Fujitsu’s Atom-powered U2010 handheld PC, a QWERTY-sporting clamshell that converts to a tablet, gets a buzz up from UMPC Fever, which reports fantastic battery life and a much-improved keyboard layout over its predecessor, the U1010/U810.
Getting 3 hours of life with all the radios on, and 5 plus with WiFi and various other fancy things disabled, already puts it ahead of the pack. But this was with the standard battery – a double-capacity one is also to be offered.
The original was good, but imperfect. I used one of these extensively, and found it just a little too small and eye-bleedy, but otherwise capable enough to temporarily use as a main machine. Joel, if I remember right, played with his review model for a few hours and then never touched it again.
The extended battery adds an inch to it, but isn’t a bother. Expect it to come in at about a grand.
Lifebook U2010 Hands-On [UMPC Fever]
I have a huge crush on this Fujitsu line… particularly waiting to see how the Atom version and improvements in the keyboard (e.g. including a tab key) turned out.
However, nothing really tops the hilarity of Joel’s review of the U810 (the predecessor model) where these Fujitsu tablet things are concerned. (I also have a man-crush on Joel… somewhere between that video and the military translator one.)
Mostly though, (like Jamie) I’ve learned my lesson in that if it isn’t made by Apple and running OSX, then a computer needs to be ultra popular with the Linux nerds, such as with the Asus EeePC, in order for a distribution like Ubuntu to be a sane experience. (I’m just way too burnt from configuring ALSA and wireless drivers, sorry.) I’m pretty sure that doesn’t exist for the cool features of the Fujitsu U2010 such as the tablet interface (or the inherently specious fingerprint scanner). (I can just imagine XDisplay being bonkers with the screen rotation, or trekking through bizarre sleep issues like the Porter family navigating The Land of the Lost.) And the only alternative to that is running Windows… no fucking way in hell with snowcones.
Still… I really want to want this laptop.
If only Siemens-Fujitsu realized what an amazing market position they’re in to underwrite development of their own Linux distribution specifically tailored to their unique laptops like this. They could be the next Apple… or modern day Amiga. And who doesn’t love that “infinity” logo they’ve got? Classy, modern.
(BTW, Fujitsu PFU also makes the Happy Hacker keyboard and the ScanSnap line of duplex scanners. They know great design …but a bit in that Sun Microsystems “head up the ass” way to profitably leverage it.