relatively quiet to the touch. The period and question mark keys are smaller than a full sized keyboard, but again this is not abnormal for a system of this size.

We love the sharp and bright display of the LifeBook 7010 system, but those with poor eyesight will want to opt for a larger laptop. With a native resolution of 1280x768, the 7010 is not for everyone. The display is bright enough in normal lighting situations and better than most when hit with direct sunlight. Fujitsu failed to add a latch to the lid/display so there is nothing keeping it attached to the palm rest when closed; we would worry about the hinges getting loose over time.

Fujitsu LifeBook 7010 Keyboard

System performance is decent considering the mere 1.2GHz processor. In our tests the 7010 outperformed the Gateway M210XL ever so slightly. Both the Gateway M210XL, Fujitsu 7010 and Panasonic use the same Intel chipset, which is why the systems were so close in performance. The Panasonic Y2 which we reviewed back in January had an 1.3 GHz processor compared to the 1.2GHz in the LifeBook 7010 and the 1.7GHz in the Gateway system. The Gateway M210XL is a lot larger than the other two systems. Graphics performance is below average due to the integrated graphics chip, so do not look to the 7010 for hardcore gaming. For all benchmarks please click here or click on the Specs tab.

We were able to get about 5 hours of battery life out of our 7010 system before the system died. That is fantastic for a system of this size. You should have no problem watching a couple DVD movies with brightness on medium before the battery gives out. The 4800mAh battery which comes with the 7010 is larger than what you will get on the Panasonic and Sony models in this laptop group.

The 7010 produces considerable noise when running the internal optical drive or when the system fan turns on to help cool things down. This can be a small annoyance when in meetings or instances that require little noise. The upside is that the 7010 stays relatively cool, even after prolonged use.