MSI Wind – More Details, Preview (CNET UK)

MSI Wind PC CNET UK and Crave CNET UK have published a hands-on preview with several pictures and a lot of information about the MSI Wind that’s going to be available soon.

Similar to other previews published in the past week, they could not talk about the Intel Atom CPU, but they did mention that it can be overclocked up to around 20% using a dedicated button on the Wind – when it’s connected to an outlet. When it’s running off of battery, the same button switches it into a low-power mode that can extend the battery life. They did say …the Wind’s performance was startling. It felt significantly quicker than other machines in its class.

According to their preview, initial sales of the Wind will focus on the 10-inch version (1024×600 resolution), with an 8.9-inch version to be sold later on. CNET says that they will be using the same chassis/form factor, so like the Asus Eee PC 700 there will be a slightly larger bezel around the display. Keep in mind that this is for the UK version – in the US, it’s been reported that there will only be the 10-inch version for sale.

CNET definitely likes the Wind:

We’ve just had an exclusive hands-on with the MSI Wind, which we liked the look of in March, and by golly it’s good. So good, in fact, that it could take the throne from the Asus Eee PC as the best mini laptop on the planet.

It’s ever so slightly larger than an Eee PC, and slightly heavier at 1.3kg, but don’t let that put you off. It’s still super-portable and once you see the confirmed specs — and the extra tricks up its sleeve — you’ll be craving one, too.

Usability is a huge issue on laptops of this ilk. Most have keyboards designed primarily to hasten the onset of arthritis, but that isn’t the case with the Wind. MSI says the Wind’s keyboard is pretty much identical to those used on some of its larger laptops…… we can tell you that the Wind is very easy and comfortable to type on. It isn’t quite as good as the keyboard on the 2133 Mini-Note — few laptops are — but you certainly won’t produce as many typos as you might with an Eee PC.

Hands-on With Exclusive Photos: Crave.CNET.co.UK
Preview: CNET.co.UK