Sharp's notebook gets slimmer - Reviews - Hardware - Laptops

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Sharp's notebook gets slimmer

January 29, 2002
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/hardware/laptops/soa/Sharp-s-notebook-gets-slimmer/0,2000065761,120263171,00.htm

The limbo bar for laptop height just got lower; Sharp's new AU$5295 PC-UM10 shimmies under the 1.8cm-high mark.

Despite its svelte frame, the PC-UM10 still includes a broad keyboard and a few expansion ports, including USB.

But its very short list of integrated features ends there, so be prepared to haul around a bunch of external components should you buy this somewhat pricey system.

The Sharp PC-UM10's 28.2 x 23 x 1.6cm, 1.3kg (base weight) chassis is like a stealth bomber's: paper-thin yet sturdy enough to offer exceptionally powerful components.

The wide keyboard, which is as solid as a desktop's, serves up some of the best laptop typing we've experienced. The bright, 12.1in, active-matrix screen is big for an ultralight. And when it comes to primary storage, you'll get your money's worth with the system's big 20GB drive.

Also, the slender chassis contains some useful expansion ports and slots, such as Ethernet, 56K modem, headphone, microphone, USB, and one Type II PC Card slot.

These features make the Sharp PC-UM10 seem like a dream, but the reverie will fade if you use CDs, floppies, or other peripherals often.

To keep the weight down, Sharp made the floppy drive (AU$209) optional. If you want to plug an external monitor into the system itself, you'll need another cable and a standard VGA adaptor to plug into the notebook's proprietary VGA port. Fortunately, the latter adaptor and cable are bundled with the system.

The Sharp PC-UM10 did a fine job in our Lab's speed tests. The system used its low-voltage PIII 600MHz processor, 128MB of memory, 4MB ATI Rage Mobility-M graphics chip, and Windows 2000 OS to run right alongside the similarly configured Fujitsu LifeBook B Series.

Still, given the PC-UM10's price, Sharp could have included the more standard PIII-700MHz processor found in most ultralights today.

Battery life in our Labs' drain tests was equally acceptable. The Sharp PC-UM10 achieved a score of 133 minutes, which is especially respectable in light of its tiny battery. Many ultralights, including the LifeBook B Series, fall in the 90-minute range.

The Sharp PC-UM10 is literally in a size and weight class by itself, making it a must-have if you want the lightest and latest laptop. But you might want to hold off for a few months to score a better price, and if you're in need of speed or a lot of peripherals, you should pass on this system.

Product: Sharp PC-UM10

Price: AU$5295

Vendor Sharp

Phone: 1300 13 55 30

Interoperability:
Excellent range of media supported.

Futureproofing:
Be prepared to haul around a lot of external components should you buy this somewhat pricey system.

ROI:
Hold off for a few months and you'll probably get a better price.

Service:
Two-year warranty serviced through Sharp dealer network, phone 1300 13 50 22, support also on Web.

Rating: