Fujitsu LifeBook A1110

Processor: 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5800
Memory: 3GB RAM
Storage: 250GB hard drive
Optical Drive: DVD±RW
Screen: 15.4 inches
Graphics: Integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
Weight: 6.3 pounds
Dimensions (HWD): 1.9x14.6x10.4 inches
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
The Fujitsu LifeBook A1110 ($799) is not just a good performer. It’s also built to withstand the rigors of everyday use, although touch-typists may find the keyboard has a bit too much give.

The 6.3-pound LifeBook sports a basic black design with a square Fujitsu badge adorning the lid. If business black doesn’t do it for you, Fujitsu offers three bright, colorful snap-on lid covers to spice things up. Available in green, pink, and blue, the add-ons confer a touch of style while protecting the original black plastic from scratches. 

The notebook’s lid is attached to the base by a pair of sturdy, reinforced hinges that are stiff but not overly so. Under the cover is a 15.4-inch display with a glossy coating and a 1.3-megapixel Webcam built in to its top bezel. Movies look awesome on the 1,280x800 resolution screen, but the integrated speakers at the top of the keyboard deck could be louder.

One of our biggest gripes with this system involves the input devices. The good news is the full-size keyboard is spill-resistant and protects the interior from water damage. The bad news is it feels cheap and makes a rattling sound while typing. The same can be said for the two mouse buttons; they are loud and intermittently unresponsive. The touch pad, on the other hand, works well and allows for fluid cursor control. 

Unlike the HP Pavilion dv5-1140us, which has a wealth of connectivity ports, the LifeBook offers the bare essentials. All three of its USB ports are bunched together along the right side of the chassis, making for a tight fit. Also on the right are headphone and microphone jacks, a VGA output, an ExpressCard slot, and an SD Card slot. A DVD burner is on the left. 

You won't find a FireWire, HDMI, or SATA port on this laptop, although you do get plenty of storage, courtesy of a 250GB hard drive that comes with Windows Vista Home Premium and several applications. These include Arcsoft’s Webcam Companion, Cyberlink’s PowerDirector video-editing software, and Roxio’s Easy Media Creator. 

Driven by a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T5800 processor and 3GB of DDR2 memory, the LifeBook performed admirably on our benchmark tests. Its PCMark Vantage score of 3,042 was the highest score yet for a 15-inch budget notebook, as was its Cinebench 10 score of 3,803. It completed our iTunes conversion test in 5 minutes and our Windows Media Encoder test in 7 minutes and 44 seconds, both of which are leading scores in this class. A 3DMark06 score of 889, run in native mode, was a close second to the Gateway M-7818u’s score of 899. Unfortunately, the LifeBook didn’t fare so well on our DVD battery-rundown test, lasting only 1 hour and 40 minutes, a bit short of what you’d need to watch a typical full-length movie. 

If you’re looking for excellent speed at a reasonable price, the Fujitsu LifeBook A1110 is one of the best values around, but its flimsy keyboard, lackluster array of multimedia ports, and relatively short battery life hold it back.  
Price (at time of review): $799
 author: John R. Delaney