Summary

The ultra-portable laptop market is heating up and several manufacturers are now adding small compact laptops to their product line. Toshiba just announced that they are reviving their Libretto ultra-portable laptop system and even the conservative Dell has decided to start selling the small compact systems.

 

Fujitsu and Sony however are no strangers to this emerging segment. Sony's T series laptops were such a hit overseas that the company decided to bring them stateside early last year. And Fujitsu has had ultra-portable laptops available here in the states for several years. Weighing in at a mere 3.3 pounds, the Fujitsu LifeBook 7010 flexes the company's muscle and shows why Fujitsu is a veteran in the sub-notebook arena.

Full Review

Features and Design

 

Anyone researching ultra-portable laptops knows that most systems will be based on only a couple chipset possibilities. The LifeBook P7010 for example uses the Intel 855GME, which is the very same chipset used in the Sony VAIO T series and Toshiba Libretto laptop systems. So you can pretty much expect nearly identical features when comparing all of these systems. What the companies do have control over is design and a couple small customizations the company may choose to add. For example Sony has added Bluetooth capabilities to their T-series while Fujitsu has added a finger print scanner to their LifeBook 7010.

 

For a system as small as it is, the LifeBook 7010 really is a very capable machine. The Intel 855GME chipset is rather versatile and allows manufacturers to offer several configurations to appeal to different budgets and needs. The 7010 is available in two different CPU speeds, Intel's Pentium M running at 1.2GHz or Intel's Celeron processor running at 1GHz. The LifeBook 7010 comes with a minimum of 256MB of memory but is expandable to 1GB and is able to support two 512MB sticks of memory simultaneously.

 

One of our favorite features on the 7010 is its beautiful display. Using a 10.6” wide-format XGA Crystal View TFT display, the 7010 comes with a default resolution of 1280x768 at 16M colors. The 64MB integrated Intel graphics chip is powerful enough however, to power an external display capable of 1600x1200 resolution at 16M colors and even supports multiple displays; perfect for giving presentations.

 

Although a floppy drive is missing from the system you can purchase an external drive separately if you want. Instead, Fujitsu gives you the option of a 2X DVD +/- rewriter, CD/DVD writer combo or you can simply use the bay for an extra battery. Depending on the model you want, there are three hard drive options to choose from; a 40GB, 60GB or 80GB size. Our P7010D review unit came with an 80GB hard drive. All three drives feature a 4200RPM spindle speed.

 

Fujitsu LifeBook P7010

 

The LifeBook 7010 is an attractive system that melds shades of silver and black with a somewhat industrial, yet refined looked. There is very little in the way of branding on the system itself. The Fujitsu name is on the bottom of the system and on the inside of the lid only. The top of the lid and sides of the 7010 are completely bare. The lid hinge is definitely unique and what makes up the whole look of the system. Sort of like an electric shaver, the round metal foil spindle houses the systems speakers and the power button. Fujitsu uses a combination of blue and red LED lights to enhance the systems prowess.

 

The front of the system is where the WiFi on/off switch and media card reader are. Most of the people we showed this system to thought the WiFi power button was the main power button for the whole system; so it is probably not a good location for that switch. On the left hand side of the system there is a modem jack, PC Card slot and a Compact Flash card slot. So not only can the 7010 handle the smaller media cards, but it can support the larger compact flash cards as well; a trait that photographers are sure to love.

 

The audio inputs, two USB 2.0 ports, mini FireWire port, Ethernet port, S-Video out and VGA output jacks are all located on the right hand side of the system. Fujitsu does a great job of putting a protective cover over most of the ports. Also worth noting is that Fujitsu chose to use a regular full size VGA output jack for use with an external monitor. This will allow those that travel a lot to hook up the system with ease for their presentations. Most of the Sony systems we have seen come with a VGA mini input that forces you to use a dongle cable; which usually costs extra and is a pain to replace if it breaks or is lost.

 

When the lid of the system is open, you are greeted by a beautiful display that seems to share a lot of the same characteristics as the displays used on the Sony T series. The display resolutions between the two systems are nearly identical and both seem to be using the same Xbrite technology, although Fujitsu calls theirs “Crystal View”. At first it's hard to find the fingerprint scanner until you realize it doubles as the touchpad's scroll sensor, an ingenious design if you ask us.

 

Fujitsu loads the LifeBook 7010 with a ton of software including Windows XP Professional or Home editions, Quicken 2005, Norton Antivirus, Microsoft Works or Office, WinDVD and Adobe Acrobat Reader. We did not find the software to be too excessive but there were a lot of applications running in the task bar of our test system. Unless the applications need to be there, we recommend you exit their tray icons to clean up your desktop. We noticed that our test system came with Norton Antivirus 2003 instead of the newer 2005 version. This was a smooth move on Fujitsu's part since we have heard a number of incompatibilities with the latest version of Norton's Antivirus software.

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.

Conclusion

 

The Fujitsu LifeBook 7010 is a smoking hot system that simply redefines business computing. Essentially, you get every conceivable feature packed into this tiny little 3.3 pound system. Sure its 1.2GHz processor is not the fastest on the market, but remembers this is an ultra-portable laptop, and cooling is a priority. What you do get is 512MB of memory, a DVD writer, 1280x768 resolutions (default), an 80GB hard drive, integrated 802.11b/g WiFi, and even a finger print scanner for added security.

 

The Fujitsu LifeBook P7010 combines the business sense of IBM's ThinkPad notebook line with styling associated with the likes of Apple or Sony. Business users will appreciate the finger print scanner, the long battery life and unlimited 24/7 tech support ensuring the system endures their business travels. We would have liked to have seen a longer warranty attached to the 7010, especially considering its price, but at least you can purchase an extended warranty.

