The Fujitsu Amilo Mini Ui 3520 is aimed at those interested in a light, easy-to-use computer for word processing, browsing and communication on the go. It is the perfect machine for the business traveller, as it is light and small, fitting easily into a handbag. It also has a really cool feature of interchangeable coloured lids that set it apart from the other netbooks.
Its 8.9-inch display makes it one of the smaller netbooks, but it is hardly noticeable. The display is bright and clear, with an average 1024 x 600-pixel resolution. It's powered by Intel's GMA 950 chipset, giving perfectly adequate performance for viewing films, listening to music and such.
The keyboard, however, takes a little getting used to. Particularly for those who touch-type, as the shift keys and certain others fall outside of their normal place, and as the keys don't stretch to the end of the chassis, they are not as big as they could have been. However, having said that, once your fingers have acclimatised, you can type at your usual speed with no problem.
The battery life is an expected three hours, and storage space comes in the form of a 60GB hard drive, so there is more than adequate room for most files, photographs and applications. The extra space over SSD-based rivals differentiates it from its competitors as the system runs Windows XP Home, as opposed to a Linux operating system found on many similar netbooks.
Its integrated 1.3 megapixel Web cam is another cool feature, great for communicating with family and colleagues alike when away on business.
Overall, the Amilo Mini Ui 3520 proved an invaluable and likeable machine. I barely noticed its weight while travelling, and being able to stash it neatly in my bag, instead of schlepping a larger machine around with me, was most welcome.
In summary:
I say: A must for the business traveller
Plus: Lightweight and compact
Minus: Keyboard takes some getting used to
Contact: Fujitsu Siemens
Price: R5 999
Specifications:
* Intel Atom N270 low-power processor
* Windows XP Home Edition
* 8.9-inch WSVGA display (non-glare)
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (shared memory)
* 60, 80 or 120GB hard disk capacity
* 1GB memory
* Integrated 1.3 Megapixel Web cam and digital array microphone for easy video telephony
* Integrated WLAN, LAN and Bluetooth
* Interfaces: VGA, USB 2.0, ExpressCard (34mm), 4-in-1 card reader, 2x audio
* Weight: 1kg
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