Today Fujitsu announced that it has prepped two LifeBook Tablet PCs for the future with the announcement that customers can tailor the B6210 and the P1610 with solid-state disks for faster, more reliable performance.

 

One of the notebooks is an update to the Fujitsu LifeBook P1610. The Tablet PC comes equipped with a 1.2-GHz Intel Core Solo processor, an 8.9-inch touchscreen display, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth, an integrated fingerprint reader, TPM, a maximum of 1GB of RAM, and a choice of Windows Vista Business Edition, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or Windows XP Professional. Besides options for traditional 40GB/60GB/80GB hard drives, the notebook can be outfitted with Samsung's solid-state drives. Available in 16GB and 32GB capacities (adding a hefty $700 and $1,200 to the price of the P1610, respectively), the flash disks enable instantaneous program booting, less overheating, and longer battery life. Users can choose between a three-cell and a six-cell battery, which makes the P1610 weigh in at 2.2 pounds and 2.5 pounds, respectively.

 

The other announced Tablet is the Fujitsu LifeBook B6210, a 3.7-pound machine with a 1.2-GHz Intel Core Solo processor, a 12.1-inch display, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth, a fingerprint reader, TPM, and approximately eight hours of battery life. The available operating systems are Windows XP Tablet PC Edition or Windows XP Professional--sorry, no Vista. As with the P1610, 16GB and 32GB solid-state drives are available in addition to standard 40GB/60GB/80GB hard drives. In addition, the B6210 (as well as the P1610) can be outfitted with an optional rubberized protective enclosure ($139) for extra protection.

Unfortunately, the solid-state drive options aren't aimed at the general public just yet; you have to contact Fujitsu directly for a price quote. Still, if you're a field worker, these machines are compelling choices.