Fujitsu PC LifeBook 280Dx

Fujitsu PC LifeBook 280Dx

If you're a student or a small-business owner on a budget, the low-priced Fujitsu PC LifeBook 280Dx will handle your basic tasks without a hitch.

At $1499, it's one of the least expensive Pentium MMX-233 notebook we've ever tested. Although its processor isn't one of the latest Pentium IIs, the 280Dx is plenty fast for most applications.

The LifeBook's design is very versatile. Two multifunction bays dominate the front of the machine. The left-hand bay accepts a battery, floppy, or Zip drive; the right-hand bay takes the CD-ROM drive and will accept a second battery, Zip, or floppy drive when mounted in the included adapter tray. While a growing number of notebooks today accept an optional internal Zip drive, the LifeBook 280Dx is the first we've seen to include this handy backup and storage device as part of the package.

Similarly, we've seen several High Performance Addressing dual-scan screens pass through our test center recently, but the LifeBook 280Dx's 12.1-inch HPA panel is the first to deliver on the industry's promise of enhanced performance. Its picture is free of the defects, shadows, bright spots, and cursor ghosting seen on standard dual-scan screens. Still, HPA screens can't be viewed from sharp angles and don't offer the brightness and contrast of an active-matrix screen.

Sharply styled in dark gray with a downward sweep to the front edge, the 280Dx is a solid, roadworthy machine that exhibits no appreciable flex in either the case or screen panel. The keyboard is sturdily constructed with crisp-action keys for easy touch typing.

The Ergotrac, a concave button that serves as the pointing device, is the notebook's most unusual feature. It requires less pressure than an eraserhead and is just as accurate.

The 280Dx's disadvantage is its traveling weight. At 8.2 pounds, the laptop is fine for short trips. But if you spend more than a little time on the road, two other chartmakers--the Acer Extensa 367D and the Gateway Solo 2500SE--are easier to carry. The 280Dx's battery life is also mediocre.

If the LifeBook 280Dx's well-written documentation fails to answer your questions, you can try Fujitsu's toll-free technical support, open around the clock. During our anonymous calls to Fujitsu, however, we waited an average of 10 minutes, which we consider too long, before talking with a support rep.

The one-year parts and labor warranty that comes with the LifeBook is what you'd expect with a budget notebook.

SUMMARY

PRO: Great price, includes Zip drive CON: Heavier than some other chartmakers