Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook Q2010 review

Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook Q2010 Review

Reviewed by: Will Head

Reviewed on: 13 November 2007

If you want the ultimate in ultraportable computing, then you need look no further than the Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook Q2010. It's impossibly small and light, yet still useable to work on and it can hold its own in the performance stakes.

However, it will set you back around £2,500 and that doesn't include all the extras.

Strengths
The Q2010 is a marvel to look at -- when closed it measures just a mere 20mm high and its footprint is smaller than a sheet of A4 paper. It also only weighs 1kg, making it a perfect travel companion -- although you may have to keep checking you've actually packed it -- it's that small and light.

Despite its svelte dimensions, it has a usable 12.1-inch,1,280x800-pixel resolution glossy screen, which offers good colour reproduction, although it is slightly reflective so you'll need to make sure you're positioned with no bright lights behind you.

Performance-wise, although it only comes with a 1.2GHz Intel Core Solo U1400 processor and 1GB of RAM, it still managed to turn in a reasonable PCMark05 score of 1,508. If you just want to use it for email, word processing and Web surfing on the go then it's more than adequate for the job.

As standard it only comes with a slim battery that sits flush with the bottom of the case when installed. An optional extended unit that sticks out by 20mm or so is available for around £150. Running it through Battery Eater's intensive test with the extended battery it managed to last an impressive 2 hours 52 minutes. It also walked the less severe reader test, plodding on for a massive 4 hours 55 minutes.

Weaknesses
While it displayed remarkable stamina with the extended battery, the slim model proved less impressive. It only lasted a paltry 41 minutes with the intensive test and 1 hour 6 minutes with the reader workload.

It's not cut out for 3D work and its integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics adapter point blank refused to run the 3DMark06 test suite. If you like to do some occasional fragging, then this definitely isn't the machine for you.

You don't get the benefit of Microsoft's latest operating system, as the Q2010 comes pre-loaded with the last generation Windows XP and its unlikely it would be up to the visual challenge of Vista.

You'll also find the main unit rather limited when it comes to ports and connectors -- if you want more you'll need to pay an extra £125 for a docking station which also includes a DVD writer.

There's also no shying away from the price tag -- £2,500 is an enormous amount to spend on a laptop, especially when you can get a useable machine for almost one tenth of the price.

Conclusion
If you want the smallest possible machine to take with you on your travels, then the Q2010 is the one, available for around £2,500. It's absolutely tiny and weighs hardly anything. It offers decent application performance and it'll outlast many a machine when running off its extended battery. However, it's not really up to gaming and you're stuck with the previous version of Windows.

Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Jon Squire