Fujitsu gets official with FMV-U8240 UMPC
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 16th 2007 10:49AM
posted May 16th 2007 10:49AM
Fujitsu's first foray into the UMPC market has already made itself known at this week's WinHEC conference, but the company only seems to have gotten around to officially announcing it today, trotting out the device in all its convertible splendor. As we knew before, this one boasts a 5.6-inch 1024 x 600 display, an 800MHz Intel A110 processor, and up to 1GB of RAM, although the 40GB hard drive we first heard about looks to have been knocked down to 20GB. Underpinning the entire system is Intel's recently-announced Ultra Mobile Platform 2007, which should give it a significant leg up over earlier UMPCs. What we didn't know before was its model name, now revealed as the FMV-U8240, or when it'd actually be available and what it'd cost. On that latter point, we've got good news and bad: the device will be available fairly soon (mid-June), although only in Japan (at least to start with), where it'll set you back ¥144,000 or ¥164,000 ($1,190-$1,360) depending on the configuration . A third model running Windows Vista Business will follow in July -- those first two get Windows XP Professional instead.
[Via Laptoping]
[Via Laptoping]
This looks very nice...
There are so many UMPC choices this year. I was ready to pop for the Q1 ultra but may need to have a look at this too!
I would love to get one! I still have my old Toshiba Libretto that is desperately in the need of an overhaul and the Fujitsu would be a great replacement. The only issue being when would it be available in the US market for a decent price? Dynamism will have it no doubt, but at a premium.
RIFRAF, you could always go through a place like conics.net or pricejapan.com - cheaper than Dynamism, but not as much support. Both places should be able to import it as soon as it's released in Japan.
I gotta say that this one looks interesting. Any word on touchscreen, because I'll be raiding my huge change tube if it's got one...
I see what might be the tip of a stylus pen on the top right hand corner of the screen.
I have a VERY small convertible Fujitsu tablet, I love it. This company does small very well.
Thanks Mike. After looking at Fujitsu's site, this could be the UMPC I've been waiting for. That other company that made the lap/tablet convertible didn't have a touch screen.
Counting the change now. :)
wi-fi?
I have to admit, this one isn't doing it for me. I've seen Sony's tiny screen UMPCs and they're almost impossible to read for people with any kind of eyesight limitation (same with the Toshiba Libretto).
I also look at the styling on a Q1 Ultra and compare it to the styling on this device and sorry, the Q1U blows it away.
Finally, think about how small that keyboard is going to be. Yes, the Q1U's thumb board is smaller, but the Q1U isn't a convertable - which means less things to break and less hassles using it.
If Fujitsu made something a wee bit bigger (like a 7" unit) that didn't look it was made out of Lego blocks, maybe...
Now... what about the Compaq 2710p? :)
"If Fujitsu made something a wee bit bigger (like a 7" unit) that didn't look it was made out of Lego blocks, maybe..."
If a 9" screen isn't too big, the Fujitsu P1610 is supposed to be a great machine--I've only heard good things about it. Before they 1600 series, there was the 1500 series (with Pentium M processors). This isn't some newfangled experiment like the UMPCs, it has a very good history.
http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P1610
Click through to the source article. There's a picture of someone using the touchscreen with a stylus.
more pics on PC Watch (japanese)
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2007/0516/fujitsu.htm
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2007/0516/fujitsu2.htm
actually some of the FLEPia WinCE devices look quite interesting, unfortunate name though.
This is another under powered UMPC that is dooming the concept, c'mon 20GB? 512MB? the Intel A110 is an old Pentium M with only 512KB cache on 90nm process, hardly cutting edge, it's like some marketing guy in Intel HQ found some use for the excess capacity in the fabs, sold the concept of UMPC to his boss!
While kudos to Fujitsu, they have been churning out ultra mobile laptop for ages, but the benchmark for UMPC should be something resembling the Sony UX micro PC.
They are getting so close on the design. Make the keyboard bigger and detachable so its more useable without adding bulk to machine you actually carry around day to day. The specs/processing power is fine. Anything more and I would just get a small laptop/tablet.