Hello there, I am new to these forums.

I have narrowed my choice of laptops to the Sony Vaio TR3A and Fujitsu Lifebook P5020D.

In several aspects, these laptops are the same. But they have some distinguishing traits and I’d like to know which one is worth picking over.

I know most if not all of you will recommend the TR, since this is a TR forum but I haven’t found any Lifebook P5020 forums.

I like the TR’s screen more and the Motion Eye camera is pretty neat. But it is very expensive.

I like that the P5020D has a modular bay and has a reader for several of the memory card media formats like the SD and MMC instead of just the Memory Stick on the Vaio TR. I also like that the P5020D is several hundred dollars cheaper.

Is there anyone here who has tried both of these laptops? Finally, both of these laptops have around the same specifications. Now, I know that upgrading the TR’s hard drive is very hard and its optical drive is almost impossible.

Does anyone know if the P5020’d hard drive can be upgraded, if so, how easily?

Finally, how does the modular bay in the P5020 work? Do I just press a button and the CD-RW/DVD drive comes out? Where can I find a modular DVD burner drive to put into the laptop?

Sorry for writing so long, I just have so many questions!  :wink:

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Pick the TR!  You’ll be happy… :D

I have a kick a$$ desktop and I use my TR more than it…..

:D

Just to name a few things I love about my TR.  The Screen.  It’s a wide screen is very unique in size.  And the x-brite makes it very pretty day or night.

The quality and detail is great.  And for having a 1gz mobile processor its very fast for me.  I use it for the internet and basic office programs.  Runs windows xp pro with 512 of ram with no problems. 

The style is the best looking by far.  The font of the keys are sweat….

The price is a little high, but isn’t anything that you want is….

:D

>> ...but I haven’t found any Lifebook P5020 forums. <<

Here’s one:

http://www.leog.net/fujp_forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=18

DC

nice looking noteboks.  If you like black.  I like our color

besides with the screen size, the processor, the hard drive.  It looks like a TR clone in black.  I wondered if they just copied the TR????? :?:

i retract that statement I just checked out their web site and they have it in silver too…lol

Its a clone…

What about our xbrite screen?  Is that better :shock:

The P7K does have a built-in microphone, as well as a ‘ClearView’ screen- basically Fujitsu’s version of the X-Brite(though your preference may vary)- but the P5k does not. The P5K also requires dongles for S-Video and VGA-Out.

Also, some models come with a very cool fingerprint sensor, so that you won’t ever have to type in your password again.
Fujitsu’s battery’s cost ~$110, but Sony’s cost $350—I believe, sorry if that is inaccurate.

I think it would be wrong to call the P5000/7000 a ‘clone’. Fujitsu had the P2000s with Transmeta chips long before the TR series(while Sony had the Picturebook, but I don’t think that had a built-in optical drive.)

The TR has its own advantages- you get the well-known Sony brand and a white bezel, which is very cool(as well as the digicam). The P7K could also come in white, but not in the US…you’d have to import it(from where I’m not sure.) Also, it’s slightly lighter than the P7K (3.11 lbs vs. 3.3 lbs). I went with the P7K at the end, as I got more bang for the buck in more ways than one.

Rahul, if u have the cash then get a TR

I second that.  Can’t go wrong with the TR.  Check the Fujitsu forums so you can be at peace, though. :wink:

looks really good!  they have one here in KTM in the showroom right next to the TR3, but the battery is dead and no one knows where the charger is.  my friend, the manager says there is more interest in the tr3, but maybe that’s cause it’s WORKING.  duh.

the things that i like about the P7 - from the description, forum, and pics - is this:
* svideo out / optical digital out
* ability to have two bats loaded
* scroll button
* multi card slot for compact flash, and more.
* 80 gig hd
* the fact that its been tested on Everest, where my TR1 died.
* the price
* the reputation of the build company

the things i don’t like about the P7:
* color, looks just like my old TI99a!
* speaker location (although i bet they sound better than TR’s, regardless of placement)
* the fingerprint gimmick.  reminds me of the TRs webcam gimmic.

All that said, if i were in the market I would seriously consider the P7 over the TR3/TR5 for the major reason of harddrive space, which i am out of, and money, which is also in short supply.

just cause the p7k has more features doesn’t mean its better. more bang for the buck imo = more features you may not need/use.. 

i guess linc has nothing to do this sunday
the last post before his reply is july 21, 2004, which means this is a deep buried thread…....

nope. i don’t work and i got uncle sam to pay for my rent, tuition and all my toys(especially the one’s with $9 shipping :wink:). how’s life treating ya? thank you for taking time out of your precious sunday afternoon to respond to my posts.