Fujitsu Siemens LifeBook P1610 review

Features
Our review sample of the LifeBook P1610 ran Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, although Windows Vista Business is also available. The processor is an Intel Core Solo ULV U1400 processor running at 1.2GHz, with 2MB of Level 2 cache and a 533MHz frontside bus. A modest 512MB of RAM was installed in the single DIMM slot, which is expandable to a maximum of 1GB.

The Intel 945GMS Express chipset also provides the system's integrated graphics. You can choose either a 60GB hard drive -- as installed in our review sample -- or an 80GB unit. Local and personal area wireless connectivity comes in the form of Intel's PRO/Wireless 3945ABG adaptor and Bluetooth 2.0 respectively, while wired Gigabit Ethernet is also integrated. We like the fact that, as usual, Fujitsu Siemens provides a manual on/off switch for the Wi-Fi radio.

For wide-area wireless connections, there's an optional a 3G/HSDPA module that would boost the system's price to £1,548.

One of the issues we had with the LifeBook P1510 was a relative lack of ports and connectors -- a consequence of its diminutive dimensions. The LifeBook P1610 is similarly limited. There are two USB 2.0 ports on the right edge alongside an SD card slot plus headphone and microphone jacks. On the left edge is a single Type II PC Card slot. At the back you'll find RJ-11 modem and RJ-45 Ethernet connectors and, protected by a rubber cover, a VGA-out port.

The LifeBook P1610 also lacks an optical drive, but our main wish is for more USB ports and a FireWire connector. The two USB ports that are present are well separated, so it should be possible to use both at the same time -- although one of them is rather close to the power connector.

Performance
We found the LifeBook P1610 reasonably responsive when running mainstream business applications, although we'd advise upgrading the standard 512MB of RAM to the full 1GB -- especially if you propose to run Windows Vista. Clearly with its 1.2GHz processor and integrated graphics, this is not a system you should contemplate running graphics-intensive applications on.

Fujitsu Siemens claims four and a half hours' life from the three-cell battery and nine hours from the six-cell battery supplied with our review unit.

Conclusion
The LifeBook P1610 shows the compromises that have to be made to produce a small-format laptop. The screen and keyboard are both somewhat cramped, and anyone with poor eyesight and/or large hands may find the system hard to get along with. Also, if you require an optical drive for everyday use, you should probably look elsewhere.

Otherwise, this is a tidy and functional ultraportable laptop that, in our opinion, delivers much more than any UMPC of similar size and weight.

Addtional editing by Shannon Doubleday