Fujitsu P1620- now that’s an Air

P1620_size_compWhat weighs less then 3 pounds, is smaller than the MacBook Air yet has almost all of the same hardware components?  That would be the newly announced Fujitsu P1620, of course.  The P1620 is the update to the P1610 that I used for a long time and while Fujitsu claims it’s a different case it sure looks the same to me.  The P1620 is updated over the P1610 in several key areas starting with the processor.  In place of the 1.2 GHz Core Solo processor Fujitsu is now putting up to a 1.2 GHz Core 2 Duo processor which should mean snappy performance on the par of other bigger Tablet PCs out there including the HP 2710p I am using.  Bump the maximum memory to 2 GB and I suspect this new Fuji will be a pretty solid performer.  It should even run Vista pretty well with that processor and memory although Fujitsu seems to recommend XP on their web site.  I would go ahead and order Vista with the P1620 though as it adds $0 to the price and Fujitsu states clearly that in addition to the Vista disks you get a full set of XP recovery disks too.  You can’t lose with that.

What is not clear from the specs from Fujitsu nor the photos on their web site is whether the same batteries will work on the new P1620.  They look the same but that doesn’t mean they are.  There is still only one memory slot so you either have to get a 512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB micro-DIMM when you order the P1620 and live with that.  The 2 GB option only adds $150 over the 1 GB option which is well worth it in my opinion.  There are also a few new disk options available including a 100 GB drive (4,200 rpm) and a 32 GB SSD.  The SSD is awfully tiny and adds $300 over the 80 GB drive so if you go that route you’d better stick to XP which is a much smaller install than Vista.

Fujitsu also claims that this new P1620 also has a brighter screen with better viewing angles, something that I never felt lacking on the P1610 so this new screen must be something to see in person.  The digitizer is still the passive variety but I suspect Fujitsu has the same palm-rejection technology from the P1610 which was good for everyday tablet use.  The double swiveling screen is still there too, something I miss on every single convertible Tablet PC I pick up for its usefulness.  The port replicator is still available, a very useful accessory that is only $134 at system purchase time.

The only thing that Fujitsu forgot to put into the P1620 that I would love to see is an integrated web cam.  These are so useful for video conferences that it makes perfect sense to have one in such a mobile workhorse.  I might have to buy one if it did.  :)  All in all the P1620 is a great update to a great mobile device and while it’s smaller and lighter than the MacBook Air it’s also cheaper.  I priced one at the Fujitsu online store with 2 GB of RAM, a 100 GB hard drive, extended battery and the 1.2 GHz Core 2 Duo processor and it came in at $2474.  Take that, Apple.

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