Fujitsu LifeBook B3000D review: Fujitsu LifeBook B3000D

Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D notebook

The Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D is a unique amalgam of a handheld, a tablet PC, and an ultralight laptop--and it's also a smart improvement over its predecessor, the B3000. The B3010D includes a power-saving Pentium M processor, two USB 2.0 ports, and a handy wireless on/off switch on its front edge. The Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D also offers its trademark tap screen, long battery life, and integrated Wi-Fi. While this unique feature set won't appeal to everyone, it will speak to those who seek the convenience of a tappable screen, which is handy when you're surfing the Web.

The Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D's small, 10.4-inch display responds to tapping with the included PDA-like stylus. The laptop's keyboard is diminutive but sports sophisticated black accents shared by the new Fujitsu LifeBook S series. The B3010D's touch pad and mouse buttons are also large and comfortable for an ultraportable.

Tiny even for an ultraportable, the Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D weighs just 3.3 pounds and boasts equally small dimensions: 1.4 by 10.6 by 7.4 inches. The minuscule form factor doesn't leave room for an internal swappable bay, making secondary storage drives, such as DVD/CD-RW drives, external-only options. The AC adapter pushes the notebook's overall weight up by 3/4 pound, bringing the travel weight to about 4 pounds.

Along its right edge, the Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D has two USB 2.0 ports; a 10/100 Ethernet port and an integrated 56Kbps modem; ports for VGA, headphone, and microphone; a CompactFlash slot; and one Type II PC Card slot with an embedded smart-card reader appears on the left. A handy wireless on/off switch is easy to access on the laptop's front edge.

The Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D features a 1GHz Pentium M chip, which resulted in much faster performance and outstanding battery life in CNET Labs tests. You can configure your LifeBook with a 4,200rpm hard drive that measures either 40GB or 60GB, plus you can get 802.11a/b/g wireless and anywhere from 256MB to 1GB of DDR SDRAM. While not chock-full of cutting-edge components, this spec selection falls in line with that of most ultraportables. And be sure to buy all the RAM you'll need right at the get-go, since the system includes just one memory slot, forcing you to toss out your existing RAM should you want to add another module later.

System configurations:
Fujitsu LifeBook B series
Windows XP Home; 1GHz Intel Pentium M; 256MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME (up to 64MB); Fujitsu MHT2060AT 60GB 4,200rpm

JVC MP-XV841
Windows XP Professional; 1GHz Intel Pentium M; 256MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME (up to 64MB); Hitachi Travelstar 40GN 40GB 4,200rpm

Sony VAIO TR3A
Windows XP Professional; 1GHz Intel Pentium M; 1GB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME (up to 64MB); Hitachi DK13FA-40 40GB 4,200rpm

The Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D ships with a 10.4-inch display that functions like a tablet PC's, responding to taps with the included stylus, though we're uncertain about when this would actually be useful. Each laptop also includes Intel's 855GM graphics chip, which borrows up to 64MB of video memory from main RAM. External CD and DVD/CD-RW drives are available, but unfortunately, Fujitsu doesn't offer a DVD-rewritable drive with the laptop. The company provides Windows XP Home, XP Professional, and 2000 as operating system choices for the Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D. Bundled software consists of just a few utilities, because the laptop's business-centric audience will already have bought most of the applications they require.

The Fujitsu LifeBook B3010D comes with the current standard laptop warranty: one year free parts and labor with return-to-depot service and toll-free phone support 24/7 for the length of the warranty. The company gives you several options to upgrade these warranty terms with additional years, onsite service, and screen damage protection. Fujitsu's limited support Web site still pales in comparison to the sites of heavy hitters such as Dell and IBM, but its handy chat feature lets you ping tech-support reps for help.