6. Stylus Functionality To The Rescue

Before moving on, I need to note that, although Fujitsu makes Windows XP Tablet PCs, the P1510D does not incorporate that technology. The stylus functions as a mouse, a drawing pen and a text input device on the laptop's touch sensitive screen. Software support for these functions is much more limited than with the Windows XP Tablet PC operating system. However, the included software lets you easily open, close and manipulate windows and enter text. Fujitsu also includes the stylus feature on some of its non-tablet portables such as the Lifebook B6110D we tested earlier this year. Fujitsu recently announced that a Microsoft Tablet PC version will be available in the P1500D product line by mid-November 2005.

The P1510B's ability to morph from a standard clamshell to a stylus based tablet type portable significantly enhances its usability. The tablet option can help you overcome the shortcomings of the keyboard and joystick mouse pointer.

Generally, I found it easier to use the stylus as a mouse in situations where I didn't have to enter a lot of text, such as when I was browsing the Internet. While I'm not an artist, it was fun using the stylus to draw pictures in Microsoft Paint. Entering a lot of text on the Fujitsu's on-screen keyboard is tedious, but it worked pretty well for me, especially before I mastered the computer's real keyboard. Handwriting recognition, provided by EverNote's ritePen, is quite good, especially considering that my handwriting and printing are not far from unreadable. I was able to enter text into Microsoft's WordPad and Notepad a little faster than with the on-screen keyboard.

In my review of the Fujitsu Lifebook B6110D mentioned above, I found the stylus more annoying than useful. The B6110D is larger than the P1510D and has both a mouse touchpad and a larger keyboard, which reduces the need for stylus input. Most importantly, the B6110D does not convert to a tablet form factor. It's a standard clamshell portable with display and keyboard at right angles to each other when open. So using the stylus usually meant trying to point it at a target while avoiding touching any of keys while my hand hovered over the keyboard. No fun in that.

Testing The Fujitsu Lifebook P1510D

Four test suites are used to benchmark mobile computer battery life and performance, BAPCo's MobileMark 2005 and SYSmark 2004 SE, FutureMark's PCMark05 and, when the computer has the appropriate graphics hardware, FutureMark's 3DMark05. When a computer achieves very low 3DMark05 scores this is noted in conclusions, but the scores are not reported in charts and tables.

Beyond battery life and performance, laptop displays are tested for brightness, uniformity of brightness and contrast.

For details on the tests see How We Test Laptop and Notebook Computers for Home and Office