Fujitsu U810

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Any idea where I might be able to try one of these babies in New York City?

The usual big box retailers don't have it on their Web sites -- at least not yet.

Originally Posted by maevro

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Thanks maevro. I saw that, too, but I want to get all touchy-feely with the U810 before opening my wallet.

Originally Posted by sabesh

Yeah, thought about getting this .. changed my mind 'cos I want either built-in HSDPA or a PCMCIA slot. Sticking with my P1610D for now. Check out other cool UMPCs & Subnotebooks here:

http://www.dynamism.com/index.shtml

Originally Posted by richy240

TOO SMALL! (5.6" screen?!?) But it looks kinda sexy...

Originally Posted by sabesh

Yeah, thought about getting this .. changed my mind 'cos I want either built-in HSDPA or a PCMCIA slot.

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Folks, I'm literally at the verge of buying one of these within the next few days. Does anyone have any facts/logic that might keep me from going forward?

Most importantly: Is the Universal replacement expected within 6-9 months?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by pen25

no such thing as too small when you have traveled. used to carry an old POS dell latitude the one that weighed 10 lbs. and i used to also carry a little libretto as a backup.

Originally Posted by richy240

Oh, trust me, I'm all over the place. The smallest I'll go is my current 13.3" MacBook, and even that's smaller than I'd like.

I know, I know, we all have our preference. But I think there's a limit to how small you can make a portable computer while keeping it useful. If it's purchased strictly for travel, I understand that. But if you actually use something that small even when you're in the office (without a dock, etc.) that seems silly to me.

Just my 2 cents, really.

Originally Posted by pen25

oh dont get me wrong. i agree this wouldnt be something id use daily as a desktop replacement without a dock or on sales visits to use to sale something least not without a pocket projector. ;-) but you have admit that is something to drool over.

Originally Posted by Northerner

Yuk. All that plastic makes it look like something from Toysrus.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...oductId=2373385

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

A few thoughts on purchasing the U810...

Why I bought it:
My Dell Inspiron 630m laptop is aging fast (broken headphone jack, no speaker audio, jammed left touchpad button, dead Wi-Fi, nearly dead battery), so I was definitely in the market for a new primary computer. But as someone who works 10-14 hours a day, let's not kid ourselves: my "primary computer" is really my desktop at the office. At home, I wanted something that would be as lightweight and mobile as possible. Something that would be small enough to toss in a shoulder bag to take to a coffee shop, light enough to flip into tablet mode for surfing on the couch at night and still powerful enough to take on business trips and know I'll be able to get some real work done. The Fujitsu U810 fit the bill.

But didn't my Universal, Cavalier, Hermes, Prophet and all those other Windows Mobile devices fit the bill, too?[/B
]
You guys know I'm a huge Windows Mobile fan -- and a fan of the Universal in particular. But as powerful as WM is, you can still find yourself in a bind if you're traveling for work and are suddenly called on to edit a PowerPoint deck or review a Word doc that uses advanced tables. And let's be honest: surfing in IE Mobile can't compare to browsing on the desktop with full Flash, JavaScript, Ajax, etc. The Fujitsu U810 merges the awesome form factor of the Universal with the power of Windows Vista and Office 2007.

[B]So how can one guy have so many devices?
I think there's a perfect form factor for every need: my Dell laptop will stay on my desk at home and serve as a desktop replacement until it finally dies. My Cavalier will be my primary data device on the go, always in my pants pocket (or front shirt pocket, as the case may be) no matter where I am, 24/7. My U810 will be my main travel and "coffee shop" device. With five business trips planned in the next two months, I know I'll be happy having the 1.56-pound U810 at my side!

Where and how much?
J&R New York (www.jr.com), $999.99 with Vista Home Premium. (It's $100 for Vista Business or XP Tablet Edition.)

What other devices did I consider?
Asus' Eee PC (doesn't run Windows so no compatibility with Windows Mobile, a deal-breaker for me -- especially since I plan to use Internet Sharing a lot); Kohjinsha's SH6 (a little too expensive for what it delivers, and a bit "iffy" since it's really made for the Japanese market); HP's tx1000z tablet PC (a bit bigger and a lot heavier than I wanted); HTC's Shift (not quite the form factor I'm looking for, plus 2-hour battery life according to HTC product literature); and, of course, the mythical HTC Omni.

So how do I like it so far?
With just half a day of use, I love it! Neo001, Galt and other Universal fans, take notice!

More soon!

Originally Posted by pen25

WOW! did you check it out in person first?

