The good: Bright, crisp screen; loud volume for a Netbook.

The bad: Bulky; smaller keyboard; expensive compared with similar Netbooks.

The bottom line: With a thick chassis and features that don't rise above the pack, the Fujitsu M2010 will have a hard time breaking through the clutter of less-expensive systems.

Read full review of the Fujitsu M2010 »

By Scott Stein
Jun 5, 2009

Fujitsu is finally getting in on the growing Netbook trend with an entry aimed at the educational market. The M2010 includes many of the same features already common in the increasingly similar Netbook product landscape, so what differentiates it as an "education Netbook?" We were curious to find out, especially since the Dell Latitude 2100 made a similar--but much larger--splash in the US educational arena just a few weeks ago.

With its top-tier price of S$888 (US$640.14), the M2010 has a hard time justifying its higher-than-average cost when smaller, slicker Netbooks such as the Asus Eee PC 1008HA can be had for less. Of course, the argument can be made that the M2010 is more durable for student use; a similar claim was made by Dell about its upcoming Latitude 2100 which seems to have a more "rough and tumble" ruggedized feel than this Netbook.

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. Do check directly with your local distributor for details.

Design

With a glossy black chassis and a race car red shell and finish, the M2010 exterior design doesn't exactly scream "kindergarden" at first glance. The slick color scheme, as compared with the Dell's primary color rubberized exteriors, seems more at home in an executive's weekend bag. Fujitsu was quick to remind us, though, that no paint is used on the M2010--the color is embedded into the plastic, making for a longer-lasting and more durable product. An off-white icon on the lid is the only indication of Fujitsu's branding on the cover, though this also adds to the oddly street racerish profile.



Inside, you get an inset 10.1-inch glossy screen and keyboard rimmed by a bezel instead of going edge-to-edge. This is to be expected with the screen, but for the keyboard it means a more cramped typing experience than current fuller-keyed Netbooks such as the HP Mini 1000. It's a shame, really, because the raised keys and tactile response are otherwise excellent. A squished right-hand shift key serves only to remind how this keyboard is a bit of a last-gen model. Considering the M2010's size, a larger keyboard could easily have been incorporated without sacrificing much. The touchpad responded well and the two buttons had good clicks to them.

The M2010 also comes across as somewhat thick (although there are worse offenders). It is, at about 37mm, chunkier than some competitors' models which are generally making efforts to slim down. No doubt, some of the thickness was intentional to appeal to a more durable student construction. Fujitsu claims its screens and Netbooks were subjected to a "backpack test" to ensure they could survive child-crushing. We didn't run such a test here, but the plastic lid did engage in some flexing when we pressed down on it on our desk.

Features

The 10.1-inch LED-backlit screen has a 1,024 x 575 native resolution, which is close to standard for a screen this size (most have 600 vertical pixels). While browser viewing can get cramped with too many toolbars open, the glossy screen was notably bright and crisp.

Stereo speakers are embedded somewhere behind the keyboard and screen (upon examination, we couldn't find where exactly), and they do have a distinctly louder-than-normal volume for a Netbook--something Fujitsu also has on its list for education pluses. We're not sure why since high-end video and audio seem to be educational distractions rather than advantages, and most people would prefer wearing headphones. A stereo-in microphone jack and internal digital mic have good sensitivity.



Three USB 2.0 ports instead of the standard two and the inclusion of Bluetooth 2.1 are the only truly notable port and connectivity features on the M2010. A standard VGA connector, multicard reader, and a regular Ethernet jack line the sides of the Netbook. Included in the M2010 is 1GB of RAM, but it can be expanded to 2GB.

Tags: Netbook, Screen, Fujitsu Ltd., Keyboard, Intel Corp.

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