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 Fujitsu Lifebook N3510Armed and dangerous, the N3510 is a multimedia marvel. Price:
$2,099
If image is everything, the Fujitsu Lifebook N3510 has it all. With everything from a CRT-quality display to a built-in TV tuner and DVD burner, you can't deny the attractiveness of this multi-talented notebook.
The N3510's most notable trait is its amazingly bright, color-enhanced, crystal view TFT display, which leaves a lasting first impression. This 15.4-inch WXGA makes DVDs, games, and even Web pages pop with a vibrancy we've never seen on a notebook, easily rivaling the performance of a CRT desktop monitor. The matte black casing looks sleek enough from a distance, though in use it's susceptible to fingerprint smears. Under the hood, the N3510 has enough firepower to bridge the gap between a portable multimedia center and a desktop replacement. The 1.73-GHz Intel Pentium M processor with an ultra-fast 533-Mhz bus speed handled everything we threw at it without a hiccup. Armed with PCI Express, the ATI Mobility Radeon X300 nicely handled high-end games like Half-Life 2 and SWAT 4, and performance increased when we lowered the video settings to medium. The speedy dual-channel, 400-MHz 512MB DDR2 memory kept all our applications afloat while we watched a DVD, managed our MP3 collection, and downloaded Half-Life 2 from the Steam service. The system boasts a 100GB hard drive, which is more than capable of storing tons of TV shows, films, and songs. Surprisingly, the built-in speakers performed well enough that we didn't need to plug in another set to play games and listen to music. Rounding out its multimedia capabilities, the N3510 comes with a multi-format DVD writer, a TV Tuner, and DVR functionality. The flexible DVD burner allows you to burn CDs and DVDs on nearly any kind of media. The notebook allows you to watch TV or DVDs without having to boot windows, which is a great feature for saving battery life while on the go. The accompanying InterVideo software suite is easy enough to use, but the DVR software is leagues beneath the Windows Media Center package when it comes to program guides and its user interface. Since the system has composite video ports, we tested how a game console would connect with the notebook, which is a great option for students and LAN gamers. You need to start the InterVideo DVR software application to access the composite port, and unfortunately, the time the software takes to compute the data causes the control response to lag one or two seconds behind the action on the screen, leaving games unplayable. The system wasn't designed with console use in mind, but it's a cool feature we'd like to see fleshed out in future models. For connectivity, the dual-band 802.11b/g wireless radio performed well from five and 50 feet from our router, but we missed the Bluetooth connectivity that allows us to easily link our smart phone to a notebook. The ample array of four USB and one FireWire ports were conveniently spread around the sides of the notebook for easy access. The dedicated ExpressCard, Memory Stick, and Secure Digital card slots round out the multimedia options. Some people may want more power in a desktop replacement, and others will want a more portable solution. The N3510 offers adequate performance while affording the user mobility. It's a perfect stop-gap solution for those looking for an all-in-one notebook. Compare Prices | Fujitsu Lifebook N3510 Specifications
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