Fujitsu Loox U/B50N UMPC as Grab-and-Go, Windows 7 Desktop.

Posted on 07 May 2009, Last updated on 12 November 2019 by

After a very successful and stress-free install of Windows 7 on the U/B50N (U820, U2010) ultra mobile PC yesterday, I’m now giving it a full test as a desktop PC with full size monitor and keyboard. Using the dock, the screen keyboard, mouse and power can be left plugged in and I can grab the ultra mobile PC whenever I need to take Twhirl to the kitchen!

The Loox was already an impressive device but with Windows 7 it’s working so much better. Quick, clean, enjoyable. Not as fast as XP but the trade-off is worth it now. Battery life appears to be better. It ranges from under 5W (wifi-on, screen on, idle = 4hrs) drain through 7W (average Wifi browsing = 3hrs) up to 10W (2hrs) if it’s pushed for videos. Boot time is about 60 seconds until fingerprint swipe and another 30 seconds on top until it’s stable. Far better than Vista was. All touch features are working including floating tip and the on screen keyboard is great in portrait sofa-surfing mode! Even the fingerprint reader is working for Windows login. There’s no audio output on the dock which is a little annoying but USB audio dongles are dirt cheap and there’s always the A2DP route so it’s not a major hassle. With the 1.6Ghz processor (1GB RAM) it’s fast enough for my journalistic and social networking activities although there’s clearly room for improvement in disk speed. A fast 64GB SSD would make this almost unbeatable. (The 2Ghz version with an SSD will be the ultimate grab and go desktop!)

This isn’t a cheap setup by any means but it’s one of the best engineered, multi-scenario ultra mobile PC packages you can buy. From tablet to thumbing to table-top and desktop. It’s up there with the 1.8Ghz OQO 2+ and docking station setup I tested. I’m enjoying the U/B50N so much that when I’ve completed the Viliv S5 review (that I’m supposed to be doing right now!) I’ll schedule a full review of this.  When the UMID Mbook goes back to Mobilx this week, the U/B50N will become my main UMPC. Thanks very much to Conics for the long-term loan of the U/B50N. It’s been a pleasure but I really can’t stop thinking about the 2Ghz version you have!

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End of day update:

This is very cool to work with. I always like a dual-screen setup and theres a great feeling of efficiency here but don’t expect this setup to be without limits. I put the Fuji into high-power mode (no speed stepping) and the fan got annoying (in my silent, out of town room while I was concentrating on an article) and there were one or two stutters too many. I think, however, these are coming from my RF keyboard and mouse rahter than the UMPC. I need another session with a hard-wired keyboard.mouse. If you need ONE PC for mobility and desktop and you want to use it a lot, i.e. you need quality, this is probably in the top three with the Sony UX and OQO. I dare say the 2Ghz with SSD and windows 7 will be the ultimate one-pc setup.

29 Comments For This Post

  1. Steve 'Chippy' Paine says:

    New article: Fujitsu Loox U/B50N UMPC as Grab-and-Go, Windows 7 Desktop. http://cli.gs/7HrjPP

  2. PrinceGQ says:

    Finally! this wonderful device is so ignored and i dont understand it at all.. it has the best combination of everything todays handtops have to offer and best of all its tiny.. not as small as a umid, but damn close.

    if fujitsu removes that thick bezel and adds 2gigs of ram..this should be the device of choice for many.

  3. Vakeros says:

    Agree with PrinceGQ, though I would rather shrink it down to the size of the screen, rather than increase the screen to fill the bezel area.

  4. Richard De St Croix says:

    dude using a 5.6″ Fujitsu Loox as a desktop replacement – via UMPCPortal http://ow.ly/5Cuk

  5. Jack Schofield says:

    Fujitsu Loox 5.6in UMPC as Grab-and-Go, Windows 7 Desktop http://bit.ly/kdKds (via @s0apy )

  6. Anfanglir says:

    cool, looking forward to the full review. Pitty the japanese version isnt equiped with gps though.

  7. chippy says:

    Yeah. I would gladly drop the FM transmitter for GPS.
    3 months ago I might have said ‘3G’ but that MiFi has got me thinking about not bothering with 3G any more. Especially in my job when I use so many different pc’s in one go.

    S

  8. PrinceGQ says:

    The U.S. version also has the transmitter, so the JP device should be able to provide both as well.

  9. Eric says:

    This setup looks amazing, and it’s exactly what I want to do for uni next year. I’ve been waiting for a 10 inch netbook which can do this with an ion processor so it’s not too slow… but this looks really attractive! I’ll wait for your review then decide ^^

  10. chippy says:

    Dokcing stations are worth their weight in gold.
    Check out the Gigabyte Booktop though. The first netbook with docking station.

    http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Notebook/Products_Spec.aspx?ProductID=3037

    Due within 10 days at Mobilx.eu
    http://www.mobilx.hu/index.php?target=products&product_id=8734&sl=EN&currency=eur

    Steve

  11. Eric says:

    Yes I heard about the Gigabyte… but I’d prefer to have something that can still show the screen when docked – it’s really useful for watching tv and messenging at the same time or something which is why your configuration looks brilliant. If only it wasn’t a UMPC as I really need something that has a touchtypable keyboard…

  12. Crape says:

    whats the maximum resolution you are getting it to support on your external monitor?

