Fujitsu Introduces LifeBook P7230, Another Fujitsu Ultraportable Under Three Pounds

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Fujitsu today introduced the P7230 ultra-portable notebook, an upgrade to their existing Fujitsu P7120 10.6-inch screen ultraportable. The P7230 will offer a Core Solo low voltage processor, built-in dual layer multi-format DVD Writer, built-in web cam and your choice of Leather Black or Leather White outer design.

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The LifeBook P7230 is actually 15 percent thinner than the P7120. It is 1.17-inch thin and has a 10.6-inch LED lit widescreen display for brighter more even lighting and better battery life. The P7230 weighs in at 2.63lbs making it the lightest ultra-portable on the U.S. market with an integrated optical drive -- unless Sony decides to release their G series in the States.

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The P7230 will come pre-loaded with Windows Vista Business or XP Professional, the choice is yours. You can get up to 2GB of RAM that'll help run Vista better, but it'll cost you $850 to get that amount since there's only one RAM slot. The base offering is 1GB which should suffice though.

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Dissapointing to see is no WWAN offering via Verizon, Sprint or Cingular. Fujitsu is making a big mistake here as they're about the only company standing out there offering a business new ultraportable without WWAN integrated. Heck, even OQO put it in their handheld machine.

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For security purposes a shock sensor utility is built in to protect from hard drive data loss. You also get an integrated biometric fingerprint swipe sensor and an embedded Trusted Platform Module (TPM).

Following are the quick specs for the high-end $2,499 offering of the P7230:

• Intel® Core™ Solo Processor ULV U1400 (1.20 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 533 MHz FSB)
• Genuine Windows Vista™ Business
• 10.6&quot; Crystal View wide XGA display
• 1 GB (1 GB x1); DDR2 667 MHz SO-DIMM (one DIMM slot) memory
• 80 GB P-ATA 100, 4200 rpm, shock-mounted1 hard drive
• Multinational 56K V.90 modem and Gigabit Ethernet LAN
• Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945 Network Connection (Tri-mode 802.11a/b/g)
• Integrated Bluetooth wireless
• Built-in Camera for instant messaging
• Modular Dual-Layer Multi-Format DVD Writer
• Embedded TPM and Fingerprint Sensor
• Dual digital microphone array with noise cancellation
• Main battery: Lithium ion (6-cell, 10.8V, 5700 mAh, rated up to 6 hours)
• Ports: Two USB 2.0 ports, an IEEE 1394 port, full-sized video port, modem, LAN and audio in and out jacks. A combination of Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick® PRO and xD card slots
• Port Replicator
• Leather Black color
• One-year International Limited Warranty

The Fujitsu P7230 is available via Fujitsu.com immediately and starts at a price of $1,699 with Vista Home Basic (do not buy that though, why are they even offering it in a business machine?).

 

We have had these notebooks as demo model for a few days and I must say the screen is incredible. LED technology rocks and gives incredible quality for a 10.6" notebook.

But unfortunately it is pretty pricey.

 

I look forward to the results of the first performance tests.

 

That's awesome, you have to tell me about these things when you get units early

And let me know if you want to coordinate a review.

 

Is this a rebadged Sony VAIO T-series or a rebadged Averatec?

I'm disappointed at Fujitsu's offering... it looks so cheap and plasticky. I'd take the Q2010 anyday.

 

No, it's original design and not a rebadge. If it were a rebadge we might actually get EV-DO in it like the Sony T offers, lol.

 

It's certainly their design. In talking to the Fujitsu marketing people, they indicated they left out WWAN due to cost. I think they made the wrong call. What's another $150 in a $2000 machine? Anyway, they did indicate that they'll start offering WWAN in their US releases mid-year. So probably the next refresh to this unit will see it. I do have to say though, as a user of the P series for 4 years, the idea of this little guy being 1/4" thinner and a little lighter is pretty appealing. The Q doesn't work for me due to lack of optical, this one is just right...

 

Whooaaah, +1GB - total of 2GB - memory adds $850 to the price!

First I thought it'd be perfect for my Mom - retired but still consults - but it's kinda expensive: $2k with 2 years of warranty - though it's int'l warranty which is important for me as she lives in the EU - but a basic setup with camera and Vista Business added in black color still comes out around $2k... a bit pricey IMHO.

 

I can see where someone would of gotten the notion the new 'P' were rebanded whitebooks. The white version has a bit of a resemblance to the new MSI 12 inch ultraportable that was introduced in one of Chaz's news bits a little while ago. The bezel and the webcame are particularly close. But I know they are generic similarities and that Fujitsu would have it's own designs. That's a very pretty little notebook in my opinion though. But for $2000+ is should be.

 

Uh-oh double post. I spotted that newegg.com already has these up and browsed the pictures. Just curious. Is the camera standard? I've noticed only the most expensive model appears to have it.

 

So are there two DIMM slots or one dimm slots? Also, is there an express card or its PCMIA?

What about the keyboard? I'm assuming it's not full size?

 

Good observation, the camera is not standard, it is only in the more $$$ models.

 

PCMCIA and one user accessible. We should have one of these units on hand soon for a review so a more concrete answer can be given at that time.