I love my Lifebook B-2130
Apr 26 '00
I was very tired of not having a laptop, and I wanted something that I could actually CARRY (not 6, 7, 8 pounds). I did a LOT of homework on the mini-notes, including the Sony VAIO C1X, the Libretto (now available only through Japanese retailers), the Mitsubishi Amity, and the Lifebook B series. The Lifebook B-2130 won out over ALL of the others, in my opinion.
The B-2130 has a lot of features to recommend it. First of all is the fact that it is only three pounds. It's not the lightest mini-note, but it's EASY to carry. Second is the screen -- it's 10.4 inches, HUGE for a mini-note. The stylus is great, too. Third is the specs: a Celeron 400, 6.4GB hard drive and 64MB memory (expands to 192) make this about the best-spec'd mini-note out there!
Other likes: It's got an "eraser point" for a pointing device, and I like that WAY better than touchpads. Two integrated USB ports make it easy to attach peripherals, and the external floppy and port replicator are so lightweight you hardly notice that you're carrying them too! Integrated modem is GREAT, and I really like the fact that it's got integrated 10/100 Ethernet as well. That means if you want to network it, you don't have to use your one and only PCMCIA slot. If you're going to make presentations with the B-2130, you'll appreciate that the monitor port is ON the notebook, not on the port replicator, so you don't have to lug the replicator around everywhere and risk losing or breaking it. (Maybe it's just me, being a klutz, but the fewer pieces to break or lose, the better!) There's an optional digital camera that clips right onto the case and saves to the hard drive through the USB port. And last, the PRICE! It's listed at $1799 from Fujitsu, but Global Computers has it for $1699.
Now for a few things that bother me a little: it's just a LITTLE bit big for a mini-note: 1" longer and 1" wider than the previous B-series notes, for instance. Not really much, but it makes a little bit of a difference. Also, I don't like the "mini-serial" port on the laptop itself. There's a 9-pin on the port replicator, and you can get a cable to turn the "mini-serial" into a 9-pin if you don't want to carry the replicator, but I wish they had just put the darned 9-pin port on the laptop itself. I think this is because a lot of Japanese things (like cellphones) use the mini-serial, but I don't know. Third, because of the touchscreen coating on the TFT, the screen gets kind of glare-y in bright light. It's very difficult to read in daylight. Last, the modem is a WinModem, which means Linux users will get irritated. (There ARE, however, Linux touchscreen drivers available out there).
Battery life is about average, between 2 and 3 hours usually. It will sit in suspend mode for about a week, though.
Some people complain about the lack of CD-ROM, but I really don't think it's a big deal. First, if you REALLY want, you can buy one as an option. Second, you can always do what I did and borrow one from a friend to install software -- with 6.4GB of storage space, you can copy all your data in one fell swoop, and never need a CD-ROM again! Third, with integrated networking and USB, you can hook your B-2130 up to a desktop easily and just use that method to install/copy.
In conclusion, I think that the B-2130 is about the best combination of price, size, and features that exists in the mini-note world right now. The new B-2131 is a little more expensive for almost no improvement, unfortunately (the only difference is an upgraded video card with MPEG-2 hardware decoding). I recommend sticking with the B-2130 if you can find one. I LOVE my new notebook!
One last note -- I found that Eagle Creek has a bag called the Excursion which is JUST ABOUT perfect for the B-2130. It's padded and everything. The only issue is that it doesn't QUITE zip closed, but there's a really simple modification I discovered to make it work perfectly. If you're interested, email owldark@visto.com and I'll send the directions.
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Epinions.com ID:
owldark
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Location: Memphis, TN
Reviews written: 21
Trusted by: 3 members
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