Packing an optical drive and terrific battery life into a 2.8-pound frame isn't easy, but this formula has been the cornerstone of the Fujitsu LifeBook P Series for several years. The LifeBook P8010 ($2,000 direct), which replaces the P7230, continues this tradition. The new model has the same dual-layer DVD burner, plus a bigger (12-inch) LED screen and over 5 hours of battery life. It's one of the few ultraportables that can last that long on a charge, though its low-voltage processor and cramped keyboard may hamper productivity down the line.

Those familiar with the LifeBook P7230 will notice that the P8010 has gone through some design changes. Though its dimensions have increased to 11.2 by 8.4 by 1.4 inches (HWD) from the previous 10.7 by 7.8 by 1.2 inches, its 2.8-pound frame is miraculously a tenth of a pound lighter than its predecessor's. A lengthier frame allows the P8010 to move from a 10.6-inch widescreen to a 12-inch one, to keep pace with the Toshiba Portégé R500 and the Panasonic Toughbook W5. The 3-pound laptop that has everyone beat is the Apple MacBook Air, with its unconventionally large 13-inch widescreen.

Oddly enough, the P8010 does not include a full-size keyboard despite its larger footprint. Its 91 percent (of full size) keyboard might be a turnoff for some who'd prefer a bigger keyboard, like the ones on the MacBook Air, the Portégé R500, and the Toughbook W5. Its mouse buttons are well made and quiet, unlike the excessively noisy ones on the Acer Ferrari 1100. But if you're looking for the ultimate typing experience, go with the Lenovo Thinkpad X61 Tablet.

A dual-layer DVD burner is the P8010's marquee feature. This laptop joins the Toshiba Portégé R500, the Sony VAIO VGN-TZ150N, and Toughbook W5 in the exclusive club of sub-3-pound ultraportables that integrate optical drives. The P8010's drive, however, is no longer modular like its predecessor, so you can't swap it out for an additional battery. You'll find three USB ports—a generous number compared with the Apple MacBook Air's single USB port. (Two or three USB ports are standard for ultraportables; the four on the ASUS U6S are exceptional.) The P8010 also has a FireWire port, a fingerprint reader, and a 4-in-1 card reader. One thing it lacks is an option for a built-in cellular modem, such as the AT&T HSUPA (High-Speed Uplink Packet Access) ones found on other Fujitsu tablet ultraportables, such as the LifeBook T2010 and the LifeBook U810. Acquiring a broadband connection over a cell-phone signal is a luxury when Wi-Fi hot spots aren't available. Both the Sony TZ150N and the Panasonic W5 offer an option for cellular services from either Sprint or Verizon.

Performance has always been an issue with the P-Series. Because of size constraints, the P7230 could fit only an ultra-low-voltage processor and a 4,200-rpm hard drive—limitations that also plague the Sony TZ150N. This time around, the P8010 moves a step up the ladder to a low-voltage chip (a 1.2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo L7100), but it's still significantly slower than standard-voltage processors. A 5,400 rpm, 120GB hard drive enhances read and write speeds, while the 2GB of RAM helps offset some of the demands of Windows Vista. These components pale in comparison with those of other ultraportable heavyweights in today's very competitive landscape. The Sony SZ791N, the Dell XPS M1330, and the ASUS U6S all use standard-voltage processors, for instance, and the disparity was largely reflected in the Fujitsu's test scores. The P8010 delivered below-average SYSmark 2007 Preview scores, trailing the Sony SZ791N by 39 percent. The Apple MacBook Air edged out the P8010 on video encoding tests by 2 percent but surpassed it by 20 percent on Photoshop CS3, although it couldn't overtake the P8010 on the SYSmark 2007 Preview Overall score. The area where the P8010 shines, thanks to its low-voltage processor, is battery life. The 63-Wh battery produced 5 hours 5 minutes on MobileMark 2007.

Another benefit of loading a low-powered processor is saving money on your electric bills. The LifeBook P8010 is Energy Star 4.0 and EPEAT Silver certified. In addition to earning all the green certifications, it also gets the PC Magazine GreenTech Approved seal, since it consumes only 14 watts of energy while in idle mode. The amount of energy it consumes matches that of the MacBook Air and easily beats out the Sony SZ791N, the ASUS U6S, and the Dell XPS M1330 with their power-hungry components.

The Fujitsu LifeBook P8010 is a one of a select crop of ultraportables that integrate an optical drive, produce all-day battery life, and weigh less than 3 pounds. But despite its many improvements, it has lagged in the fierce competition among ultraportables. At $2,000, it's considerably more expensive than its rivals. Fujitsu will have to find a way to enlarge the keyboard and hike up performance scores in order to justify the price.

Check out the Fujitsu LifeBook P8010's test scores.