Consumer electronics specialist Fujitsu has announced the launch of its Lifebook E Series family of business notebooks. Designed to optimize enterprise mobility, the lightweight devices boast features that address the mobility demands of chief information officers (CIOs) and the enterprise market.
The Lifebook E Series family is available in three form factors that focus on the heavy users of mobile devices as well as individuals who want a mobile 15-inch desktop alternative. The notebooks, with their complementary components, accessories and basic input/output system (BIOS), are aimed to help make bring-your-own-device (BYOD) implementation more manageable and cost-effective.
All three of the E Series models (also available are 13- and 14 inch versions) offer business functionality. In addition, they include a touchpad with integrated buttons; an optional backlit keyboard; and the Fujitsu signature modular bay that is capable of hosting a second battery, a second hard disk drive, an optical drive or a weight saver module to give users a lighter traveling weight.
These features help corporate information and communications technology (ICT) departments realize cost savings from the use of standardized components and accessories such as the main board, modular bay devices, AC adapters and docking stations. The Lifebook E Series notebooks are currently available and pricing starts at $899, a company release noted.
As with all of the company’s Lifebook products, the Lifebook E Series models are designed with durability in mind, with features such as an aluminum palm rest and solid magnesium lid to protect the system during travels.
“The Lifebook E Series is designed to ease the complexities and costs of deploying devices within an organization. Designed to deliver a product line that can meet the needs of enterprise mobile users, while satisfying the ICT department heads’ support requirements is no easy task,” Paul Moore, senior director of product management and marketing for mobile products at Fujitsu America, said in a statement. “The Liefbook E Series provides users with the style, performance, security and durability required in today’s mobile world. Fujitsu is making it possible for business professionals in industries such as education, healthcare and government to customize this notebook to fit their respective needs.”
These notebooks enter the market at a time when other mobile devices, notably smartphones and tablets, are surging and providing consumers with smaller, lighter options. Tablet PC shipments are forecast to increase 67 percent year-over-year to 256.5 million in 2013, and reach 579.4 million by 2017, while notebook PC shipments are expected to decline 10 percent over the next four years, from 203.3 million in 2013 to 183.3 million in 2017, a May NPD report found. While notebook shipments overall are projected to decline, the report noted that there will be some pockets of growth, such as shipments of notebooks with touch capabilities.