Fujitsu LifeBook E8210

Built to withstand the rigors of travel, Fujitsu's LifeBook E8210 combines dual-core processing power with security and durability features galore. Factor in its sub-$2,000 price tag and discrete graphics, and this corporate mainstream system is a good choice for every business user, from junior associates to executives.

 

The system's exterior sports a matte black finish, while the inside is silver with a white full-sized, spill-resistant keyboard. The lid is made of sturdy magnesium rather than the usual impact-resistant plastic, and it's attached to the base by two stainless steel hinges. At 5.9-pounds, the E8210 is easy on the shoulder.

 

Eschewing the popular glossy screen coating that's all the rage right now, the 15.4-inch high -resolution (1680 x 1050) widescreen display has a less reflective coating. This treatment cuts down on glare from ambient lighting while delivering rich colors and a sharp, wide-angle picture.

 

In addition to a pointing stick controller, whose left and right buttons are too thin for those with big fingers, there's a touchpad with a biometric fingerprint sensor at its base. Other security features include a Smart Card slot, embedded TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 1.2, and a four-button security panel that acts as a combination lock to prevent unauthorized access to the system. IT managers can use the security panel to set administrator-level pass codes as well as individual user pass codes. You can also use the security buttons as hot keys to launch often-used applications.

 

Fujitsu is one of the few vendors that still supports legacy connections. A parallel port and VGA video port are located on the left side of the system, as are the ExpressCard, PC Card, and Smart Card slots. On the right you'll find a single USB port, an S-Video output, and a modular dual-layer DVD+/-R drive. You can swap out the optical drive with a modular battery to increase your time between charges.

 

Three more USB ports are inconveniently positioned at the rear of the unit, next to a nine-pin serial port. The FireWire port, optical audio/headphone jack, microphone jack, IR sensor, and Wi-Fi switch are all accessible from the front of the notebook.

 

Powered by a 1.83-GHz Intel Core Duo T2400 processor and 1GB of memory, the E8210 turned in an impressive MobileMark 2005 score of 238, but its 3 hours and 4 minutes of battery life is merely average for this class of notebook. The relatively low runtime is the trade-off you make for discrete graphics.

 

The ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 video card delivered a relatively average score of 4,902 on our 3DMark03 test. You won't be able to play the latest games at the maximum settings (the E8210 delivered 14 fps in our F.E.A.R. test), but this system will provide more than enough horsepower to run Windows Vista's Aero interface without hiccups.

 

The E8210 comes with Windows XP Professional and includes CyberLink's PowerDVD, PowerProducer (included in units with DL Multi-Format DVD Writer), and PowerDirector, Intuit's Quicken New User Edition 2006, and Microsoft Works 8.5. A one-year warranty covers parts and labor and provides a year of 24/7 toll-free technical support.

 

The Fujitsu LifeBook E8210's $1,944 price tag is quite reasonable for a dual-core system with this many security features. If you're looking for a widescreen notebook that can handle the bumps and bruises of life on the road, without sacrificing style, the LifeBook E8210 is a smart buy.