Fujitsu isn’t giving up on the UMPC market, having just announced a new model. The U2010 is aimed a the higher end of the market with a price estimated at $1295 and is scheduled for a July launch in Taiwan. A difference from previous models is that it will have a 6–row keyboad instead of five. Given that some with big hands find the smaller Fujitsu keyboards on these smaller devices a bit tough to work with, this will be interesting. It will also contain 3.5G connectivity and a GPS module.

Via DigiTimes

TabletPCReivewSpot.com got a tip from a reader who spotted what looks like a new Tablet PC from Fujitsu at a customer presentation in Germany. No full range of specs known yet, but word is that it runs an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 and has a 13” passive digitizer for a display.

This past week proved to be quite the test for how well the Latitude XT was going to hold up to some rigorous mobile usage. I'm pleased to say that it held up quite well and is still proving to be a great Tablet PC. Here are some notes from using it during the MVP summit the past week:

• Many of Microsoft's Tablet PC folks were using the LED version of the Latitude XT. There is a clear difference in thickness and weight between the LED and DLV version. The LED is significantly lighter and thinner. In hindsight, I probably should have purchased the LED version. I dont' think the added viewability was worth the extra weight and thickness.
• The battery life held up pretty well - about 2.5 - 3 hours using Dell's Recommended profile. Under Power Saver, I was getting 4+ hours. I was getting 7 + hours on the extended battery using the Recommended profile. Because of the added weight and thickness, though, I hardly ever used the extended battery.
• The replacement screen has proven to be a very good thing. I hardly ever notice the grid.
• I had my pen replaced due to some accidental discharges when in hover mode. The new pen is working like a charm
• The only bad angle on the DLV screen is when viewed under the Dell logo.
• I only carried the Tom Bihn Ristretto Messenger bag all week. Along with the power adapter, some pouches for my wallet and cables, my phone, the extended battery, and the Latitude XT, I had everything I needed. It is amazing how much can fit in that small bag. Stay tuned for an InkShow on the Ristretto - it is a very, very nice bag and a great solution for the the Latitude XT.
• The low profile 45 watt adapter for the XT is the best mobile ac adapter I've ever used. It is light and takes up very little space in a bag
• Inking and touching continues to be a great experience on the Latitude XT. I'm still using Auto Mode and prefer it as the default touch setting.
• With the great touch experience, I'm learning to use the flick gestures a lot more. I found myself in portrait mode a lot more than usual this past week, and the flick gestures worked great. They could still use some interactive feedback improvement, but are often a much-overlooked feature of Vista.
• Getting the N-Trig / OneNote bug fixed was a very good thing. It helped a lot with my notetaking during meetings. However, I found myself in InkSeine, EverNote, and OneNote periodically throughout the week. My favorite notetaking destination when portrait: InkSeine. My favorite when in landscape: EverNote.
• Keyboarding on the XT is very nice. Not quite as good of an experience as the Lenovo X61, but still quite good.
• When using an SD card in the XT, the card sticks out much further than other tablets I've used, and is prone to accidentally eject when the tablet is placed in a bag with the card still inserted. Other tablets have the card seated flush with the casing, which I prefer.
• I love having USB ports on all three sides of the XT. This allows me to use my EV-DO modem to accommodate any direction I'm holding the Tablet. That flexibility is a huge plus for mobile tablet users.
• Rotating between landscape and portrait is very, very quick. It isn't instant, but it is the quickest rotation I've used on any tablet pc.
• The experience is the smoothest and least troublesome I've used yet. I have yet to experience one of those well known Vista docking / monitor issues. In addition, I have no trouble going in to sleep mode after docking. Like I said, it is smooth, trouble-free, and it just works.
• I have found the pen to be comfortable to write with, and well balanced.
• There are no accidental discharges with this pen, which I really like. HP's 2710p pen is prone to accidental discharge all the time.
• I miss the eraser head on the pen. I think Dell should make that a priority enhancement for current and future XT's. It is just natural to have an eraser head on pens, they are standard on almost all other pens, and Dell's should have one, too.
• I absolutely love the page scroll buttons on the side of the screen. It is the perfect location for web browsing while in portrait mode. Getting a chance to play with the 2710p again this week made me really appreciate the Latitude XT on screen buttons and page scroller on the side of the tablet. Well done.
• Picking up on a comment from my meeting with Ken Hinckley, I'd love to see Dell place some more buttons on the top left and right of the screen. This would allow someone to assign Ctrl actions to the buttons to use while also inking with the other hand in portrait mode - dual hand mode support!