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Yes, J&R's retail store in Lower Manhattan has it on display. I spent quite a bit of time with it before opening my wallet, insuring:

1. The keyboard is not too small. It's too large for thumb typing, but I can do a "modified" form of touch typing (sort of fast hunt and peck) quite easily on it. In fact, Universal owners will feel quite at home on the U810's keyboard.

2. The screen is not too small. Yes, it's smallish, but fonts are crisp and readable. Video is stunning and fluid. In sum, the screen is fabulous.

3. The build quality is superb. Sturdy hinges, strong casing, fingerprint-resistant finish. The U810 is built like a tank.

I saw the U810 for the first time yesterday, slept on it and went back today to buy it. I'm glad I did!

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

pen25, I'll definitely keep posting my thoughts and feedback here.

A couple more pics for people familiar with the size of the Universal:

Originally Posted by pen25

awesome. now one more question. can you let us know what the average batt life is on this thing? right now i get roughly 3 hours on the t43 running nhc.

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

At 99% battery life, Vista tells me I have 5 hours, 17 minutes remaining. We'll see how that works out over time.

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

So how do I like it so far?
With just half a day of use, I love it! Neo001, Galt and other Universal fans, take notice!

More soon!

Originally Posted by neo001

Dude . . . congrats on that awesome new device !! I am on the look for a brand new toy to give to myself for christmas I guess I am gonna have to follow this thread real close , again congrats and enjoy dude !!

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Thanks neo!

To be sure, the U810 is not a phone (though it could probably run Skype), but it is a great notebook replacement. When coupled with Internet Sharing on an unlocked phone like my Cavalier or your Touch, it's like wireless nirvana: the perfect form factor for any situation, and always-on Internet access for both.

Originally Posted by hitch

Urban Strata, does the u810 have IR? I still print nearly every day with my TyTn to my portable printers using IR. If I upgrade to the tilt I'll loose that option. What phone are you carrying now? Have you toted the u810 around in just your pocket yet as a PPC alternative? I'm using the P1510 and unless I could abandon the briefcase or manbag, I cannot see gaining much by going with the 810 although my gadget jones are calling me to place the order.

Originally Posted by hitch

Urban Strata, does the u810 have IR? I still print nearly every day with my TyTn to my portable printers using IR. If I upgrade to the tilt I'll loose that option. What phone are you carrying now? Have you toted the u810 around in just your pocket yet as a PPC alternative? I'm using the P1510 and unless I could abandon the briefcase or manbag, I cannot see gaining much by going with the 810 although my gadget jones are calling me to place the order.

Originally Posted by pen25

what printer do you have? i have been looking at cf rs232 cards and figure for the money they are wanting i might as well just spend the extra and get a bt rs232 dongle depending on which printer you have you might be able to buy the parellel version of the same thing. would solve the no port issue.

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

On to day two with the Fujitsu U810. This device is great!

Pros (so far):

• Fantastic build -- built like a tank!
• Great keyboard
• Amazingly small and light size
• Brilliant screen
• Much faster than I expected it to be
• Great mouse pointer controls

Cons (so far):

• Passive touch screen could be more responsive
• Keyboard should be backlit

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Where and how much?
J&R New York (www.jr.com), $999.99 with Vista Home Premium. (It's $100 for Vista Business or XP Tablet Edition.)

Originally Posted by Darkshadow46236

I've been using PDA + stowaway keyboards as my primary mobile platform, and I don't know if I can get used to carrying a 4lb + device.

Originally Posted by Darkshadow46236

If i recall correctly the less responsive touch screen deliberate - it was to help reduce "vectoring" when using the touch screen to write with. By vectoring I mean what happens when you touch two places of a touch screen at the same time.

Originally Posted by Darkshadow46236

How is the performance of the device - how does it feel running office apps? How about complex websites - like cnet.com - or large image laden pages like the T2010 photo review I linked to above? How long does it take to open a program - if I get an email and want to open an attachment in word how long are we talking?

Originally Posted by Mark Kenepp

Just curious,

Did you choose Vista Home because of the price or do you prefer that OS for what you are planning to do with the device?

Your thread here has piqued my interest in the U810 but I am a little wary of Vista.

Does Vista have support for tablets? (I have never used a Tablet PC myself)

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

I was actually 99% sure I was going to buy the U810 with XP Tablet Edition based on other users who said it was much faster than Vista. But then I tried the U810 with Vista in J&R's retail store and found it to be perfectly fast enough. (You won't be running 3D games or advanced number crunching apps on this device, but for Office 2007, e-mail and Web surfing, it's more than fast enough.)

