Fujitsu LifeBook FMV-U8240 ultra-mobile PC
Miniaturisation gone mad?
Hands-on preview Japan continues to live up to its reputation for miniaturisation. This week, Fujitsu unveiled a family of small PCs, sized only slightly larger than a hefty PDA, known as the U Series, where the U is taken from Ultra-mobile PC.
Aimed at the corporate user on the go, the unhandily named FMV-U8240 features a desktop operating system - either Windows XP or, for the adventurous user, Windows Vista - as part of the 580g package which slipped handily into my jacket pocket - for testing purposes only, you understand. At 2.7cm thick, it's as thin as a modest paperback book. The diminutive computer caught the fancy of a German colleague who immediately saw a use for this as an on-the-go digital photo editing platform.
A bright 5.6in display with 1,024 x 600 resolution provided a surprisingly easy-to-read screen - provided that you read Japanese easily, that is - the launch of this gadget is scheduled for June (XP) and July (Vista), in Asian regions only. No date yet on when it will reach Europe or North America.
The FMV-U8240 face on
COMMENTS
Zaurus anyone?
This is very reminiscent of the (now discontinued) Sharp Zaurus, with it's twistable screen, CF/SD ports, and diminutive keyboard, although with a bigger footprint. Although I love my Zaurus, this is definitely a tastier bit of kit - especially as this has wifi, a wider screen, and isn't restricted to running Linux, NetBSD, or OpenBSD.
I wonder how long it'll be before it appears on these shores...
hmmm...familiar
looks like a nice piece of kit. Reminds me of my old HP Jornada PDA (the really old ones with full keyboards) just a lot nicer. Hes right though, that keyboard would take a lot of getting used to.
Fujitzu Siemens UMPC @ WinHEC
Hi
I have been at WinHEC this week. They had this wee Fuj on display. Looks like a nice piece of kit. Gates' keynote referred to UMPC's quite a bit, he used a number of them incl the Fuj in his speech.
If the £ price quoted turns out to be true, i'll be having one. I love my Fuj P1610 tablet jobbie.
I took so photies of the fuj umpc and for the specs PDF, but I think the register has everything anyway. Maybe they were also at WinHEC??
Cheers
Nigel
US Keyboard on the WinHEC sample
Hi
There was a US keyboard, and english langugage win on the WinHEC unit. (have pics if required). Unit is no longer in its display cabenit since this is the last day and exhibitors have packed up!
I never got to play with it unfortunately.
If the register wants em send me an email and i'll send em back.
Nigel
