Fujitsu updates tiny LifeBook P1630

Fujitsu has just announced updates to the tiny P-series tablet. Designed primarily for use in vertical markets (think health care and manufacturing), this system is also sure to appeal to buyers who want something as portable as a Netbook but are willing to pay more for a more thorough feature set.

The 8.9-inch, 2.2-pound LifeBook P1630 updates the P1620 with Centrino 2 components, including an Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 Ultra Low Voltage Processor and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity. The new model also includes a 1.3-megapixel Webcam, an optional solid-state drive, and optional Bluetooth connectivity; WWAN will be offered as an option in 2009.

The company claims that the LifeBook P1630 can run up to 6.2 hours with the high-capacity battery. Starting at US$2,179, the tablet is available immediately. Over in Asia, the P1630 will ship in the later part of the year.

Via Crave CNET

New MacBook trackpad not clicking for some users

The new glass trackpad introduced on the MacBooks unveiled by Apple last month appears to be giving some users fits.

The trackpad on the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros does away with a separate button, turning the whole trackpad into the mouse button. It also supports several new multitouch gestures for rotating pictures or scrolling. But The Register notes that some users are running into problems where the MacBook doesn't register clicks on the trackpad.
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Transcend revs up 128GB solid-state drive

I'm not sure this will help stop the downturn in the NAND flash memory market, but Transcend on Tuesday joined the league of solid-state-drive makers and introduced its new 128GB high-speed 2.5-inch drive.

The new drive features the SATA-II interface and Transcend's Multi-level cell flash memory chip. This combination allows it to offer sustained read/write speeds of up to 145MB/92MB per second, about 40 percent faster than high-speed regular 2.5-inch SATA hard drives.

Like other SSDs, the new SSD from Transcend has very low 0.2ms latency that would potentially increase the performance of software applications, as well as the overall system.

The new Transcend SSD is available in capacities ranging from 8GB to 128GB, with the 128GB version costing only US$379, a very good deal. You can also find Transcend's SSDs that support the older IDE interface with capacities ranging from 8GB to 64GB.

All Transcend's SSDs are covered with a two-year warranty along with the company's worldwide support. (Please check with your local distributor for more details of the Transcend SSDs in your region.)

Via CNET Crave

Fujitsu LifeBook N7010: Are two screens better than one?

Note that the Fujitsu LifeBook N7010 is currently available only for the US market.

Fujitsu is keeping the ball rolling with another addition to the LifeBook family. The LifeBook N7010, announced Tuesday, may not have the swappable lid panels of those previous models, but it does have a fresh new feature: A 4-inch touchscreen panel above the keyboard that can be used to control media playback, display quick-launch icons, or scroll through a photo slideshow.

The second display can also help you multitask; instead of minimizing an application, you can drag it into the display below (The example from Fujitsu: You can work on a large file in the main screen while chatting on the Webcam below).

We're going to have to spend some time with the system to decide whether that screen is a boon to productivity or just a novelty. But even ignoring the extra LCD, the LifeBook N7010 has some compelling characteristics. Its 16-inch widescreen display has the 16:9 aspect ratio that's ideal for viewing HD content, yet its case takes up about the same amount of space as a 15.4-inch system. To take advantage of the HD-friendly display, the N7010 includes an integrated Blu-ray drive, and if you want to watch movies on something larger, an HDMI port connects to your HDTV. Also, like so many of the midsize systems we're seeing today, the laptop incorporates an eSATA port for speedy transfer of large movie files.
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Belkin FlyThru: Another checkpoint-friendly bag

Back in September, Dan Ackerman reviewed two of the new airport checkpoint-friendly laptop bags, one from Targus, one from CODi. And while there are a few more on the market, the only one announced Monday was this one from Belkin.

Available now in the U.S. for US$59.99, the FlyThru puts your laptop off by itself on one side while accessories and your other miscellany are off on the other side. It just unzips and lays flat on the belt as it takes a ride through the screener.

It's designed to fit notebooks up to 15.4 inches, wide screen or standard. Metal zippers and other hardware were kept to a minimum so as to not stymie security, and apparently the zipper for the laptop compartment is positioned to let you grab your bag off the belt without it falling out. Super. Do check with your local distributor for availability and pricing details in your region.

Via CNET Crave

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