Hands on with Fujitsu's pocket-size convertible UMPC

IDG News Service - TOKYO - Fujitsu Ltd. has unveiled an ultramobile PC that's small enough to fit in a jacket pocket.

The machine will first be promoted to corporate users as a secondary PC, suitable for people who need a small, lightweight machine for when they are out of the office. At the Fujitsu Forum event in Tokyo on Wednesday, I got a chance to try out the machine, which Fujitsu said is the smallest such PC in its class.

First impressions are of a small, lightweight machine that should be able to handle most demands of its target users but which is missing a few features -- such as Bluetooth and a second shift key -- that might cause a hassle for some.

The Fujitsu ultramobile PC

The 5.6-in. display panel has a touchscreen that can be operated by a stylus or by finger, and there's a 56-key keyboard with 14-millimeter key pitch (the distance from one key to the center of the next). The keyboard can be operated with thumbs while the user holds each edge of the machine, so it's possible to type while standing. However, there's only one shift key, so it might be difficult to enter some letters.

A potentially useful touch is two lights situated just above the keyboard that can provide some illumination in low light.

A mouse pointer is located just below the hinge on the right-hand side of the lower half of the computer, and the mouse buttons lie opposite on the left-hand side. I found the mouse quite sensitive, and the cursor frequently overshot its intended position. But that is something that users will likely get used to in a short time.

The machine comes with a wireless LAN adapter but no Bluetooth support. That means you'll be left messing around with a cable should you need to make a connection via a cell phone. There is an SD card slot and a Compact Flash slot, which can be used for a plug-in cellular modem, Fujitsu said.

Other features include a fingerprint sensor that can be tied in with the computer's authentication system, both for access to the BIOS and Windows. The machine also ships with Portshutter Version 2 software, which can be used to disable the USB port or restrict it to approved devices.

It weighs 580 grams and measures 171mm by 133mm by 32mm thick. Using the standard battery, the machine will run four hours on Windows XP and three and a half hours on Windows Vista.

The Windows XP versions of the machine will be available in Japan from mid-June, and the Windows Vista version will follow in early July. Overseas sales will begin at the same time from Asia and then spread worldwide, Fujitsu said. Prices in Japan will be 144,000 yen ($1,197 U.S.) for the base version and 164,000 yen for the two other machines.

Reprinted with permission from

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