Even with all the above notes on well the Latitude XT is working out for me and how much I appreciate the way Dell designed the XT, I have not found a compelling reason to tell people why they should spend the extra money for a Latitude XT over say HP's 2710p, HP's TX2051z, Fujitsu's T2010, Toshiba's M700, Lenovo's X61, and others. Sure, there are many areas in which the experience is as good or better. For what I do and the areas I'm interested in testing from a natural input perspective, the Latitude XT represents a good purchase for me. However, for monetary reasons vs features / benefits, a person would be wise to look at other choices until Dell brings the price more inline with their competitors. The price needs to be inline with HP's 2710p for me to recommend it to anyone, even with the additional features and touch enhancements.

My thoughts on the above alternative choices:

• Most bang-for-the-buck performance Tablet PC: Toshiba M700
• Best slate-like convertible Tablet PC: HP 2710p.
• Best over-all convertible Tablet PC for the business user: Lenovo X61.
• Best media-centric Tablet PC: HP tx2051z

Ok, I finally got around to unboxing those two boxes that arrived the other day and taking a quick first look at the two Tablet PCs they contained. In one box was the Motion F5 Slate Tablet PC that Rob was evaluating and in the other is the Fujitsu P1620. (A big thank you to Allegiance Technology Partners for sending along the review unit.) I'm in tech week this week for a new show, Driving Miss Daisy, so, I'm not having much time to check them out, although I'm using both, along with the ThinkPad X61 to Ink notes in rehearsal and I'll be reporting on the differences there next week some time. So for now, enjoy the unboxing.

Hmmm? Something just arrived via the friendly UPS man.

Four of Fujitsu’s Lifebooks, including two Tablet PCs and one UMPC, just received Novell’s YES certification for the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED). The U810 UMPC (you know the Storm Trooper) the T2010, the P1620, (both Tablet PCS) and the S6510 all based muster. Here’s a link to the press release.

Via Slashgear

With the rush to SSD drives on in full swing, it is interesting to see that regular spinning platters are still being developed for mobile devices. Fujitsu is planning to release, the MHZ2 BJ series of hard drives which offer up to 320GB of space and spin at 7200rpm, supposedly only consuming the same amount of power as current drives. Targeted for a summer release, I imagine we’ll see these bigger, faster drives, in some of the gaming and multi-media laptops.

Via InfoWorld

Been holding off on a new U810 because of the price?  Well, now is your chance to get a great deal on one.  J&R.com has them for $949.00 with a $100 rebate!  That makes your out of pocket only $849.00.  Get to them while they last!

Via Mobility Site

James Kendrick over at jkOnTheRun has been posting his experiences on his new Fujitsu P1620. As a P1610 owner, I've been interested to read about the similarities and differences in the platforms. James ran into a problem on the P1620 with the touch screen going dead and unresponsive. After realizing that the P1620 uses a USB touch screen digitizer, he went into the device properties and disabled "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power." As he rightly acknowledges, there is no reason why the touch screen should ever be allowed to turn off. That's just silly. Uncheck the box, and voila - problem solved. Read James' post for the full details.

I have run into this same problem with other USB based devices in systems, so if you have a feature that seems to die intermittently, check to see if it has this setting in the device properties in Device Manager.

via jkOnTheRun

If you are in the market for a new Fujitsu T4220, Fujitsu is running a special right now with $100 of and a free USB flash drive. The fun part about the ad - it mentions that the T4220 was voted Top 10 PC in 2007 on TabletPCReview.com.

Just enter the promotional coupon code: FCST4PROMO

GBM Forum member Sean is reporting on this experiences with the new Fujitus P1620 in a great thread in the GBM Forums. To get started he sets up his usage scenario and his previous devices and then departs from there. He’s answering user questions and there are a couple of interesting points to highlight. First up, I’m pleased that Fujitsu’s palm rejection seems to be working as well with the P1620 as it did with its earlier cousin. Second, while he likes the SSD, he is concerned about the 32GB size. He covers everything from battery life to the keyboard in his posts in the thread, so if you’re interested in the P1620, check it out. Nice job, Sean.

PC World has a great article on alternatives to the limited, but sexy, MacBook Air. One of the alternatives they point to is the Fujitsu T2010 Tablet PC, which we featured in this InkShow.

In our tests, the ultra slim and light Fujitsu LifeBook T2010 convertible tablet offered one of the best battery performances we've seen--lasting nearly 7 hours on a nine-cell battery.

The T2010 scored points for its versatile 12.1-inch screen, which is designed to be easily viewed indoors and out. The antiglare coating made the screen a bit difficult to read in direct sunlight, however. The keyboard layout is excellent. The tablet features one PC Card slot; two USB ports; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; and an integrated Smart Card slot for security. You don't get a built-in optical drive, however.

Update: Walt Mossberg gives us a sneak peek at Lenovo's alternative to the MacBook Air, the X300. Unfortunately, the X300 is not a Tablet PC, but it is a fully spec'd ultra-portable coming in at 3.12 lbs.

