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September 21, 2006

LIFEBOOK P1510D

Fujitsu Lifebook P1510D

So I found the need to get a new laptop for my micro mobile needs.
Actually the issue stems from the rude/inconsiderate people on the NYC subways.
Frankly I think handling a 12" laptop on my lap is not much of a big deal.
Yet it always seems you'll get some jealous person who will see you with it and then start messing with you. I.E casually bumping into you multiple times to try and force it to fall.

Well fortunate for me, I can switch it to tablet mode and go smaller.
However I felt the desire to get smaller and lighter.

Don't get me wrong, I love my lifebook T4210.
It's a hefty machine and pretty light, just slightly cumbersome to pull out of my bag and situate correctly amidst someone sitting next to me.

I know I need a new top loading/opening bag, yet that has been pretty hard to come by these days. Most of the bags I've encountered are not in the configuration with opening zippers to expose the laptop the way I need it to be. It seems style and times have changed. Most require you to remove the machine from the bag via lift out.

So lo and behold I threw a hail mary bid on a lifebook P1510D.
Heck, the machine is so small and cute and I thought, Gee, it would make a nice media player, kinda like Packgrog's, only on a grander scale.

This machine is a PC that wants to be a PDA.

So there I am at progpower checking mail that says I won. I couldn't believe it.

It arrived on Thursday and I gotta tell you this thing is cute!
Tiny and light (2lbs).

There are plenty of indepth reviews of this puppy around the net, so I wont go into too much detail. I'll just give an overview.

For the most part. This machine is "small!"
It's not too much larger then a CD case.
Your two hands side by side can completely cover the keyboard.
The keys are quite small, yet surprisingly usable once you get used to it.
The screen is small to. Think 6x9 1024x600 WXGA.
Also the tablet screen is a touch screen rather then an active digitizer.
This means the cursor does not track movements with the stylus.
I.E. it only moves to position when the stylus actually comes in contact with the screen.
I knew this going into the purchase, however I was a bit surprised to find out that the "touch screen" was only touchable with the stylus.
There have been many a complaint that the touch screen picks up palm or finger strokes.
Here I was thinking I could navigate with my fingers. I was wrong. (sigh).
I wasn't looking for 100% tablet/stylus functionality. If this was a real touch screen I would have been happy. So the only downside is I have to keep pulling the stylus out of the socket when I want to navigate around in tablet mode. (minor peeve).

Also the screen's dimensions are odd to work with.
So there are a number of usability factors here.
I.E. with my aging eyesight I find the need to use my glasses for certain reading situations.

The particular unit I won has a 60GB HD and bluetooth.

As a media player this thing rocks, but I'll probably have to invest in some sort of remote control. Possibly the griffin airclick or the hiro pcmcia remote. I'm still waiting for someone to come out with a bluetooth remote media controller and once that happens I am there!

I went for the extra bluetooth functionality for a few reasons.
wireless mouse, possibly wireless headphones and possibly a wireless remote control.
Bluetooth seems to be up and coming for wireless accessories, so I might as well be prepared.

For my T4210, I use a bluetooth mouse and I love it. No dongle!!!

Battery life on the P1510D is great too. 3 Hours on a battery.
There is also an extended battery that can yield 6 hours, yet it will extend past the screen about an inch.

With compact flash and SD card capability I have access to expansion.
My only wish was that it had PCMCIA. From what I read on the boards, they are coming out with a version that does PCMCIA. w00t! I'll be there!

So overall I love this machine. I do use it for quick browsing and emailing, but not for long extended sessions. I use it for a media player. eBook reader & source code browser which will probably be my primary use of it. Who needs an iPod when I have a fully capable PC with all the trimmings and plugins. I have not attempted VMware on it yet, not sure if I'll bother. Although the CPU is probably capable enough, I just don't feel the need for Linux or development on the lil guy.
I'll probably get an FM transmitter, car adapter and GPS setup for the vehicle.
Who knows what other uses I'll find for it! (and my other 3 laptops). Yes I have 4 laptops for various uses.(well actually 5, but I plan to sell of my compaq N400C 3lb P850 on eBay soon). More on those used puppys later.

Pros.
Small 6x9
Light 2.2 LBS.
Tablet Functionality.
WiFi/Bluetooth
SD/CF slots.
Makes a great Media Player
3 Mouse buttons, (middle to help scroll).
60GB drive w00t!

Cons
Keyboard is kinda small and can be cumbersome until you are used to it.
Trackpoint takes getting used to (each machine has it's own feel and the ones I am used to have a slightly different feel)
Screen dimensions odd and how software handles it.
No CD ROM slot (must be external).
No PCMCIA. could be one in the future.
Not really a touch screen as people say.
Stylus location (I wish it were on the other side or lcd screen like the lifebook).
Gets a bit warm on heavy use, yet it is withstandable.
Cover for VGA port on back lends itself to being ripped off/out of the machine. Very flimsy design.

I have some gallery pics here.
http://www.cotrone.com/rob/gallery/Lifebook_P1510D

http://laptopmag.com/Review/Fujitsu-LifeBook-P1510D.htm

Posted by Me on September 21, 2006 11:00 PM

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