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New Fujitsu Amilo M4438/M3438 (17" WUXGA/WXGA+ Centrino)

post #1 of 87
3/17/05 at 4:02am
Thread Starter 
Given that this new laptop has sparked some interest I thought it deserved a thread of its own. This is otherwise yet another 17" Sonoma laptop, but with a set of features that make it stand out in this category, most notably space for two S-ATA HDDs, an ExpressCard slot, Azalia 7.1 sound and Gigabit LAN. There will be two models which differ only by the screen resolution, Amilo M3438G will have a WXGA+ screen and the Amilo M4438G will have a WUXGA screen. It features the same graphics card as the i9300, the GeForce Go 6800, but it's slightly heavier and doesn't quite have its great battery life. Designwise it's somewhat wider and thinner than the i9300. According to Infosyncworld the screen and speakers are top notch on this laptop...

A little about the InstantOn feature of this laptop. Cyberlink InstantOn is an embedded Linux version of Cyberlink PowerCinema with which one can play media content without the need for booting into Windows. With the built-in IR receiver and included remote control I can see it being used as a very sleek looking HTPC provided that it's not noisy. The InstantOn feature is accessed through an InstantOn multimedia key...

Below is a quote from a recent review of laptops using different instant-on solutions:

...The X540 is also an excellent instant-on media center, as it's the only system here that can handle DVD and CD playback, along with MP3s and photos. The X540's instant-on capabilities are provided by CyberLink's PowerCinema, which sits atop Linux. The instant-on button brings up the PowerCinema menu, which allows you to select a DVD, music, photos, and even video clips. The menu also has a battery gauge and options to eject the disc and boot into Windows. PowerCinema's operating options are the most extensive of any of the instant-on systems we've seen. You can, for example, select the source (CD, hard drive, or USB device) from which to play music files...




High res pics available on this web page...


Amilo M3438G/M4438G specs (3-page data sheet):

Screen: 17" WUXGA/WXGA+ Crystal View
Processor: Pentium M 1.6GHz to 2.13GHz
RAM: Up to 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM (400/533 MHz), available options 256MB to 1GB
Video: NVidia Geforce Go 6800 256 MB (DDR1)
Sound: Azalia 7.1 sound
HDD: Up to 2 S-ATA HDDs (RAID 0/1/off), available options 60GB/80GB 5400rpm HDDs (120GB HDDs option in 3Q)
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
WLAN: Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Modem: V.92 56K fax modem
Optical Drive: DVD±RW Dual Layer
Media Drive: 4-in-1 card reader with SD/MS/MMC/MSPRO support
Connection Ports: 4xUSB 2.0, 1xFireWire 400, 1xSPDIF+Line out, 1xLine in, 1xDVI-I, 1xS-Video out, 1xRJ45(LAN), 1xRJ12(modem)
Expansion Slot: ExpressCard 36/54 (DVB-T/analog TV-tuner card option in 3Q)
Speakers: 2.1 (stereo + subwoofer)
Microphone: Built-in microphone
Additional Features: InstantOn function, Built-in IR receiver and IR remote control
Dimensions: 408 x 289 x 38.1 mm
Weight: 4.1 kg
Battery Life: 2 hours (8-cell 4400mAH Lithium-ion battery)

Entry Level Price: 1500 EUR in Germany, 20000 NOK in Norway (currently available price data)...
Release Date: The M3438G (WXGA+) in May, the M4438G (WUXGA) in 3Q.

Since Germany is one of the cheapest and Norway one of the most expensive countries in Europe for electronics, those two price points might give you an idea of what it will cost for you. Its release in the US is uncertain as apparently no other Amilo series laptops have been released there...

One more thing worth noting is that it's got a combined digital and analog DVI-I port, not separate DVI-D and VGA ports, in case you are thinking of having a DVI and VGA external dual monitor setup...
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post #2 of 87
3/17/05 at 4:04am
too bad no numpad, and only 4x usb (dell xps2 and 9300 have 6x) bu that laptop looks really good though!

EDIT: also missing gigabit lan, 2195 ABG wireless, 8xDVD±RW DL± burner
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post #3 of 87
3/17/05 at 4:04am
Now that is a nice laptop! Much much better design than Dell 9300!!!!
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post #4 of 87
3/17/05 at 5:36am
I bet the screen is much better than dells. But looks like it's not coming to U.S.
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post #5 of 87
3/17/05 at 9:09am
What no gigabit lan... Still looks like a great lappy!
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post #6 of 87
3/17/05 at 11:18am
That's a nice machine, nicest I saw with Go6800.
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post #7 of 87
3/17/05 at 10:31pm
how often are you really going to need more than 4 freaking USB ports? Okay, maybe you have a wireless USB mouse dongle, a camera, an MP3 player and a USB sound device, but what else? And why would you have all these things plugged in at the same bloody time?

