Key Takeaways
1. The Japanese laptop market features unique designs, including laptops with round trackpads and lightweight models with small batteries.
2. The Fujitsu FMV Note A includes a Blu-ray drive, catering to the increased demand for optical drives as Windows 10 support ends.
3. Despite its modern processor, the FMV Note A has somewhat dated specifications, including 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
4. The FMV Note A weighs nearly 4.2 lbs and has a 50Wh battery, offering about 6.7 hours of video playback.
5. The laptop is available in Japan, with prices starting at around $820 for the base model and reaching about $1,400 for the high-end version, but it is not typically sold in Europe and North America.
The Japanese laptop market is quite unique. Notebooks featuring a round trackpad are nearly exclusive to Japan, and many of the lightest laptops in the world hail from this country. These lightweight models often come with very small batteries, which might not do well in other markets. The recently launched Fujitsu FMV Note A is a bit different, as it includes a Blu-ray drive.
Demand for Optical Drives
The launch timing isn’t random; the approaching end of Windows 10 support has led to a rise in demand for new computers that have optical drives. However, aside from the Blu-ray drive, the FMV Note A’s specs are somewhat dated. Its high-end version runs on an AMD Ryzen 7 7735U from 2023, but it only has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. The 16-inch IPS screen comes with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels.
Weight and Connectivity
Weighing nearly 4.2 lbs and measuring over an inch in height, the FMV Note A isn’t exactly a featherweight laptop. This heft is likely due to the disc drive mentioned earlier, as its 50Wh battery is not particularly big. Fujitsu claims that it can last for about 6.7 hours while watching videos. The laptop also boasts several connectivity options, including two USB-C ports (one of which supports USB 4). Additionally, it has two USB-A ports, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, and an SD card reader.
Pricing and Availability
The Fujitsu FMV Note A is already on sale in Japan. The starting model features an Intel Core i3-1315U, 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a DVD drive, priced at about $820. The top-tier model, equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 7735U, 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a Blu-ray drive, costs around $1,400. Typically, Fujitsu FMV laptops are not sold directly in Europe and North America, so customers there can only obtain these devices through imports from Japan.
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