Fujitsu LifeBook P7010 (Pentium M Processor ULV 713 1.1GHz, 512MB RAM)

Do not underestimate the P7010 just because it has fancy features such as fingerprint security. It is admirable to find a whole range of ports to cater to most needs coming in such a small frame. Although performance is average, the Fujitsu amazingly holds its own against others with better processors. Hotspotters will admire the superb battery life and the lightweight frame. If you want something light with punch, the P7010 might just be it as it provides great value, thus getting a nod for Editors’ Choice.

	The black Fujitsu LifeBook P7010

Design
Immediate comparisons to Sony's TR series or the Dell Inspiron 700m can be drawn from its features and compact size. Undeniably an object of desire, the P7010 is petite with 261 x 199 x 32mm dimensions and a featherweight 1.4kg frame. A lovely 10.6-inch widescreen using Fujitsu's SuperFine LCD technology lies under the matt metallic casing which comes in either pearl white or black. During DVD playback, the LCD produced sharp images with a good viewing angle.

As this LifeBook has a small size, there is understandably a tradeoff as the keyboard is smaller and the small text on the screen can be a strain on eyes. Instead of readily available buttons, PgUp, Home and End need to be accessed via the Function key. A touchpad is used but there's no space for a pointing stick. The scanner strip for the fingerprint function lies between the mouse buttons. This could be a problem especially if you use the buttons a lot as you may accidentally brush against the strip. The speakers lie above the keys and are able to produce decent sound sufficient for those who listen to music while working, but for movie playback, do make use of the S/PDIF port ya.

	The keyboard layout with fingerprint scanner between the mouse keys

Features
Fujitsu's sub-notebook comes packed with a Pentium M Processor ULV 713 1.1GHz (which is not a Dothan, if you are asking), 512MB RAM and a 60GB hard drive. Intel Extreme Graphics 2 is used here but who really cares? No one uses a sub-notebook with a 10.6-inch screen for gaming purposes. A swappable DVD/CD-RW combo drive comes fitted at the left edge and can be replaced with the optional modular bay battery or a DVD burner.

The key feature would be the fingerprint security system based on AuthenTec TruePrint technology. It comes as a dual security feature where a password or fingerprint scan is needed for access to the computer. This function is very easy to set up, use, and was very accurate during tests as long as the finger was slid along the scanner strip slowly; it even allowed up to two fingers to be recorded.

	The range of connectivity options

Connectivity to other devices is quite amazing. For such a small notebook, the P7010 is souped up with a whole array of ports such as FireWire, S-video out, CompactFlash (CF) and Secure Digital (SD)/Memory Stick PRO card slots and even a S/PDIF jack. Some of the ports are nicely concealed beneath rubber covers. For networking purposes, 802.11b/g wireless LAN and Gigabit Ethernet are utilized but there's no Bluetooth here.

Performance And Battery Life
No surprise here that the P7010 is average in performance as only a Pentium M 1.1GHz processor is used. Based on MobileMark 2002, a score of 171 was attained but if compared with other notebooks with better processors such as the HP Pavilion dv1000 (1.5GHz) and the IBM ThinkPad R51 (Processor 725 1.6GHz), this Fujitsu actually shines even though it's processor is not as powerful.

The 6-cell 4,800mAh battery clocked an astounding 300 minutes on the battery life rating scale, immediately placing the P7010 among the top notebooks that are great on the move. According to Fujitsu, an optional additional modular bay battery, which replaces the optical drive, will extend battery life up to 11.2 hours.

Service And Support
Together with Windows XP Professional Edition, the P7010 is packed with software including Norman Virus Control, Norman Personal Firewall and Sonic RecordNow DX. DVD content management is managed with CyberLink PowerDVD which plays DVDs and CyberLink PowerProducer for producing home movies and photos.

A three-year warranty comprising a one-year international carry-in (parts and labor) warranty along with a second- and third-year local carry-in (parts only) warranty applies. Fujitsu Singapore's online support includes warranty registration, an FAQ section and driver downloads. However, the user manual section does not include the P7010 as yet. Take note that the FAQ section highlights mostly the P-1000 series rather than the P7010. Six Q&As are dedicated to the P7010 of which one of the answers is wrong, too. Sturdier online support will have been a better deal.