Hello, I’m in the market for the new TR2/B (getting it from overseas) but a freind told me to take a look at the Fujitsu P5000 series laptops. Aside from not having a camera built in it’s got more features (CFlash slot + Memory Stick, S-Vid & Video out in addition to a 60GB HDD) Have many of you compared the the two (TR series to P5000 series) and if so what were/are your thoughts?

http://www.computers.us.fujitsu.com/www/productbridge_pseries.shtml

Thanks,
Leif

First of all, both the TR series and the P5000 series are great little machines and are extremely similar in terms of performance and features. However, they do have some varying differences and even that differs from market to market.

Assuming the comparison is an import Japanese TR2/B vs. a US Fujitsu P5020D…

If you were opting for the TR2/B then you would also be getting Bluetooth and 802.11a which are not options on the P5020 models.

The TR2/B has a glossy high contrast screen while the P5020 has a more traditional TFT screen that has been described as grainy. It’s not that it’s bad at all, it’s just different. If you are able to see both units side by side then you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Both systems can be upgraded to 1GB however, it’s a slightly more expensive process on the Fujitsu since it necessitates the purchase of their $700 1GB DIMM upgrade. Sony’s process is a little cheaper since you can use two 512MB DIMMs which are cheaper. One issue with the TR2/B Japanese import is that they come with only 256MB standard meaning the most cost effective upgrade is 768MB (+512MB). Going to 1GB would mean having to buy two 512MB modules and wasting the included 256MB module.

The TR does not have S-video out but it does have a full 15-pin D-shell VGA port so you don’t have to carry around a dongle. The Fujitsu has both S-video out and VGA out but both require the use of a dongle. As much as I wish that the Sony had s-video out, I used it like once a year on my previous notebook so it wasn’t too bad.

The Fujitsu is a more modular system. You can fairly easily change out the optical drive with floppy drive, a weight saver or a extra bay battery. Sony’s optical bay is fixed and can’t be changed (which also allows it to maintain a smaller/lighter profile). However, if you really require flexibility then the Fujitsu is terrific in this respect.

You can also easily change the hard disk in the Fujitsu since it uses more readily available 2.5” hard disks. These can be found in capacities up to 80GB with speeds of up to 7200RPM. Sony chose to use the 1.8” hard disks running at 4200RPM in the TR in order to keep the size small and to use less power. Because this is newer technology, the sizes are currently limited to 30 or 40GB. If your computing needs require excess of 40GB then again, Fujitsu will be a more attractive option.

If you’re a user of Sony digital cameras then both units will cater to you. Fujitsu’s memory slots are an extremely attractive feature as well. CF, SD, and MS all in one is a good thing. Sony uses will either need PC Card adapters or USB adapters to read their other brands of media. I use a 4-in-1 adapter in my Sony TR’s PC Card slot to achieve a similar functionality.

All in all, both machines are great little units and have been positively reviewed by many sites and magazines. Is one better than the other? That’s a subjective matter because in the end, it simply comes down to user preference and what your needs are. Not all notebooks are designed for everyone and you’ll have to balance the compromises that come with these smaller subnotebooks. You have to ask yourself…Does the screen really matter? Do I want to carry dongles or adapters? Will I be upgrading my laptop? Will I ever need to swap out the optical disc? Also, you’ll definitely want to take a look and hold both machines if you can get a chance. It will help you make a more solid decision.

Hope this helps.

that comparison was very well put thanks gr00vy!  I concur that holding both machines will help you choose among all the other things stated.  I looked at both machines and the tr won hands down.  its lighter, looks better and won my $$. 

my 2 cents

You can also get the Japan version of the Fujitsu Loox.  It is called Loox T70E (the equivalent of the P5020d model in US).  The main and only different is the Japanese model comes with the DVDRW built-in and the color is all black :D The price is much higher in Japan tough.

i agree with all of the above too, and want to stress one point: the TR1 LOOKS BETTER!  I almost went mac after xx years if pc cause i was sick and tired of looking like a businessperson on vacation with an ugly black box stuck to his loins. the design of the tr1 is as close to an ibook thingee as you can get in the pc world.

however, the video out port exclusion was a BIG mistake in my opinion.  as much as i don’t like to look like a businessperson, i am, making presentations on large screen tvs and whatnot is pretty standard.  my old sony notebook did this very well, as i am sure the fujitsu does. i’m trying now to figure out how to get my sony miniDV camera to help in this regard…i think i read somewhere in the manual i no longer own that you can use the camera as a link to other video devices. that would probally be better than the cheesy 100$ scan converter i had to buy in the usa in an emergency situation, when i just ASSUMED there was a video out jack and had to scamble cause no, sony cut it.

jig

BTW, here’s a VGA-to-video conversion cable, for $50. It does S-video as well as composite.

FEATURES
Supports 640x480@60/72/75/85Hz, 800x600@60/72/75/85Hz, 1024x768@60/75/85Hz and 1280x1024@60Hz display modes
Power supplied from USB
NO BULKY EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY!
No software required
Composite and S-Video outputs
VGA IN and VGA OUT for simultaneous TV/CRT viewing
Supports screen size adjustment in VGA mode

A list of other VGA-to-video converters, including wireless adapters, is here:

Ooh, a nice find! I might have to test one of these out…Thanks for sharing.

Well, while the above cable looks good in the picture, I wonder how it is in real life?  Here is one device that I can attest to:

 

This device is only VGA (640 x 480) to XGA (1024 x 768)  but much higher would be very hard to resolve on a normal TV I suspect. It also has a crude way of adjusting the vertical/horizontal sizing, brightness, and flicker. One other notable feature is that it can be powered from the USB port or the PS2 mouse port, if ya got one.  The unit performs well (as well as can be expected for the price), and as advertised, but I would not recommend it for one reason: IT’S BUCK UGLY. The case design is one from a bad chinese knockoff gameboy gone wrong, and the cables, while made from that cool translucent material, are a thick gangle. It is however light, minus the cabling, but ya need that. One other thing to note is that these devices are often either NTSC or PAL, and the packaging on this unit did not specify. I took a gamble as I have mostly multimachines and TVs, so I am still not sure what it really is.  This unit was purchased at Fry’s Electronics in Cali for 69.00 USD.