REVIEW: Fujitsu Stylistic ST 5112

Display: ST5112: 12.1” XGA 1024 x 768 TFT indoor/outdoor (Transmissive) display with greater than 160° viewing angles. 10.4" XGA 1024 x 768 TFT indoor/outdoor (Reflective FL) display, outdoor optimized. Both are capable of displaying 16 million colors. Intel GMA 950 graphics with up to 224 megs shared memory. External monitor display resolution (max): 1600 x 1200, 16M colors.

Battery: Standard Lithium ion (6-cell: 10.8V, 5200 mAh, 56 WHr max.); rated up to 6 hours.
Optional high-capacity lithium ion (9-cell: 10.8V, 7800 mAh, 84 WHr max.); rated up to 9 hours. Compact AC adapter 100-240v.

Processor, RAM & chipset: Intel Core Duo Processor Ultra Low Voltage U2500 (1.20 GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 533 MHz FSB). Intel 945GM chipset, 1 gig RAM standard, max is 4 gigs (200 pin SODIMM, 533MHz, two memory slots).

Drives: Internal 5400rpm shock-mounted SATA-150 drive. Available with 40, 60, 80 and 100 gig drives. No internal optical drive (DVD drive included in optional docking station).

Size: ST5111 12.77" (h) x 8.66" (w) x .91-1.01" (d). The ST5112 is slightly thinner at 82-.88". Approximately 3.5 pounds.

Audio: Built in speaker, digital array mic with noise suppression DSP and 3.5mm standard stereo headphone jack and mono mic jack.

Networking: Integrated Intel Pro/Wireless WiFi 802.11a/b/g (Atheros is optional) and optional Bluetooth 2.0. 56k V.90 Fax modem and wired 10/100/1000 Ethernet (Marvel Yukon PCI-E gigabit Ethernet).

Security: Biometric fingerprint scanner (ST5112 only), Trusted Platform Module, Smart Card slot, BIOS enabled Computrace/LoJack.

Software: Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005 or Windows Vista Business Edition.

Expansion and Ports: Two USB 2.0, Infrared port (IrDA 1.1-compatible, 4 Mbps), external monitor, modem (RJ-11), Ethernet (RJ-45), IEEE 1394 FireWire, wireless IR keyboard/mouse receivers, and docking station connector. PCMCIA slot (type I, II and CardBus), dedicated Smart Card slot and SD/Memory Stick/Pro card slot.

In the Box Fujitsu includes the tablet computer, an EMR pen, screen cleaning cloth, complete software and driver restore CDs, a printing guide.

Pro: Relatively lightweight-- good for holding like a virtual pad of paper. Good performance by slate tablet and ultralight notebook standards with good battery life. Extended battery is great for vertical market users who must get a full work day on a charge. Compact charger doesn't add much bulk or weight to the equation. Display is viewable outdoors. Hard drive shock sensor keeps data safe and both the Smart Card slot and biometric security keep data out of the wrong hands.

Con: Expensive, as are most slate Tablet PCs. Though by no means unbearably dim, the display isn't the brightest we've seen.