Vista has excellent tablet support built-in, including superior handwriting recognition compared to XP Tablet Edition. So I saw all upside and little downside to buying the U810 with Vista Home Premium instead of paying an extra $100 for XP Tablet Edition. I'll still very glad about that decision.

Originally Posted by Mark Kenepp

So your not worried about WMDC?

I don't think that I will be doing any connecting with my TyTN should I end up getting the U810 but I am a little nervous about other stability issues with Vista. My Dad likes it but his needs are different than mine. In the end, you have convinced me that it is worth investigating Vista so, thanks

Originally Posted by Mark Kenepp

Have you connected your mobile to use as a modem?

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Battery life on the U810 is ridiculous; I've been surfing the Web for 30 minutes via Wi-Fi and still have 5 hours of battery life left.

To top it off, I wrote this freehand with Vista's handwriting recognition. How awesome is that?

Originally Posted by Mark Kenepp

I watched the video review posted earlier in this thread and your findings are much more positive than Hugo's from the video.

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Quick update:

I tried using the U810 (which I'm affectionately calling "Yewie" these days) outside this weekend, and the screen is basically unusable in sunlight. It effectively turns into a mirror. If you plan to work outside, do not buy this device. (It's really a non-issue for me.)

Also, I got the Executive Leather Black Portfolio last week to protect the U810. It's fantastic! Beautiful, plush leather; extremely firm hold; classy exterior design. If you buy the U810, I highly recommend the portfolio case. Photos soon.

Originally Posted by pen25

OK US been waiting patiently. figured you got back needed the weekend to recover and all but time is up. dont keep us waiting any longer. got to know how the thing felt and worked out for ya

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Thanks for prompting me, and I'm happy to report that my trip went GREAT!

I traveled to Boston on an Amtrak Acela train, which has advantages over air travel that include continuous wireless Internet access, an AC plug at every seat and easy on/easy off (no X-Ray security check). Since this was just a quick overnight trip, all I brought was a very small shoulder bag with a change of clothes and toiletries. Also tucked inside was my U810, and the whole bag probably weighed no more than 5-7 pounds.

The U810 provided outstanding productivity for the entire trip. Though I could have used Amtrak's Wi-Fi connection, I opted for AT&T's HSDPA network instead. (No real reason why other than I wasn't sure how secure Amtrak's Wi-Fi is. Not that AT&T is probably any better, but whatever. ) I drafted a Word doc and a PowerPoint deck over the course of the 3.5-hour trip, and caught up on a good amount of e-mail, too. And yes, the battery really lasts that long (and then some) with continuous Internet access!

One of my favorite parts of the trip was after I got to the hotel and was working on finalizing the PowerPoint deck. I realized I had left a graphic I needed on my PC back at work, so I used LogMeIn to remotely access it and transfer it to my U810. Sure, Windows Mobile can use LogMeIn, too, but the experience is so much nicer on the U810's larger screen and keyboard. And when was the last time you drafted a PowerPoint deck on Windows Mobile? Probably never.

All this is not to say I won't be buying the Omni if/when it ever appears, but the U810 is a fantastic alternative for the next 6+ months. I highly recommend it to any road warriors, mobile addicts or people who, like me, are obsessed with travel sized items.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by pen25

well you sold me on it. thx for the detailed review. i know 2 people who will be buying one besides me. one it a roadwarrior the other is myself who i never know when i have to go back on the road so size matters.

Originally Posted by Sonix

Keep checking for price, I saw it for ~850.00 last week. Ah can't remember where though!

Originally Posted by pen25

wow. now heres hoping for a black friday on it.

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

I paid $999.99 + tax for it and still think it was worth it. $850 would be a steal.

Originally Posted by Sonix

I'm looking, but how is the display in a car? I have a Lenovo T61 and it gets difficult so if it is readable this thing would make a great car PC.

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Don't even think about using the U810 in sunlight. You might as well buy a cheap mirror instead.

Originally Posted by pen25

agreed strat it is a steal at 850. sonix was that something local in dc?

Originally Posted by Sonix

No, I have RSS feeds from sites like Fatwallet, TechBargins, and Dealhack. My problem is when they roll off they are hard to find. It's a shame because usually when I see something interesting I hit the OneNote button.

Originally Posted by pen25

thx for the new site. i get bens bargains and slickdeals. oh and one more which i am sure everyone knows is bfads.net wooooohooooooo

Originally Posted by pen25

nothing like bringing up an somewhat old topic. but whose thinking of getting the cloudbook friday?

Originally Posted by pen25

interesting us. but i dont think id like the keyboard and all. but i will drive by and check it out