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I've seen the backlight: LED laptops

Matthew Elliott Matthew Elliott, Section Editor March 28, 2007

Fluorescent lamps likely power your laptop's LCD display. The next laptop you buy may offer a brighter image with richer colors and better contrast, a thinner design, and longer battery life thanks to LED backlights. We've tested ultraportables from Fujitsu and Sony that feature LED-backlit displays and have been impressed with the image quality, the sleek designs, and--particularly with the VAIO models--the battery life they deliver.

Both Apple and HP are supposedly close to introducing LED-backlit laptops, but Sony was the first to offer such a model when it released the VAIO TXN15 last year. We've since reviewed its follow-up, the TXN17. And earlier this month, Fujitsu joined the LED-backlit party with the LifeBook P7230. (Sony has another ultraportable, the VAIO SZ series, that also features LED backlights.)

Until a better battery technology comes along that improves upon the life the ol' lithium ion affords, LED backlights look like your best bet for keeping your laptop running longer between charges. Hopefully we'll see this technology appear on more laptops, including models larger than ultraportables.

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Review date March 09, 2007
The Bottom Line A sleek-looking ultraportable, the Fujitsu LifeBook P7230 will turn heads with its polished design, but its middling performance make it suited best for basic office tasks.
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Features
NetworkingNetwork adapter - Ethernet
- IEEE 802.11a
- IEEE 802.11b
- IEEE 802.11g
- Fast Ethernet
- Gigabit Ethernet
Graphics ControllerIntel GMA 900
Optical StorageDVD±RW (+R DL) / DVD-RAM - Plug-in module
RAM1 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz - PC2-5300 ( 1 x 1 GB )
Cache Memory2 MB - L2 cache
ProcessorIntel Core Solo U1400 / 1.2 GHz Ultra Low Voltage (ULV)
Hard Drive60 GB - 4200 rpm
Display10.6 in TFT active matrix 1280 x 768 ( WXGA ) - 24-bit (16.7 million colors)
BatteryLithium ion
CNET Labs: Battery drain test / Video playback153
Dimensions (WxDxH)10.7 in x 7.9 in x 1.2 in
Weight2.9 lbs
OS ProvidedMicrosoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Service & Support1 year warranty
Full specifications Full specifications
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