Out of the Box
As with any new product I review, I like to look over the User Guide and make sure that I have an understanding of how things will work. With the Fujitsu N7010 there was a Quick Start Guide but no printed User Manual. While it isn’t required to get up and running – just follow the onscreen prompts, the lack of a printed manual did come into play when I ended up with my cursor on the secondary screen and wasn’t quite sure how I’d accomplished that or how to get it back to the main screen.
The User Guide is a PDF that you can access on the notebook but it was by trial and error that I found it.
To connect to the Internet you have the choice of Ethernet or Wi-Fi. If you require a modem if dial-up is the only option then you'll have to purchase an external modem. This does limit the overall functionality for mobile professionals as I know that I like knowing that if Wi-Fi or Ethernet isn't available I can still use dial-up.
The Blu-ray™ ROM Drive has all the functionality needed with the added bonus that you can watch Blu-ray™ movies on it. You can still read and write to CD or DVD media.
An interesting feature that I haven't seen on other notebook models is the removable dust filter that will make it easier to keep clean. My only concern is how well the filter will stay in place with repeated use. Will it loosen up over time? That we'll have to wait and see.
Internal Display
The internal display is 4” and while I initially wasn’t sure which way to take advantage of it or how to get the best viewing angle. It was useful when using a messaging program as I could keep that program in the small display and still work on things in the main display.
I did find that I had to keep the notebook at a slight upward angle in order to properly see the internal display. When the notebook was sitting flat there was some reflection back from the main display and it did make it more difficult to see the smaller display clearly.
The internal display requires only a light touch, different from how you would use the touch pad so be prepared to take some time getting to know how to use it best.
Keyboard & Touch Pad
I’ve always been impressed with the keyboards on the Fujitsu line but the keyboard on this particular model was not as pleasing. Yes, the fact it has been designed with spill reistance protection is great but the actual size of the keyboard is very cramped and even with my small hands I was hitting wrong keys and needed to look where I was typing.
The touch pad took some adjusting as well. Whereas most touch pads require you to tap or slide your finger across, the Fujitsu N7010 requires a slightly different touch. Once you do get the hang of how to move your finger, it is more natural but it will take a bit of time to adjust.