Fujitsu LifeBook V1010

Fujitsu's LifeBook V1010 is hardly the most multimedia-friendly notebook, but that's because it's geared toward the small-business crowd. Still, we expected better overall performance from this plain-looking system.

 

Despite its sharp beveled edges and matte black finish, the 6.2-pound LifeBook is decidedly generic. The 15.4-inch glossy widescreen display has a 1280 x 800 resolution and features Fujitsu's Crystal View technology, which provided bright, vibrant color reproduction and wide viewing angles without the glare we've seen on some other high-gloss panels.

 

Keyboard action was smooth and responsive, and the wide, lightly textured touchpad had a nice touch. We appreciated the slightly enlarged mouse buttons, too. The all-silver keyboard deck contains two underpowered speakers that are best used with the volume turned low, and there are six LED status lights sandwiched between them. You won't find any multimedia controls on this model, nor will you find a webcam, a FireWire port, or a media card reader. Surprisingly, this model also lacks a fingerprint reader, which is fast becoming a staple on business-class notebooks. However, the keyboard is spill-resistant, which is good news for the accident-prone.

 

Connectivity ports are scarce, but most are positioned for easy access. Two of the three USB ports and an ExpressCard slot are located on the right side of the notebook, as are the modem, VGA, headphone, and microphone jacks. The remaining USB port and an Ethernet jack can be found at the rear of the system, and a dual-layer DVD burner sits alone on the left side. Under the hood is a 120GB hard drive (5,400 rpm) preloaded with Windows Vista Business, CyberLink's PowerDVD, and Fujitsu's HotKey Utility software.

 

Our LifeBook V1010 was configured with an 1.6-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5200 processor and 2GB of RAM, and video was driven by Intel's integrated GMA 950 graphics engine. The system's PCMark05 score of 3,000 was the second-lowest in the roundup (only the Toshiba Satellite A215-S4757 turned in a lower score), but this notebook is certainly powerful enough to handle most home and office productivity tasks. Similarly, a 3DMark03 score of 1,322 means you won't be doing much 3D gaming, but the machine had no trouble playing DVD movies and running Aero effects smoothly.

 

Wireless throughput was the highest of the group, measuring 24.5 Mbps at 15 feet from our access point and 20.6 Mbps at 50 feet from the access point. The LifeBook V1010's DVD battery rundown time of 1 hour and 48 minutes means you can't even get through a relatively short movie without requiring a recharge, but you can expect about 3 hours doing regular computing chores.

 

If you're looking for a multimedia-friendly notebook, this system isn't for you. However, if you need a laptop with good Wi-Fi range that can handle a few spills, the LifeBook V1010 should fill the bill nicely.

 

Sony VAIO VGN-NR160E
The NR160 offers a stylish exterior, but an average performance.

 

Toshiba Satellite A215-S4757
A multimedia notebook lacking in speed.

 

HP Pavilion dv6500z
An excellent choice for anyone seeking a multimedia notebook for under $1,000.