Lifebook 656tx - a mixed bag
Jun 07 '00
Instant summary - Bought reconditioned, it has performed well for 18 months, about the best screen I have seen on any notebook, but has a few failings.
The package was the Lifebook itself, a docking station, 2 batteries, and windows 95 and basic software.
The computer itself is under one inch thick, black and very square. It has two type II PCMCIA slots (which i have never used), a 33.6K modem (rockwell i think), PS2 keyboard/mouse socket, printer (both 25-pin connector and infra red LED), serial port, and a VGA connector. Inside is 32 MB RAM (16 built in, 16 in the only SODIMM socket), a Pentium MMX 150, and a 2.1 GB hard disk drive. The usual sort of notebook keyboard, a touchpad mouse, an apology for a speaker (looks like a cheap headphone speaker) and an LCD status display completes the package. The modem and serial port cannot be used at the same time - a setup option selects which of the two is active.
OH - i forgot the screen... how could i do that? it's probably the best part of this machine.. bright, good color balance (if you look at it from just the right direction), and response so quick you do not need to turn on mouse trails. Yes, you really can see the mouse as you move it - the only notebook i have seen achieve this.
You may have noticed a few things missing in the above description. All these are in the docking station. A 20X CD, 1.44 floppy, 2 PS2 connectors, 2 USB connectors, and 10Base T ethernet. This is heavy... and gets hot, so must be a big drain on the battery. And it also has a pair of better speakers.
This seems to me a fairly good split, but not always perfect. The idea is sound - the portable unit has the minimum, making it lighter and with a longer battery life. Unfortunately, once in a while someone asks "Can you pop this on a floppy for me?" - and are surprised when you say no. Likewise, quite a lot of software needs the CD to function. You need to shut down, clip on the docking station, and reboot to add the facilities. Now, my Lifebook is permanently docked. What about battery life? No problem - they died months ago!
Basically, this has worked well. I use it for AOL, word processing, and it has performed well, usually staying online when associates are dropping like flies. But there have been a few minor problems.
First, very soon the LCD status display died - more or less one segment at a time, starting as it was just out of warranty (how do they do that?). Then the right mouse button got erratic and died. The volume control (looks like one on a cheap portable radio)is now a bit odd... works well until turned right off, when it suddenly gets loud again. I just keep it set to very low now when I want "off."
Latest oddity was when I took it to England in April 2000. Power was no problem - it works with 90-260 V, 50/60 HZ - but it would not work. It started to boot, and then just shut down. It was cold in that trailer.. perhaps that was the problem. Later when the weather improved, it started working again. I guess this is not the perfect notebook for that Antarctic expedition you were planning!
Overall.. this rates fairly well. It has been reliable in its major functions, but is now getting a bit slow and cramped. Standard advice to anyone getting a laptop - check out the cost of upgrading YOUR MODEL before buying it. Custom RAM, custom hard drive, replacement batteries... need i say more?
Would i recommend it? um... Well, it works, the screen is excellent, but the minor failings worry me. I keep thinking will the next thing to fail be major... So far not.
Can i get back to you on the recommendation?
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Epinions.com ID:
ethelred
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Member: Phillip
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 5 members
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