A truly unique hybrid, the Fujitsu LifeBook U820 combines the components and performance of a netbook with the features and starting price ($1,049) of an ultraportable tablet, all in a remarkably minuscule package. A follow-up to its U810, this device features integrated GPS functionality and optional mobile broadband, and it should appeal to a very specific group of users who are more concerned with portability than with performance muscle.
Design
When closed, the all-black U820 could almost be mistaken for an e-book reader, but for its 1.2-inch thickness and its four-cell battery (which accounts for nearly an inch of the tablet’s 6.1-inch depth). Still, the U820 is not much bigger than a trade paperback, and its 1.6-pound weight makes it easy to slip into even a small bag or briefcase.
Open the lid and you’ll find a Lilliputian keyboard; the space bar measures just over an inch in length, and most of the other keys are half that size. This ultimately proves too small for touch-typing, yet too big for comfortable thumb typing. You’re reduced to using one or two fingers on each hand to peck out letters painstakingly—an extremely slow process that’s appropriate only for quick e-mails. In another concession to the compact case, some of the keys have been moved from their standard positions; most egregiously, the period key has been moved to the bottom row, beside the space bar.
Display
Aside from its portability, the most appealing feature of the U820 is its 1280 x 800-pixel, 5.6-inch screen, which is so bright that we were able to use the tablet outdoors on a sunny day that would wash out most other displays. The panel’s WXGA resolution is a bit of a double-edged sword: photos and videos look great, but text and icons can be difficult to read. A magnifier button beneath the screen switches to a more legible resolution, but the results require too much scrolling.
Most users will prefer to swivel the display around and use the device as a tablet, which presents more comfortable options for navigation. The pointing stick and mouse buttons are located on either side of the display hinge, above the keyboard—awkward when the device is sitting on a table, but quite natural when holding the tablet in both hands. Two scroll buttons and a function toggle, also located on the display hinge, further help with tablet navigation. You can also make selections on the touchscreen using your fingers or the stylus, which slides into the display bezel for storage.
As a touchscreen, the display proved equally responsive to our fingers, the stylus, and the top of a pen, though our fingers left smudges on its glossy finish. When it came to handwriting, the screen seemed to lag a millisecond or two behind our stylus, which at first was a bit disconcerting. We were also disappointed with the narrow, flimsy stylus itself, which wasn’t very comfortable for writing lengthy notes on-screen.
Webcam and Ports
Above the display sits a 1.3-megapixel webcam for videoconferencing. Video from the webcam was clear in all but the darkest environments; although the camera struggled to keep up with swift movements, the quality was adequate for Web chats.
Other features around the tiny case include a single USB port, headphone and microphone jacks, an SD Card reader, and a CompactFlash slot (which can be used like a PC Card to add functionality). There’s also a port to connect to Fujitsu’s docking station ($80); it lets you add an Ethernet port and VGA functionality (handy for giving presentations) via an included dongle.
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