  13. chippy says:

    This is a 1440×900

    I’m seeing support for 1280×1024 on ‘list all modes’ too but no higher than that. Might depend on the monitor connected. I’ve never been sure how monitors are detected!

    Steve

  14. cobalt says:

    Although Fujitsu makes great hardware, I think the keyboard design for this model is holding it back. Apparently it’s neither a touch-type keyboard nor a thumb-board. I have a P1510, with the 8.9″ touchscreen, and the keyboard is just about as small as a touch-type keyboard could be, IMO.

  15. chippy says:

    Although, one could argue that this is usable in more mobile scenarios. It’s thumbable (not the best) and I can type fast on it on the tablet top (it’s obviously not the best though)
    I think that’s the key feature of the Fuji U820 and Co. It’s able to slot into a lot of scenarios. It may not be the best but if you could only buy one media/computing device for mobile, car, home, office, bedroom, TV, caravan, etc etc, this would have to be it.

    S

  16. cobalt says:

    Although Fujitsu makes great hardware, I think the keyboard design for this model is holding it back. Apparently it’s neither a touch-type keyboard nor a thumb-board. I have a P1510, with the 8.9″ touchscreen, and the keyboard is just about as small as a touch-type keyboard could be, IMO.
    Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!

  17. saperalot says:

    cooool desk :-)

  18. chippy says:

    My wife forced me to take it away later ;-(
    Might have to set up a little corner elsewhere as it’s an enjoyable setup.

  19. scoobie says:

    Tell her its the umpc or D-I-V-O-R-C-E :)

  20. baap says:

    too expensive

    /\ \/

  21. Josh24 says:

    A Mighty-Power UMPC!!

    The Q is : I’m start to think, Do we all REALLY need that MIGHTY-POWER on such of small-tiny screen?

    As for doing HEAVY WORKS/desktop replacement in HOURS, I think 7 inch is the most mininum size of UMPC screen that MY EYES can tolerate of. :-)
    Infact I had a hard time to adapt and adjustin my eyes with my 7″ everun note screen WHEN I’m use it for hours as desktop replacement.

  22. chippy says:

    Oh no. I would never use a 7″ screen as a desktop replacement. Short term pc, mobile pc, dockable PC with screen, car pc, etc etc, but not a single use desktop replacement.
    The mighty power comes in useful when you have the dock. Same with the OQO, Tablet Kiosk i7210, Sony UX, etc etc.

  23. Josh24 says:

    Oh I see, I hope I don’t make any wrong decision then, by bought this mighty everun UMPC. I was just too extremely excited at first to re-thinking before buy when saw this Everun comes with notebook/desktop power!

    Well, Let’s thinking that my mighty power of everun UMPC would come in very usefull in travelling when I can found any external monitor to connect! Think to relieved myself! hehe..

  24. Chippy says:

    I updated the post with some end of day thoughts.

  25. Crape says:

    what kills this device is that its too big for the pocket. at least 7″ UMPC’s dont even pretend to be pocketable.

    also the 1280 x 768 resolution is too high for 5.6″, they should knock off that bezel & stick in a 7″ screen instead. then this device would be a much improved Raon.

  26. Chippy says:

    There’s no such thing as too high res. You just need to bump the standard font sizes up. They look super smooth!
    And yes, this is not pocketable. It depends what you want. Personally even a mobile phone in my pocket is too much.

    I see the U820 as a complete all rounder. Capable of desk and hand-based work in keyboard or tablet mode. If you have a netbook or high-end smartphone you’ll definately find overlap and it will be difficult to justify it.

    Boost to 7″ screen would be awesome if they could fit it in. It does appear so.

  27. Chippy says:

    Making some notes on the U820 and Windows 7 here:
    http://www.umpcportal.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=5476

    Will also have a YouTube video ready soon.

    Steve

  28. Da Mo says:

    I’d like to put a SSD in my U820 – but I haven’t opend the case yet to see what the connector is. As I recall it’s a PATA interface. Any recommendations of which drive to use?

  29. Yeny says:

    Today, i saw the special version of these baby and i’m impressed
    http://www.warehouse123.com/store/product_information.php?pid=21469&ptext=Fujitsu-Tokidoki-U2010-Lifebook-UMPC-Limited-Tokidoki-Version-Tokidoki

    Do you know what is Tokidoki? It is very hot in asia?

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