Fujitsu's 12.1-inch LOOX R: world's first Penryn ultra-portable?

That unassuming little 12.1-inch laptop is Fujitsu's LOOX R ultra-portable. It weighs in at 1.27-kg (2.8-pounds) with an LED backlit 1,280 x 800 display, up to 4GB or memory and 120GB of disk, dual-layer DVD writer, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g WiFi, SDHC slot, Firewire, fingerprint sensor, PCMCIA, and more. Lots to like already. Now this: a standard battery running for 9.7-hours with the help of a purposely unspecified Intel processor. With an expected January ship, is it any wonder we're speculating that this is the world's first laptop to run a mobile version of Intel's new Penryn CPU rumored for release on January 6th? The first of many we'll see launch in the new year.

[CNW @ Dec 18th 2007 2:10AM]

Fujitsu was already known for long battery life. Now with newer processor, the battery life got even better.

[vien @ Dec 18th 2007 2:14AM]

now to see which body part i'll have to sell to buy it.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Dec 18th 2007 3:25AM]

I suggest the one that produces children; anyways you won't afford to have them after buying this...

[darren @ Dec 18th 2007 2:16AM]

It looks like an old Dell Inspiron. But whatever, it's what's inside that counts.

[DT @ Dec 18th 2007 2:20AM]

My God....wrap this in some Apple sexiness, throw OS X on there, and you can charge $3k...I'll still buy one.

[mark @ Dec 18th 2007 2:22AM]

This looks like the latest version of the 7000 series lifebooks. I have one of these and they are the dog's undercarriage: nothing to beat them as a small laptop to travel with.

[Ethyriel @ Dec 18th 2007 4:05AM]

I assume you're talking P7000 series, in which case I agree. It looks like they're using the same technique as with the S6510, where they fit a 14" screen into a 13" chassis.

[Jay @ Dec 28th 2007 2:10PM]

You're right! This is definitely the new P series!
I must say this is a rather stunning improvement from the already impressive P7120. I was rather dissapointed with Fujitsu's decision to cut battery life and shrink the touchpad in the P7230. With this new baby, the P series are really back into the game.

It seems they're squeezing the 12 inch screen into the original 10.6 inch box. If the screen is as brilliant as the old one, those extra inches will be sweet sweet sweet! Bigger screen, bigger keyboard, bigger trackpad, bigger HDD, longer hours, Core duo... Yep you can be sure I'll be taking one of these babies home!

[Andrew H. @ Dec 18th 2007 3:07AM]

LOOX good to me =D

[James @ Dec 18th 2007 3:34AM]

I can't believe you went there...

[ace_spades @ Dec 18th 2007 6:34PM]

LOOX R'nt everything!
:P

[Atanas Boev @ Dec 18th 2007 3:58AM]

I have 900mhz Fujitsu tablet, which runs 6:50h with the extended battery. Finaly I can upgrade. Thanks Intel!

[Small Business Marketing @ Dec 18th 2007 4:40AM]

Just in time. I need to replace my Inspiron that is finking out on me. Why don't we have a price?????

[spam_from_engadget @ Dec 18th 2007 5:45AM]

So, what would the weight and battery life be if you got rid of the optical drive and replaced the disk with an SSD?

[iansarchibald @ Dec 18th 2007 8:57AM]

More better.

[Kamall @ Dec 18th 2007 8:50AM]

But why still use PC Card instead of Expresscard? Will this come to the States?

[Ethyriel @ Dec 18th 2007 3:25PM]

So I can use my PCMCIA sound card in it, Echo needs to get off their ass and release an express card version already.

[Constable Odo @ Dec 18th 2007 9:54AM]

Dagnabit, they beat Apple to the punch. This ultraportable might look like crap, but it has all the good stuff that Apple won't put on their notebooks (SDHC slot, fingerprint sensor). No 802.11n, but good battery life. All in all, not bad.

Why the heck won't Apple move to SDHC slots. That shouldn't cost much money to add an extra slot. I converted my MacBook Pro's Express 34 slot to use SDHC. It's great.

[James Yopp @ Dec 18th 2007 12:23PM]

I can say one thing. If Apple *doesn't* release the fabled ultraportable in January, I may have a plain-vanilla "hobbyist" copy of x86 Mac OS waiting for one of these (I have extra legit copies of the OS anyway). Having waited this long to replace my 12" Powerbook is bad enough; I don't think I'll feel like waiting another 6 months to a year. Fugly or not, I want something powerful and portable, and this looks quite functional.

[qwert @ Dec 18th 2007 11:00AM]

looks fugly, but it definely is the inner that counts, and there is plenty to love. 9.7 hours of battery! even if this is totally unrealistic and its more like 7 hours it is still pretty cool.

why cant apple come up with something like this? if they wont do soon (and the standby issues most linux distros have), my next laptop will be something like this.

qwert

[Pim @ Dec 18th 2007 7:07PM]

imho 12" doesnt really qualify as ultra-portable. There are plenty devices out there with friendlier weight and measurements. The battery life is nice tho.
I wonder what made Fujitsu choose a old standard PCMCIA slot instead of PCexpress. Also missing embedded 3G modem, webcam and SSD. Otherwise awesome notebook.

[SK @ Dec 18th 2007 9:21PM]

9.7 hours of battery life! I'd buy this to run my old laptop off this Fujitsu's battery!

[purezerg @ Dec 19th 2007 10:35AM]

my HP laptop 15.4" already last 12hrs with extended battery.

[Syliss @ Dec 20th 2007 1:33AM]

OOO I want, just need to know price. That is so what im looking for.

[Apreche @ Dec 24th 2007 10:24AM]

My core solo P7230 is crying.

[david @ Dec 27th 2007 8:52AM]

Too ugly.
Summit better will be along soon after.......

[Apreche @ Dec 27th 2007 9:40AM]

It's what's inside that counts.