This might be comparing apples to oranges (pun both intended and non-intended) but Engagdet is grabbing some attention with this headline: Fujitsu’s LifeBook P1620 is lighter than (MacBook) Air. Sierra reported on the upgrade/refresh of Fujitsu’s vaunted P16xx line the other day, and for those aware of Fuji’s small touchscreen Tablet PC, I’m sure the update of the specs is welcome news. At least you can swap out your own battery with the P1620.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have both devices in your hot little hands for a comparison?

Side note: Fujitsu makes great Tablet PCs and UMPCs and in my personal opinion doesn’t do enough to publicize their own efforts. I’d love to see them cue up the trumpets and toot their own horns more.

GBM Forum member Adventure has just added to his initial 'review' post in the forums.  This time he has done a little surgery and upped the storage a little...  well more than a little.  He has replaced the 40 gig drive with a 100g drive - with pictures and step-by-step instructions.  Check out this thread if you want to read all about it, or if you just want to look at some pictures of the U810 with a little exposed!!

The news isn't just about Apple today. Fujitsu has announced the P1620 Tablet PC, which is an upgrade to the very popular P1610.

Here is a run-down on the upgraded specs:

• Support for up to 2gb ram
• 1.2 ghz Core 2 Duo, ULV
• Portshutter, data leak prevention software
• 32 gb SSD option
• Starting price of $1599

More info can be found here on the product page.

Every year, Yahoo! hold a survey that includes the Yahoo! readership on the best gadgets of the year. This year's award winner at CES was Eye-Fi, which Warner covered on GottaBeMobile before. The Eye-Fi Wireless SD Card allows you to transfer your digital photos directly from your camera over a wireless network, to either your computer or the on-line service of your choice.

Other contenders should also be pretty familiar to the GBM readership:

• ASUS Eee PC 4G
• Fujitsu's U810 WWAN is an ultra-mobile PC with state-of-the-art connectivity.
• Verizon LG Voyager cell phone
• Dash Express is an Internet-connected GPS device that gives real-time traffic conditions based on data transmitted from other Dash users. Users can also receive up-to-the minute notifications via Yahoo! Local about everything from movies to gas prices.
• Sansa TakeTV offers a simple and less expensive way to move downloaded TV programs around the house. Using a cradle with standard RCA and S-Video plugs, your TV media is stored on the USB memory stick.
• iRobot's iLooj is a robotic gutter cleaner that will clean a stretch of gutter (60 feet) in ten minutes.
• Toshiba's TDP-EW25U wireless DLP projector can produce an image that casts 41 feet or 1.6 feet, create a 60-inch picture even when it's positioned 2.4 feet away, and accommodates high-definition video.
• The Logitech DiNovo is a wireless keyboard that fits in the palm of a hand and makes it simple to navigate media when a user connects a PC to a TV screen.
• Electric-Spin's Golf Launchpad Tour is a unique golf simulation input device that allows users to play golf in the convenience of their home, with their own clubs. 

You can read about the Last Gadget Standing competition on Yahoo!.

Not surprisingly, Fujitsu is pushing the U810 pretty heavily, with the T2010 running a close second. The P1610 is also on display and is apparently scheduled for a much needed update to the processor as well as an update to the already excellent screen.

The U810 also had a beautiful case on display. This leather case is a perfect form fit but still allowed use while in the case as well as access to all of the ports. Made out of a soft leather, it is sells for $59 on Fujitsu's site.

The case allows the extended battery to fit through a hole in the back.

All ports are accessible.

Splotch and I just got back from a lovely time in Mexico. That little guy really gets down with the traveling! We had a lovely time traipsing around Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas together.

Aas for the gear I took, on this trip I stuck with what are, for me, necessities and left some gear at home. Here's what I had in my gear bag:

• Fujitsu P1610: The P1610 is a great little traveling computer, but I'm still longing for my own OQO. Even smaller and more portable and easier to pack. Given the fact that I'll never go on vacation without a computer, even for a weekend, the OQO seems like a good safety net.
• AT&T 8525 cell phone syncing email from GottaBeMobile, personal, and work. My 8525 phone is the "old reliable". Sure, I'd love to upgrade to the Tilt, but work is providing this, so I use what they give me. As sexy as the iPhone is, that won't work for me. I've tried to shoe-horn my usage models into its available capabilities, and I just want more than it offers, mostly for advanced email. And it has to be a global phone, which knocks off anything non-UMTS.
• Amazon Kindle: I'm still deciding if Rob gets it back.   And just wait until he sees how his Kindle spent Christmas Day.
• Sony Reader - first generation model I've owned for a while, to compare to the Kindle. I still like this reader.
• Apple iPod Nano - in Hot Pink of course. Gotta have my tunes. The new Touch does look interesting...
• My old and trusty Casio Exilim Ex-Z4 camera. This needs replaced. Badly. I'm eying the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55P. My husband has a Lumix that he loves. He's an optical engineer, so he's fussy about having a good lens and the Leica lenses they use in the Lumix line are quite good.
• plus the power cables / docks for all of the above, of course

