Fujitsu Unveils Mini-Tablet PC With GPS Navigation

Fujitsu on Tuesday introduced a mini-tablet PC with built-in personal navigation, and a desktop-replacement notebook that includes a small touch-screen display for keeping more information visible without cluttering the main desktop.

The LifeBook U820 includes Garmin Mobile PC navigation software, a global positioning system that provides turn-by-turn, voice-prompted street directions. The system offers mobile professionals, particularly in sales and in field services, an alternative to carrying a separate GPS device.

The tablet, which is powered by an Intel Centrino Atom Z-series processor, has a 5.6-inch touch-screen display, a QWERTY keyboard and a zoom utility for easier viewing. The system weighs 1.32 pounds and offers 7.5 hours of battery life on a four-cell battery and 3.5 hours on a 2-cell battery.

In addition, buyers have the option of up to a 120 GB hard disk drive or up to a 64 GB solid-state drive. The system comes with Windows Vista and a 1.3 mega-pixel Web cam and includes a fingerprint sensor for security and integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless support. In the first quarter of next year, the U820 will be available with optional 3G network support from wireless carriers. Prices start at $1,049.

The LifeBook N7010 desktop-replacement notebook includes a four-inch touch-screen display, which can be used for photo slide shows, CD/DVD controls and application shortcuts. The system, which has a 16-inch main display, is powered by a dual-core, 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor.

Other features include a Blu-ray disc player, 4 GB of system memory, and an ATI Radeon HD 3470 graphics processor with 256 MB of GDDR3 memory. In addition, the notebook has integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technology, a 1.3 megapixel Webcam and a Memory Stick/SD card slot. Prices start at $1,499.

Fujitsu on Tuesday also introduced the LifeBook P1630, a 2.2-pound tablet PC with an 8.9-inch touch screen. The system is powered by a dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 low-voltage processor, includes integrated Wi-Fi support and a 1.3 megapixel Webcam and gets up to about 6 hours of battery life. Optional built-in support for carriers' 3G wireless networks is expected to be available in the first quarter of next year. Prices start at $2,179.

The latest releases follow the introduction in July of six LifeBook mobile PCs, including Fujitsu's first low-priced tablet PC for mainstream consumers, schools and small businesses.

The 13.3-inch T1010 tablet offers the same performance and many of the same features as Fujitsu's flagship tablet the T5010, buts lacks the high-end security features of the more expensive model. The T1010 starts at $1,299.