Fujitsu have introduced a significant update to the lightweight compact Lifebook T2020 series.
The new Lifebook TH550 model now include a capacitive multi-touch screen as well as the essential Wacom Active Digitizer Pen.
Weighing only 1.4 kg and based around a 10" high res display, the TH550 is ideally suited to workers who are on the move. The choice of low power thigh performance Intel Core is and if processors will help to ensure good battery life for the TH550.
The TH550 will be ideally suited to sales people, students, executives and mobile office workers.
For more information, contact us on 03 9999 1601 or info@tabletpc.com.au .
That’s absolutely fantastic news I was thinking a small powerful tablet PC was a thing of the past since the introduction of the Atom based netbooks and the demise of the likes of OQO and the Sony UX.
Thank you Fujitsu for bringing back the P1630 form factor and the inclusion of capacitive multi touch and the much needed active digitizer pen input which lacks in most slate PCs of late.
My Fujitsu T4310 serves me well but it still too big for mobile use so the TH550 to me is a perfect mobile companion.
BTW, what is the difference between the T580 and the TH550 ?
and do you know when it is officially available for sale in Oz ?
Don’t care about the price at all cause I think it’s worth every cent 🙂
Can’t wait for your review and opinion.
Jon, I am super keen on this machine too. I’ll have one in to evaluate this week and will publish a video review ASAP. It will be officially avaialble within 2 weeks, and pricing is looking extremely good. Just waiting for the official word on that.
I agree on the T4310, good machine but a little too bulky for a highly mobile user…
– Brett G
Hi Brett, Have you had a chance to test out the little Fuji yet ?
I am currently only seeing the TH550 with the Core i3 available for sale in Oz, is it possible to get the high end model configurations ie, Core i5 and GPS or that is for corporate sale only ?
I’ve also ordered the HP Slate 500 from the US hopefully it will arrive before Christmas 🙂 So far the reviews I see are mainly positive hope you find the same especially the inking part.
Hi Jon,
Yes, I have the Fuji with me but unfortuanately Fujitsu did not send a Pen. What on earth are they thinking! It is very impressive though, and the screen has a really nice fine resolution and looks brilliant.
Looks like the TH550 with i5 may be project only. I’ll check it out…
I am also hoping to have some HP slates here before christmas. Looking forward to reviewing that too.
Hi guys,
What’s the latest re TH550 and HP slate 500?
I still use my Acer C110 tablet (10.4 inch screen, Wacom pen, had it since 2003) and also have an HP2730P (fabulous 12 inch Wacom tablet) but would prefer something lighter, better battery, about 10 inch screen, Win 7 and latest technology.
Other reviews suggest slate 500 is N-Trig digitizer and I’m not convinced it’s as good as Wacom.
I’m getting mixed reports on TH550… some say N-Trig, some say nothing, some say Wacom. Which digitizer does TH550 have?
Also, any Aus pricing yet on slate 500 and TH550?
Thanks,
Ken
Hi Ken,
I have the TH550 at the moment. Unfotunately fujitsu sent it without the pen… So I’m looking forward to giving it a more thorough review with the active digitizer. Touch is excellent and the 720p screen is fantastic. Looking forward to more tablets with this resolution.
HP Slate has not arrived yet, but will post when it does. Other very exciting Tablets to be launched at CES in the US Jan 6th (US time).
Thanks for the update.
If the TH550 has a Wacom screen then any Wacom pen should work with it… I use my collection of Wacom pens on any of my Wacom tablets (Acer, HP and my Asus R1F which I forgot to mention in my earlier post).
So… TH550, Wacom or not Wacom? 😉
BTW, have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
TH550 = New battery powered Ntrig … not Wacom unfortunately. Likewise I use my Motion Wacom Pen on everything Wacom.
Hi Brett,
Have you had a chance to review the Fujitsu TH550 and HP slate 500 yet?
Hi Ken,
I have had a good play with the TH550 now and am liking the N-Trig touch digitizer. Will post video soon…
HP have been very dissapointing with repeated delays on product shipping, our order has still not shipped in the US.
There is still no news on the HP Slate in Australia, and the rumours are saying that it is not coming at all… and to be honest, it’s now pretty much irrelevant anyway thanks to the releases at CES. The HP Slate is now over a year old, but it’s still not shipping… not good enough for me!
The Motion CL900 is a much better device for around the same price, but it has Gorilla Glass, MIL 810G ruggedness and newer faster Intel Atom Oaktrail processor. HP have blown the slate category… the Motion CL900 will eat it alive – and it IS coming to Australia in April and will be locally supported.
Fujitsu will also have a slate product of similar size and shape using Oaktrail.
– Brett
Hi Ken,
After a few weeks of using the Fujitsu TH550 I can give you a quick impression of how it performs. My unit comes with Core i3/500GB HDD/4GB RAM/3G with GPS.
No doubt Brett will give it a thorough run down with his video review later.
I can only compare it to the Fujitsu T4310 which is also a dual mode digitizer but from Wacom instead of N-trig, and to a lesser extent the Toshiba M700 (Wacom active digitizer only).
First off, love the small form factor with the speedy processor.
Build quality, as usual top notch from Fujitsu. Initially I thought the tiny twisted pivoting hinge for the screen rotation might be a concern but surprisingly it’s holding up quite well although not sure about a rough treatment when out and about.
It’s not one of the lightest or thinnest but with that processing power,1.4kg is definitely nothing to complain about.
The screen is brilliant especially with that high resolution I think it’s better than the T4310 and as good as the Toshiba M700.
My battery run time lasts about 5 Hrs (6 Cell) with normal use and it’s great to see both the 3 Cell and 6 Cell batteries share the same footprint instead of the extended or protruding design. The unit doesn’t really get hot at all with prolonged use.
In regards to the digitizer and touch interface, this is only my personal experience with the tablet PCs I’ve used so far.
The capacitive multi-touch on the TH550 with N-trig is a lot more responsive, sensitive and accurate especially near the edges compares to the T4310 with Wacom digitizer. I dare say is very close to the touch I’ve experienced on my iPad.
On the other hand inking on the active digitizer is nowhere near as good as the one using Wacom on the T4310 or the Toshiba M700. But I think this can also attributes to the way they deign the screen to conserve battery life by using battery powered pen instead.
Overall the inking experience is not as smooth as I like, the springy nib of the stylus that I don’t like. Since I tend to do a lot of drawings and sketching with my tablet PC, the noise of the tip drives me crazy but the palm rejection is really good. However your usage pattern might be quite different though, writing is not an issue.
To sum up I really like this portable size powerful full-featured tablet PC which is a NON OLDER-ATOM based (finally!! 🙂 )
I think Fujitsu did a superb job with the design and as I said before I am not at all unhappy about the price but quite disappointed that Fujitsu Australia do not offer a Core i5 version for a non-Corporate, non-bulk orders even though I’m willing to pay premium for it 🙁
NB: I agree with Brett about HP Slate 500 might have missed the boat with their mighty delay in filling orders. Am also really looking forward to the release of the Motion CL900 and the new Fujitsu Slate.
Thanks Brett, John for the feedback. The downside to the TH550 may be the weight (200g less than my HP2730p) and the N-trig pen. I ink all day – write, sketch, doodle, scroll, click, whatever – using Win7 and OneNote 2010 on the HP and have used Wacom since 2003 and love it. I only wish Acer would bring out an updated version of the old C110 tablet PC (10.4″ Wacom). Still, I’m in no hurry to dump the HP… just would like a 9 or 10″ tablet (slate or PC) with great inking and battery. I probably don’t really care about touch (not really great with Windows).