When we first reviewed the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 ($849.99 list, 4 stars), we were impressed with the little tablet PC. It offered business-ready security features and rugged construction, and provided better ease of use than many competing 32-bit Windows tablets. With the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 (Intel Atom Z690), the tablet gets an upgraded processor (and a price bump, to $990 direct) while retaining all the features we liked about the previous model, such as long battery life and a stylus for pointing precision. The Atom Z690 processor in the new Stylistic Q550 may not match the laptop-grade processor found in the Samsung Series 7 Slate (700T1A) ($1,349.99 direct, 4 stars), but it ranks high among similarly equipped tablets.
Design and Features
The Q550 is ruggedized for business and retail use, with a magnesium-alloy frame and a screen covered in scratch-resistant, chemically strengthened glass. Built to meet military endurance standards for shock, vibration, altitude, temperature, and humidity, it's capable of withstanding the rigors of both the show floor and the production line.
The tablet measures 0.63 by 10.83 by 7.56 inches (HWD), and weighs only 2 pounds. This is heavier than the previous version of the Q550, which weighed 1.87 pounds. The extra weight can be attributed in part to different internal hardware, but also to a heavy rubber bumper that has been added to the back side of the tablet; the bumper makes the tablet 1 inch at its thickest point. When resting on a table, the bumper causes the tablet to tilt upward at a slight angle, and provides traction and a more secure grip when you're holding the tablet.
The 10.1-inch touch screen offers 400 nits of brightness and 1,280-by-800 resolution, which is enough for enjoying 720p video. The display has a built-in mono speaker; its sound wasn't terrible, but the lack of stereo sound may disappoint some. The touch screen is intended to be navigated primarily with a stylus?the same model found on the Motion Computing CL900 ($1,250 street, 3.5 stars)?but fingers will work just as well, if not with the same precision. Unfortunately, the new Stylistic Q550 still has one of the few failings seen in the previous modelno place to stow the stylus.
On the back side of the Q550 you'll find a user-accessible battery. Whereas most tablet PCs seal the battery into the chassis, the battery of the Q550 can be removed, replaced, and even swapped out during use.
Along the edges of the tablet you'll find a physical on/off switch, a dedicated Ctrl-Alt-Del button, and a button that rotates the screen display?something the Q550 doesn't do automatically when you rotate the tablet. You'll also find security options like a fingerprint scanner on the back of the tablet, a SmartCard reader on the edge of the chassis, and an embedded Trusted Platform Module (TPM). A single USB 2.0 port and a full-size HDMI output provide some flexibility in connecting peripherals and external displays, and a docking port lets you connect to a Fujitsu brand dock ($69.99 direct option).
Wireless connectivity has been enhanced for this model; a Gobi 3000 wireless broadband module supplements the basic 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. Also inside the tablet is a 62GB solid-state drive (SSD), and although it's fast, you may want to bolster that storage with an SD card. The integrated SD card reader will accommodate cards up to 32GB in capacity, increasing the storage space by more than half. The Q550 is also relatively free of bloatware, with only a few tablet-specific utilities and Microsoft Office Starter 2010. Fujitsu covers the Stylistic Q550 with a one-year warranty, but that can be extended to two or three years (available for $95 and $175, respectively).
Performance
The Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 (Intel Atom Z690) brings business functionality and rugged construction to a Windows tablet that is easy to use and ready to integrate into your existing IT structure. Though hampered by some of the problems seen in its predecessor, like a bit of extra weight and the lack of storage for its stylus, the new Q550 (Intel Atom Z690) is still a smart choice for any business that needs Windows computing in a mobile package. Between its best-in-class navigation and gains in processing power thanks to the new Atom Z690 processor, the new Q550 is a compelling buy, but so far the Samsung Series 7 Slate (700T1A) is the only tablet PC we've seen that provides an experience on par with a standard laptop.
BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS:
COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 (Intel Atom Z690) with several other tablets side by side.
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