Fujitsu's Little LifeBook U820

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/04/fujitsus-lifebook-u820-mini-tablet-now-on-sale/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/04/...et-now-on-sale/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"We're still scratching our noggins in a futile attempt to figure out the LifeBook U820's real purpose on this Earth, but for those who've got it all figured out, you'll likely be thrilled to know that this puppy is now on sale. $999 buys you a mini convertible tablet with an Intel Atom Z530 CPU, a 5.6-inch WXGA touchscreen, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 60GB 4,200RPM hard drive, built-in GPS / Garmin Mobile PC, Ethernet, a webcam / fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth / WiFi and a 4-cell battery. There's also a $1,299 version if that other variant just isn't up to your standards, but at any rate, feel free to punch the read link and have a think before pulling the trigger on either."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1225839045.usr10.jpg" /></p><p>While my gadget lust still drools over this, I do agree that it is probably not very practical.&nbsp; I have not heard any complaints that the current batch of netbooks are too big, so not sure where they are going in this form factor.&nbsp; It is still too big to pocket, but I'd imagine they keyboard and screen are just too small to work at for too long.&nbsp; So, make it a little bigger, bump the screen up a few inches and drop it a few hundred and then you'll have a serious contender to bring something new to the netbook game.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[Hooch Tan]

I have a friend who has the U1010 (U810) model, and while it works well for him, I have to say that I agree with you, Chris. It's a little too big to be pocketable, which makes it more like an ultra-portable netbook.

If one is going to go the extreme ultra-portable route, the only ones I've found so far to be usable would be the OQO and the Aigo MID. Any bigger, and it might as well be a netbook with a 7" screen. I don't count the iPhone or the n810 as they still don't provide the full Internet experience as far as I'm concerned.

[Chris Gohlke]

I've got an N800 and agree the N810 with its added features would be close to the perfect pocket device. I think it needs a bigger screen (without making the device bigger, 1024 horizontal resolution, and to run something like Ubuntu.

[Jason Dunn]

I've never really understood devices like this and am always a bit surprised when I see people using them....or, rather, trying to use them. The screen is just SO tiny!