Fujitsu's Lifebook P1510 - Korea-only tablet

We're not sure why Fujitsu decided to make this a Korea-only product — or why they're not even including the Tablet PC version of Windows — but if you're looking for the latest mini convertible tablet PC (lower-case T, since they're running XP Home) that you can't get, check out the Fujitsu P1510. It actually has pretty good specs for a tablet, including an 8.9-inch display, 60GB drive, 1.2Ghz Pentium M 753, WiFi, CF slot, and 512MB RAM standard. Available now somewhere below the 38th Parallel, and nowhere else.

[Via Akihabara News]

[david_m @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

The tablet software features are mostly useless, if not downright goofy. The main one is handwriting, which rarely makes sense for the average user. However, the tablet form factor, and the ability to interface via a pen (or finger) are generally nice for anyone, specially when you are on the train, a couch, etc. So it makes perfect sense.

[Mike Bowen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Considering the number of school boards in the US that are now running laptop programs, I'm surprised that nobody is really distributing these ultra-small/light laptops in the US (although perhaps not a tablet). It's as bad for a 12 year old to haul around a 7 pound laptop as it is to haul around 12 pounds of textbooks every night. Why someone doesn't market a 3.5lb, 9" screen subnotebook (reminiscint, say, of the omnibook 300/425 that weighed 2.5lbs) for the school market is beyond me. There's a huge market waiting to explode for those subnotebooks for school laptop programs as soon as somebody produces them at a better price point. [For those who don't know, school textbooks are so expensive by middle school that it's not much more expensive to provide a free laptop & textbooks as PDF files as it is to buy textbooks].

[Michael Levy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

It has a passive digitizer (a normal touch screen) which is why it can't be considered a "tablet PC" so MS won't allow fujitsu to sell them with Tablet XP....

And MS won't let us buy Tablet XP over the counter.

That seems to be a blunder. I understand they don't want the term "tablet" getting a bad name, but I think they've gone too far.

If Fujitsu makes tablets with screens so small that a passive digitizer makes sense (because your hand won't be resting on the screen while you write), why shouldn't they be able to load tablet XP on them?

If I want to run Tablet XP on my desktop (with a wacom drawing tablet) why the heck shouldn't I be able to do so?

[christopher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Everything the Pepper Pad is not. Or the LifeDrive for that matter.

[Giuliano Riosa @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Damn, thats pretty sweet. The size is great for a tablet.

[Steve K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Yeah, it's a nice-lookin' gadget. And Fujitsu even went with full-sized period and comma keys on this.

Perfect unit for Dynamism to pick up...

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

The P1510 is already listed on Kemplar.com. Still no set prices, however:

http://www.kemplar.com/fujitsu_p1510.php

[nicholas @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

"The tablet software features are mostly useless, if not downright goofy."

My little tablet at first paid for itself on a single project with Alias SketchBook. It didn't seem goofy to me to be able to sketch/diagram concepts and post them immediately. My clients also didn't think it was goofy. But ymmv...

The biggest drawback was the crappy security. I don't care how many people say that you can secure a computer that goes between wireless, cellular, and ethernet networks, in my humbe experience it was impossible. I had the Fujitsu slate which was great, and now that Sketchbook works on a Mac, I simply ditched it. Would I love a tablet Mac!

[Abe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

If an english version of this ever came out, I would pay ANYTHING for it! The gadget I've been waiting for! PERFECTION!

[Abe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

If an english version of this ever came out, I would pay ANYTHING for it! The gadget I've been waiting for! PERFECTION!

[Christopher M. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Sigh... That's it, that's definitely it. The model we've been waiting for. Sony, come on, do this.

[bubba @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Everyone waiting for the perfect keyboard-attached model needs to really give the slate models a try for a week first. Once you realize how easy it is to use, and how advanced the handwriting technology has become, you stop seeing the need for an always-attached keyboard. Need a keyboard? Plug in a USB, use a bluetooth, or a slick IR like this Fujitsu 5022 of mine has. But 90% of the time I'm state... and this is my only computer.

[Dan Everest @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

This looks great and for me really has the ideal form factor. I have a Fujitsu 12" convertible and really love it. But, it's too heavy. I would be concerned that it isn't a true TPC. I would also look for wide angle screen and view anywhere screen - I have found those features are a must. Bluetooth is needed as well. Otherwise it meets many of my dream specs. As someone else said, come on Sony introduce a <10" convertible tablet. I bet it will come...

[bearnheart @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

This is one of the 3 top interesting devices for me!!!
The other 2 are: Flybook 8.9" and the upcoming Flybook V35i with internal DVD (Computex in november, Gitex in september)!!

Will Fujitsu build a (P16xx, or whatsoever) with internal DVD??

Can I find a dealer somewhere, who sells it with English Windows (or any other or multilanguage) and latin letter stickers?

[bearnheart @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

This is one of the 3 top interesting devices for me!!!
The other 2 are: Flybook 8.9" and the upcoming Flybook V35i with internal DVD (Computex in november, Gitex in september)!!

Will Fujitsu build a (P16xx, or whatsoever) with internal DVD??

Can I find a dealer somewhere, who sells it with English Windows (or any other or multilanguage) and latin letter stickers?

[San @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

There are some questions here which may be deserves some answers:
1: this 8.9" notebooks about $2000, so it is not really financially possible to give for students when basic teaching materials not available.
2: screen too small for educational purpose - it is more like a yuppie DPA
3: keyboard small for serious work
4: for $300-$400 dollars a desktop unit out does this unit in every aspect
(but not portable, since kids have MP3 payers it is not a problem)

What is wrong with Fujitsu:
- small memory
- the 512MB mem upgrade (to 1GB) cost $800!!! (instead of $140)
- slow and small hard drive: 30GB or 60GB and only 4200RPM, not SATA
- no DVD
- no PCMCIA card slot
- (no GSM support like Flybook)
- too thick! (see IBM for slim notebooks but they don't make 8.9")

I hope Fujitsu will fix these design problems before the upcoming new Intel chip (Yonah ULV) becomes available. I am planning to buy the Fujitsu then! For me the PCMCIA slot essential for communication.

I would not expect anything good from Sony - just call the customer service once and you know why.

The big plus from Fujitsu: it has a magnesium case!!!!! Great!!!

I hope censorship is minimal - all my comments without prejudice.

[san @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

What is wrong with Fujitsu:
- small memory
- the 512MB mem upgrade (to 1GB) cost $800!!! (instead of $140)
- slow and small hard drive: 30GB or 60GB and only 4200RPM, not SATA
- no DVD
- no PCMCIA card slot
- (no GSM support like Flybook)
- too thick! (see IBM for slim notebooks but they don't make 8.9")
- pen too thin � I can not understand why Fujitsu doesn�t care about ergonomics


I hope Fujitsu will fix these design problems before the upcoming new Intel chip (Yonah ULV) becomes available. I am planning to buy the Fujitsu then! For me the PCMCIA slot essential for communication.


The big plus from Fujitsu: it has a magnesium case!!!!! Great!!!