 

 

Pros:

 

-          Stylish Design

-          Excellent battery life

-          Beautiful screen

-          Plenty of inputs/outputs

-          DVD Writer

-          Media card reader

-          Fingerprint scanner

-          Upgradeable

 

Cons:

 

-          Loud internal fan

-          Slow processor

-          Hard drive is not accessible

-          Lid does not latch to the system

-          Only a 1 year warranty

Performance

 

System Configurations:

Fujitsu P7010D
Windows XP Professional; 1.2GHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM; Intel Extreme Graphics 64MB; 80GB Hard Drive

Gateway M210XL
Windows XP Home; 1.7GHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; Intel Extreme Graphics 2 7500 32MB; 60GB 4200rpm Ultra ATA hard drive

Sony VAIO VGN-A260
Windows XP Home; 1.6GHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 64MB;  80GB Hard Drive

 

Specs

Processor

• Intel^® Pentium^® M Processor Ultra Low Voltage 753
  (1.20 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 400 MHz FSB) and
• Intel^® Celeron^® M Processor Ultra Low Voltage 373
  (1 GHz, 512 KB L2 cache, 400 MHz FSB)

Operating System

• Choice of Microsoft^® Windows^® XP Home or
  Microsoft^® Windows^® XP Professional

Chipset

• Intel^® 855GME on Intel^® Pentium^® M Processor and Intel^® 852 GM on Intel^® Celeron^® M Processor

Memory¹

• 256 MB minimum; 1 GB maximum; two micro DIMM slots; 256 MB micro DIMM or 512 MB micro DIMM (DDR 333)

Video

• 10.6" wide-format XGA Crystal View™ TFT display
• 150:1 contrast ratio; 240 nits LCD brightness
• Internal max: 1280 x 768 resolution, 16M colors
• External max: 1600 x 1200 resolution, 16M colors
• Intel^® 855GM chipset with up to 64 MB shared memory delivers low-power, high-performance 2D/3D graphics, video, and display capabilities. Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) dynamically responds to application requirements and efficiently allocates the proper amount of memory (max. of 64 MB) for optimal graphics and system peformance.
• Simultaneous support for external monitor and internal display
• Multi screen display support for graphic editing or presentation

Storage

• 80 GB, 60 GB or 40 GB hard drive² (4200 RPM)
• External USB floppy disk drive (optional)

Modular Media Drive

• Modular Multi-Format DVD Writer (2X DVD-R, 2X DVD+R, 2X DVD-RW, 2X DVD+RW, 2X DVD-RAM, 8X DVD-ROM, 24X CD-R, 10X CD-RW, 24X CD-ROM)
• Modular DVD/CD-RW combo drive (8X DVD/16X CD-R/24X CD)
• Also supports optional modular bay battery

Audio

• Realtek ALC202 with 16-bit stereo sound
• Lineout/Optical Digital Out (SPDIF)
• Headphone and microphone jacks
• Dolby^® Headphone Utility to emulate realistic surround using conventional stereo headphones while watching movies.

Communication

• Built-in multinational³ 56K⁴ V.90 modem and 10/100 Ethernet (V.92 drivers available for download)
• Integrated dual-band Atheros⁴ Super AG™ wireless LAN (802.11a+b/g); antenna ON/OFF switch; WPA certified

User Interfaces

• Touchpad with scroll button
• 82-key full-size keyboard with 18 mm key pitch and 2 mm key stroke

After User Interface

• Fingerprint Sensor (optional): AuthenTec Inc finger-print slide sensor (AES2501) with TruePrint Technology; 15cm/sec slide speed, dimension: 0.54 in x 0.2 in.
  

Interface Ports

• Two USB 2.0, IEEE 1394, S-Video, external monitor adapter, RJ-11 (modem), and RJ-45 (Ethernet) ports

Media Slot

• Compact Flash card slot, and MemoryStick^® PRO/SD Card slot

PC Card Slots

• Type I or Type II (one slot)
• 32-bit PC CardBus architecture

Batteries

• On Intel^® Pentium^® M Processor
  • Up to 7.0 hours⁵ with standard high-capacity main lithium ion battery
  • Up to 10 hours⁵ with standard high-capacity main battery plus Modular Bay battery
• On Intel^® Celeron^® M Processor
  • Up to 6 hours⁵ with standard high-capacity main lithium ion battery
  • Up to 8.5 hours⁵ with standard high-capacity main battery plus Modular Bay battery

AC Adapter

• Auto-sensing dual voltage support, AC100-240V
• DC 16V, 3.36A

Dimensions and Weight

• 10.47"(w) x 7.83"(d) x 1.26"/1.42"(h)
• Only 3.3 lbs with combo drive and high-capacity main battery
• Approximately 3 lbs with weight saver and high-capacity main battery

Bundled Software

• Microsoft^® Works or Microsoft^® Office SBE, Quicken^® New User Edition 2005, Adobe^® Reader^®, Fujitsu HotKey Utility, Symantec Norton Antivirus™ 2003⁷, Microsoft^® Internet Explorer, WinDVD^®

Application Software on CD

• Depending upon your system configuration, you may also receive the following applications: Record Now (with combo drive or Multi-Format DVD Writer drive) and WinDVD Creator Plus™ (with Multi-Format DVD Writer drive).

Regulatory and Compliance

• Energy Star-compliant
• FCC part 15 Class B and Subpart "C"
• UL and cUL approved
• Industry Canada RSS210
• CE Mark, ETS 300-826

Warranty

• One-year or three-year International Limited Warranty⁶
• 24x7 technical support
• Fujitsu Premium Care service plans available

Accessories

• Visit http://www.computers.us.fujitsu.com/index.shtml or call 1-800-FUJITSU for a complete listing of Fujitsu accessories

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