The Fujitsu LifeBook A1110 is not just a good performer. It’s also built to withstand the rigors of everyday use, although touch-typists may find the keyboard has a bit too much give.
Fujitsu LifeBook A1110 features the following specifications:
# Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P7350 (2GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz FSB)
# Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit SP1
# 15.4" Crystal View WXGA display (glossy, 1280x800, replaceable lid)
# Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500
# 4GB DDR2 800MHz Memory (2GB x 2)
# 320GB 5400RPM Fujitsu Hard Drive
# Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5100AGN (802.11 a/b/g/n)
# Integrated Bluetooth Wireless
# Dual-Layer Multi-Format DVD Writer
# Spill Resistant Keyboard
# Main battery: Lithium ion (6-cell, 10.8v 4000 mAh, 43Whr)
# AC Adapter: 80w (19v, 4.22A)
# Size: 14.56"(w) x 10.43"(d) x 1.65”/1.85”(h)
# Weight: 6lbs 7.6oz (7lbs 6.7oz travel weight)
The 6.3-pound LifeBook sports a basic black design with a square Fujitsu badge adorning the lid. If business black doesn’t do it for you, Fujitsu offers three bright, colorful snap-on lid covers to spice things up. Available in green, pink, and blue, the add-ons confer a touch of style while protecting the original black plastic from scratches.
The user-replaceable cover is the main attraction of this notebook and probably the best implementation of one that I have seen. Older designs used by Dell and others looked like something stuck onto the notebook and out of place. This cover snaps into position and looks as if the it were an integral part of the notebook. It is very tight fitting and the paint quality is very good. Removing the cover takes little effort as long as you grip in the correct place; you could also leave it off if you wanted. One side benefit is you’ll have a spare lunch tray with you at all times.
One feature Fujitsu has offered on some notebooks that we think is strange is a removable dust filter for the processor which is normally large enough to keep coins from moving through the ductwork. This particular notebook lists the dust filter as a feature, but it appears to be just a flat cover. Since no other filter piece is included in the accessory box, one idea that this port might serve is better access for an air gun to blast dust away from the inside-out.
The WXGA glossy panel rates average with comfortable viewing angles and a bright backlight that works in a well lit office setting. Colors are vibrant and contrast is very nice with the glossy screen surface. The vertical viewing range offers a good sized sweet spot with accurate colors with 10 degrees forward and back before colors start to invert. Horizontal viewing angles are better, but at steeper angles the screen starts to dim and you start seeing reflected surfaces instead of the display. The screen brightness overcomes the lights in a bright office setting, but outside viewing would be limited with the reflective glossy screen.
The keyboard is easy to type on with a full-size layout and comfortable key spacing. Individual key texture is smooth with a very mild matte finish that gives just enough traction to trigger keyswithout slipping when your fingers get sweaty. The keys’ action is smooth with a mild click when fully pressed. Typing is very audible with a springy surface that makes some of the noise echo off the notebook chassis. This notebook also includes a spill resistant keyboard which will contain water without letting it drip inside and short out components. After spilling a bowl of partially melted ice cream on my ThinkPad keyboard one time, I can easily say I will never buy another notebook that doesn’t offer a protected keyboard. It is usually much cheaper to replace the keyboard after an accident than try to replace a motherboard which could easily cost more than a new notebook.
Driven by a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T5800 processor and 3GB of DDR2 memory, the LifeBook performed admirably on our benchmark tests. Its PCMark Vantage score of 3,042 was the highest score yet for a 15-inch budget notebook, as was its Cinebench 10 score of 3,803. It completed our iTunes conversion test in 5 minutes and our Windows Media Encoder test in 7 minutes and 44 seconds, both of which are leading scores in this class. A 3DMark06 score of 889, run in native mode, was a close second to the Gateway M-7818u’s score of 899. Unfortunately, the LifeBook didn’t fare so well on our DVD battery-rundown test, lasting only 1 hour and 40 minutes, a bit short of what you’d need to watch a typical full-length movie.
If you’re looking for excellent speed at a reasonable price, the Fujitsu LifeBook A1110 is one of the best values around, but its flimsy keyboard, lackluster array of multimedia ports, and relatively short battery life hold it back.
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