The good: Attractive case design; 13.3-inch screen provides plenty of real estate while still being portable; comfortable stylus; new Centrino 2 components.

The bad: Bulkier than other 13.3-inch laptops; small touch pad; lousy speakers.

The bottom line: With the LifeBook T1010, Fujitsu adds tablet functionality to an otherwise typical 13.3-inch laptop. It's a good choice for students and executives who prefer to take handwritten notes on the run.

Read full review of the Fujitsu LifeBook T1010 »

By Michelle Thatcher
Sep 8, 2008

Combining a screen that's roomy enough to avoid eye strain and a weight that's still reasonable enough to carry to the coffee shop or on the occasional business trip, 13.3 inches may be the most perfect size for a laptop. How much better, then, that Fujitsu has issued the LifeBook T1010, a tablet whose 13.3-inch display rotates and folds down over the keyboard to let you take handwritten notes? Viewed as a laptop, the LifeBook T1010 seems fairly average, with a typical assortment of features and the entry level of Intel's latest Centrino 2 components. Viewed as a tablet, however, the LifeBook T1010 seems more compelling: it's priced lower than many 12.1-inch tablets, yet provides a little extra screen real estate. We think it's a good choice for students and executives who prefer to take handwritten notes in lectures and meetings.

Editors' note : This review is based on tests done by our sister site CNET.com. As such, please note that there may be slight differences in the testing procedure and ratings system. For more information on the actual tests conducted on the product, please inquire directly at the site where the article was originally published. References made to some of other products in this review may not be available or applicable in Asia. Please check directly with your local distributor for details.

Design

We like the look of the Fujitsu LifeBook T1010, which includes a glossy, silver lid with an abstract, almost bar code-like pattern as well as a matte-silver interior. Its squared-off corners are consistent with Fujitsu's reputation for slightly boxy laptops, but the 13-inch screen means its overall footprint is compact and appealing. At 2.4kg, the Fujitsu is heavier than other 13.3-inch systems, such as the Dell XPS M1330; and more than 12.1-inch tablets such as the Toshiba Portege M700. Nevertheless, the Fujitsu's weight is reasonable for semi-frequent travel and for regular trips to the coffee shop or library.

Like any other convertible tablet, the Fujitsu LifeBook T1010's display connects to its base on a single hinge that lets you swing the screen around (in either direction) and fold it over the keyboard to take handwritten notes on-screen. Unlike other convertible tablets, the LifeBook T1010 incorporates a 13.3-inch widescreen display. The size is not only our preferred compromise between portability and usability, but it also provides a comfortably roomy amount of space for writing notes by hand.

Features

The screen's 1,280 x 800 resolution is fairly typical for a display of this size, and its matte finish cuts down on distracting reflections--a huge plus for taking notes in a meeting room or lecture hall. The screen surface provides a pleasing amount of drag when you're writing with the included stylus, and five buttons in the display bezel--up and down arrows, screen rotation, a Function key, and an Alt key--help you navigate without the keyboard while in tablet mode.

Rather than an active digitizer that requires a specific stylus, the LifeBook T1010's touchscreen display accepts input from any pointing device--even your fingers. As we used the tablet, we found ourselves relying less on the touchpad (which seems a tad small, though functional) and more on the touchscreen, even in laptop mode. We still type faster than we write, though, and the LifeBook T1010's broad keyboard feels solid and responsive.

The LifeBook T1010 offers the average selection of ports and connections you'd expect to find on a laptop of its size. Unsurprisingly, the laptop's built-in speakers produced tinny, unbalanced sound.

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