Fujitsu expands LifeBook lineup with U Series UMPCs
Fujitsu today introduced its new LifeBook U Series, and more specifically what’s now called the FMV-U8240, as the "world’s smallest tablet-convertible UMPC." Coming in at just 1.28 lbs., the Japan-bound compact clamshell (6.73" x 5.16" x 1.04") will be available in three configurations (two with XP Professional, one with Vista Business) beginning in mid-June with a starting price of 144,000 yen, which is about $1200. The press release confirms most of what was already confirmed yesterday, but what’s this nonsense about a 20GB hard drive? Earlier reports had the U8240’s storage capacity pegged at 40GB, which already is rather small, so to slice it in half is just plain ridiculous.
The keyboard has a 14mm pitch and 1.3mm travel, which I don’t think will lend itself to very comfortable typing, but its inclusion should make thumboard advocates pretty happy. There’s no word on a U.S. release at the moment, but that’s what importers like Dynamism are for.
[Reg Hardware]