Nice laptop, but doesn't touch the XPS2 in terms of performance (assuming the 6800 is non-ultra), and that's all that matters to me...I won't be trading in even if this does make the states. Nice screen, though...I need to run to BestBuy sometime and look at the different screens myself in order to see if I can detect the dreaded 'sparklies' or not...
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post #8 of 87
3/18/05 at 1:44pm
Another link with little news and a different picture...

http://physorg.com/news3391.html

I'm definitely looking forward to this notebook as an excellent alterantive to the Dell 9300! Mainly for the screen that should be one of the best around (based on the previous very good cristalview screens used on Fujitsu laptops...)

Flyby3D

EDIT: here a link to the same picture... but bigger
http://spieleplanet.com/news/images/...05170428-0.jpg
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post #9 of 87
3/18/05 at 3:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pr50wner
too bad no numpad, and only 4x usb (dell xps2 and 9300 have 6x) bu that laptop looks really good though!

EDIT: also missing gigabit lan, 2195 ABG wireless, 8xDVD±RW DL± burner
Quote:
Originally Posted by InfoSync World
"In the department of optical storage, we find a highly capable multi-format DVD burner supporting DVD+-RW and DVD+R Dual Layer for capacities of up to 8.5 GB, which is joined by a battery of both wired and wireless connectivity options."
PS. Any idea if this laptop is due to come out in the UK?
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post #10 of 87
3/18/05 at 5:19pm
This is an inspiron 9300 killer.
because of the truecrap of dell i definitely love this laptop.
it will be released in may in europe for around 1500 euros that much cheaper than the 9300.
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post #11 of 87
3/18/05 at 6:27pm
Hi Max, that's great news!

Is it just the screen that you dislike on the i9300 compared with the Fuji, or are there other aspects of the lappie?

(I don't think the i9300 has SATA, for example?)
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post #12 of 87
3/18/05 at 10:39pm
I thought the Sonoma package had to include Gigabit LAN. Otherwise, I love it, maybe the port replicator will include GLAN.

I may seriously consider this over the nc/nw8200 series and pair it with a small tablet pc. I hope the pricing in the States will be reasonable.
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post #13 of 87
3/18/05 at 10:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BGD
Release Date: Official press release states May, but Infosyncworld says 3Q...
Reading from another review, it appears that the 240GB SATA setup will be available in 3Q and the 120-160GB will likely be available with the initial release (mid-spring/May).
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post #14 of 87
3/18/05 at 11:06pm
This will almost certainly kick the crap out of Dell. Even for a little extra expense, a company with a reputation like Fujitsu is worth it.
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post #15 of 87
3/18/05 at 11:06pm
Nice notebook, but too bad it doesn't have the 6800 Ultra
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post #16 of 87
3/18/05 at 11:28pm
Looks like a killer laptop. Fujitsu's have fantastic screens, I tested some out at the local Fry's electronics here and they looked better than the sony x-brite screens. Its a shame they don't offer an ultra version for sale here in the US, I'd be all over it.
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post #17 of 87
3/19/05 at 1:00am
I'd forgo the ultra if this thing could be delivered to U.S. -- 6800 is still very good.
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post #18 of 87
3/19/05 at 8:52am
Seeing as I'm new to laptops, I can't initially see much of a difference between the Fujitsu and the Dell 9300....

Is it just the (quality of the) screen that's different?

Thx
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post #19 of 87
3/19/05 at 9:08am
with the fujitsu you can have 2 HD in RAID mode or ATA mode ... It can be very useful to have 2 disks
--one for windows and the other for linux
--2 disks in RAID 0 mode to have better performance
--2 disks to have a OS on one and precious data on the second

etc ...

deuch
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post #20 of 87
3/19/05 at 2:07pm
So the Dell can only fit in one disk (max 60gb @ 7200 at the mo), while this Fujitsu can house two x sata drives?

Are they 2.5" laptop drives, or 3.5" desktop-type drives?

I take it the Dell hasn't got Sata capability (even though it, too, is a Sonoma based unit)?

Are the Sata disks more expensive, and would they have significantly improved performance over the standard 60gb 7200rpm disks? Do Sata disks require more or less power from the battery?

Sorry for the Q's, I was about to grab a 9300, but if the benefits of the Fuji appear to be larger I think I can hang on.

Thx
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