X-bit labs

Affordable Solution for Multi-Threaded Environments: Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro V3405 Notebook Review (page 3)

Category: Mobile

by Alexander Britvin

[ 06/18/2007 | 03:22 PM ]

System status indicators are all placed in a single block on the left of the notebook’s front panel in such a way that they remain visible even when the lid is closed. When closed, the lid conceals the labels pressed out above the LEDs in the silvery plastic. This may be somewhat confusing considering the multitude of signaling lights. This group includes the following indicators (from left to right):

• Wireless (alight when the notebook’s wireless interfaces are active)
• Power
• Power-saving mode
• Storage (shows that the hard disk or optical drive is being accessed)
• Battery (alight when the battery is being recharged)
• Caps Lock
• Num Lock

Above the middle of the keyboard there is a Power key together with three instant-launch buttons. There are grids of the integrated speakers on both sides of them. The instant-launch buttons include:

• WLAN/Bluetooth (the Bluetooth feature is optional)
• Internet button (launches your web-browser)
• Email button (to launch your email client)

The Amilo Pro V3405 is equipped with an 85-key keyboard painted light gray, so you may want to wash your hands before touching it. The Enter button is shaped classically like the letter L. The movement keys are shifted below the keyboard’s baseline, so there’s a smaller risk of your pressing them accidentally.

PgUp and PgDn (they are duplicated as Fn+Home and Fn+End) are placed above the Arrow Right and Arrow Left buttons. The Fn button is located in the bottom left corner, second after the Control. This should be convenient for people who are used to shortcuts involving the Control key. Numeric buttons and two Windows keys are available: the Context Menu key is placed over one key to the right of the spacebar; the Windows Logo key is over one key to the left of the spacebar. The functional keys are smaller than others. Print Screen, Pause, Insert and Del are placed in the same row with the functional keys (you should press them in combination with Fn to access their additional functions). The letters are painted dark gray.

The notebook’s touchpad is almost the same black color as its surroundings. The touch-sensitive panel is sunken a little into the notebook’s surface so that your finger wouldn’t stray away from it accidentally. There are two buttons at the bottom of the panel – they perform the functions of the mouse’s buttons. The touchpad lacks a scrolling zone or a scrolling joystick.