14 DAY TRIAL // One would think that the impending arrival of Intel's next generation of central processing units would dissuade desktop and laptop makers from launching new laptops between now and next week.
After all, the Haswell central processing units will be launched on June 4, maybe even earlier if Intel holds a launch even prior to the start of Computex Taipei, 2013.
There are also lots of reasons to hold off, at this point, on buying a new notebook until Haswell models are out.
Not the least of which is the 50% battery life advantage that the mobile processors promise.
Nevertheless, Fujitsu has released a new set of laptops, based not on Haswell but on Ivy Bridge central processing units.
They represent a refresh to the E series of Lifebooks, and are called E733, E743 and E753.
In that order, they measure 13.3 inches, 14 inches and 15.6 inches, respectively.
The common configuration packs a Core i5 quad-core CPU with 2.5 GHz clock speed, plus a variable memory capacity and a hybrid hard drive of 500 GB.
In fact, the internal hardware is quite similar across all screen sizes, and it falls to buyers to decide if they want the basic specs or the high-end versions, with 16 GB RAM, faster processor, larger-capacity HHD, etc.
Sadly, the price won't win Fujitsu any favors. The starting tag is of $999 / €999. Sure, the company made the new E-Series Lifebooks for corporate buyers, but even they will think twice, especially with Haswell around the corner.
This is clearly a play by Fujitsu, meant to help exhaust the inventory of Ivy Bridge CPUs before it's too late.
On the flip side, some will feel that $999 / €999 is actually a low price for laptops of this type (never mind the 13.3-inch screen size). To each his own, we suppose.