So was I happy with what I took? Moderately, yes, but I still need (expensive) improvements. In addition to the OQO, new camera, new phone, and the Kindle, I need a better power supply situation. The iGo everywhere85 looks like a good possibility for me, particularly if I combine it with the Monster Outlets to Go portable power strip. If I get the power cable tangle under control, it will help a bunch, but then I'll start noticing that I really need a 3G connection for my computer, probably through USB since I swap around a lot. I spent far too long in the lobby of a hotel in San Diego trying to get the free wireless to connect properly. It never did, so I'm grateful I had iPass to allow me to connect for free through the coffee shop.

I leave for CES on Saturday morning.  As Rob mentioned earlier, OQO is sponsoring us for CES, so I know I'll have access to an OQO Model 2 with EV-DO during the event and I'm THRILLED with that opportunity to try out what I think may be my next computer purchase. Unfortunately, little else will probably improve in my gear bag until then, but I'm hoping to find lots of new goodies at CES to fill up my bag for the next trip!

We’ve turned a corner into another year, and the New Year promises to bring lots more GBM InkShow, Shortcut, and Podcat goodness. But before we head off down the path of that New Year, let’s take a look back at the December goodies we left under your Christmas tree.

We covered a range of topics from Inking with a Bamboo Tablet, to the Fujisu U810, and a pen and paper note taking system, Capturx. So, set back, and enjoy whatever holiday leftovers you’ve still got in the fridge, and cue up a GBM InkShow, or a podcast, or a shortcut.

Happy New Year graphic furnished by Tablet PC artist Chad Essley.

All GottaBeMobile.com InkShows and Podcasts are sponsored by TechSmith.

Here’s my take, hunches, best guesses, and coin flips for 2008.

• Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) will dominate the conversation for the first half of the year. What happens in the 2^nd half is anybody’s guess.
• Call it Ultra-Mobile PC, call it UMPC, call it Origami. Call it what you will, but by the end of 2008 call it in its dying throes. The ultra mobile vision will remain, but in other devices. 
• Unlike Rob, I don’t see Dell re-evaluating their price point on the XT Tablet PC so soon. The high price point is consistent with the markets they have been targeting from the beginning. If the prices drop it will be a year from now at the earliest.
• Apple will not market a Tablet PC in 2008.  Instead it will be a communication device that takes advantage of the iPhone’s features as well as the Back to My Mac features for users to grab their data on the road. Because it will have a touch interface and be able to take advantage of InkWell, Tablet PC aficionados will call it a failure.
• Touch will again be a dominate feature and news story. The real question is will anyone develop an application that makes it more than a fancy way to play media, turn pages, or manipulate photos. Or is that enough?
• Multi-touch is still a ways off. Someone, somewhere, needs to develop a real use for it on the Tablet PC and mobile devices.
• With the exception of the MID and whatever Apple will do in 2008, next year’s headlines will be about technologies that change or provide new content delivery methods, similar to the Amazon Kindle.
• Microsoft’s marketing will continue to be mediocre at best and miss the mark more than it will hit.
• DRM will continue to cripple operating systems and content delivery methods. Most consumers won’t notice. Those that do will root for Amazon, Walmart, and Independent music producers to keep putting the pressure on.
• New releases of new products across the board will slow down in 2008. Some consumers will remember Apple’s iPhone price drop form 2007, companies will try to get a better handle on delivery inadequacies. Consumers are starting to notice that their voices can be heard, and companies will start to slow things down a bit, to hopefully improve on what they eventually release.
• The word “open” will get bandied around a lot. As in Google’s efforts to make mobile devices more open with its Google Android mobile OS. The word open will lose all meaning in the marketing miasma.
• OneNote 2007 will continue to remain a secret.
• The Asus Eee PC story is just getting started. It will have much more impact in 2008.
• The companies to watch in the mobile space who will have the greatest impact will be Apple, Nokia, HTC, Asus, and Google.
• HP, Toshiba, and Lenovo will continue to dominate the consumer Tablet PC space, although we probably won’t see anything really new until 2009. Fujitsu nees to make some noise here.
• Inking on Tablet PCs will continue to remain the ultimate niche in a niche product.
• There will be a major Internet outage or Bot Attack in 2008, prompting all sorts of chaos and howling. This will lead to a renewed interest in client apps vs. the cloud.