Fujitsu Tablet PC convertible with wide screen and Centrino 2
(by Kirk Linsky)

In July of 2008 Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation introduced the LifeBook T5010 Tablet PC convertible as part of an announcement that also included another T-Series Tablet PC convertible, the LifeBook T1010, and a number of new and updated notebooks. The introduction coincided with Intel's official announcement of the "Montevina" Centrino 2 platform that combines faster Core 2 Duo chips with Mobile Intel GM45 chipsets and the Intel WiFi Link 5000 series for faster wireless communication.

While all this new Intel technology certainly makes the new LifeBooks faster and more efficient machines, Fujitsu also used the opportunity to add models with the increasingly popular "wide" screens to its Tablet PC convertible lineup. Both new models sport a 13.3-inch wide aspect ratio display with 1280 x 800 pixel WXGA resolution. The display has an active electromagnetic digitizer and an LED backlight. Displays are available in indoor or indoor/outdoor versions (the price difference is only US$50), though the nature of the outdoor display is not described.

While the LifeBook T4220 was still available at the time of the T5010's introduction, Fujitsu's press release described new machine as the T4220's successor. If it is, it's a larger and more powerful follow-up. The T5010 weighs almost five pounds with an optical drive installed in its modular bay. That is still light, but almost a pound more than the T4220 whose width the new machine also exceeds by more than an inch.

The T5010 is available with either a Core 2 Duo P8400/P8600 processor with a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 25 watts or a faster Core 2 Duo T9400/9600 processor with a higher TDP of 35 watts. The standard 56 watt-hour Li-Ion battery is good for up to 3:45 hours. Add the optional media bay 41 watt-hour battery to boost that to almost seven hours.

Fujitsu offers 80 to 250GB 5400rpm hard disks and a quicker 120GB 7200rpm drive. You can choose from a variety of optical drives but there seems like reason to pick anything but the dual-layer multi-format DVD writer as they all cost the same. For wireless you can still pick between Atheros (bye-bye Centrino sticker) or Intel. Both support Draft-n for quicker wireless.

Onboard connectivity is even better than before. There are now three USB 2.1 ports, a IEEE1394 "Firewire" port, gigabit Ethernet, a PC Card slot, a Smart Card slot, and a shared Memory Stick/SD card reader. An optional port replicator has four USB ports, DVI, and HDMI.

With security being an ever more important concern, Fujitsu designed the T5010 with a variety of security features, including a Trusted Platform Module, a biometric fingerprint sensor, Fujitsu Portshutter data leak prevention software, two-level BIOS and HDD password protection, support for Absolute Software's Computrace computer theft recovery solution, and Smart Card slot. It also includes Intel's vPro technology that provides advanced motherboard-base security and remote manageability for enterprise customers.

Pricing for the T5010 starts at US$1,769.