MSI Wind U100 Review, Comparison to Acer Aspire One, Eee PC 901
July 2, 2008
Mobile Computer has put together some information, photos, and a video comparison of the Acer Aspire One, MSI Wind U100, and Asus Eee PC 901, three netbooks that, despite the display-size differences, are all basically run off of the same platform, powered by Intel’s Atom CPU.
Even though the Wind U100, with a 10.2-inch widescreen display, has a larger display than the 8.9-inch displays of the Aspire One and Eee PC 901, it’s actually not that much bigger, as the photos and video illustrate.
They’ve also reviewed the MSI Wind U100, and were impressed with its design, saying:
Like Acer, MSI has gone to great lengths to ensure that the Wind looks nothing like a cheap laptop and it feels no less well made (nor any less good looking) than a laptop that costs three times as much. The all-plastic case is solid and there are no creaks or pops even when it’s flexed with both hands. There’s something about a smoothly shaped lid that we like – it worked well on the Aspire One and it’s just as good-looking here.
They gave it a rating of six out of six (the main problem being the battery, given the price) and their Editor’s Choice Award.
Read:
- Mobile Computer - Hands on with MSI Wind, Aspire One, Eee PC 901
- Mobile Computer - MSI Wind Review
Asus Confirms Eee PC 904 HD?
July 1, 2008
If PC Retail is correct, it looks like there will be another official member of the 8.9-inch Asus Eee PC family (in addition to the Eee PC 900 and Eee PC 901).
They are claiming that an Asustek spokesman told them that the Intel Atom-powered Eee PC 904 HD would be launching in the UK “within a matter of weeks” at a price of around £250 ($500 USD).
As mentioned earlier, it differs from others in the 8.9-inch series in that it offers the same chassis and full-size keyboard as the 10.2-inch Eee PC 1000(H).
With the “HD” in its name, it’s clear it’ll be using a conventional hard drive instead of a Solid State Drive (SSD).
Read: PC Retail
(Thanks to Jan for the article link)
Crave’s Most Notable Notebooks from 1H 2008
July 1, 2008
Matthew Elliott hast posted an article about what he considers to be the most noteworthy notebooks to have passed through CNET in the past six months. This isn’t necessarily the highest-ranks of the review notebooks either, but ones that instead introduced something new or that did something that helped differentiate them from others.
Ultraportable laptops listed:
- Apple MacBook Air
- Lenovo IdeaPad U110
- Lenovo ThinkPad X300
- Asus Eee PC 900
- HP Compaq 2133 Mini-Note PC
- Asus Eee PC 901
Out of the 10 notebooks listed (including honorable mentions), ultraportables captured six of those positions (with three being “netbooks”).
Read: Crave / CNET
Asus Eee PC 903, 904 Photos
July 1, 2008
It certainly looks like the rumors about an upgraded 8.9-inch Eee PC 901, with a slightly larger keyboard and chassis (to match the Asus Eee PC 1000H) are true.
EeePCNews.de is running a couple of of pages of photos/marketing images of what they claim are the new Eee PC 903 and Eee PC 904 in Asustek’s 8.9-inch Intel Atom-powered netbook lineup (no photos of the Eee PC 905).
The Eee PC 903 appears to retain the size of the current Eee PC 900 / 901, while the 904 and 905 are supposed to share the same keyboard and chassis as the 10.2-inch Eee PC 1000H.
As Joanna Stern at the LAPTOP Magazine blog points out, the 903 differs quite a bit from the stock 901 - some the changes that came with the 901 versus the Eee PC 900 seem to have been removed (notably the new hinge detail). It could very well be a cheaper Atom-powered replacement for the Eee PC 900.
The 904 on the other hand, is very noticeable - there is space on either side of the display, reminiscent of the 7-inch Asus Eee PC (and there could possibly be speakers). The larger keyboard is definitely noticeable (and should be a welcome sight for those who had difficulties with the smaller keyboards).
Read:
- EeePCNews.de - 904 (German)
- EeePCNews.de - 903 (German)
Asus Eee PC 904 / 905, Plus Eee PC 901 / 1000H in Korea
June 30, 2008
DigiTimes is reporting that, in response to consumer demand, Asustek Computer is going to release new versions of the 8.9-inch Intel Atom-powered Eee
PC 901 that are going to have larger keyboards and a larger chassis.
They are being listed as the Eee PC 904 and Eee PC 905 and will have the same chassis and keyboard as the 10.2-inch Eee PC 1000 / 1000H.
The Eee PC 904 and 905 will mainly differ from the 901 in that they have a larger keyboard. The sources have indicated Asustek is still looking at whether to change battery or storage options as a result of the larger chassis (in my opinion, a larger battery would be a much-welcome addition).
They see the 904 and 905 coming out at similar price points to the 900 / 901 sub-notebooks, and that they will probably replace those two models. They mention Asustek is also looking at whether to leave the 900 / 901 in the lineup (possibly at a lower price) in order to compete with the upcoming 8.9-inch Acer Aspire One
Also, AVING announced that the Eee PC 901 and 1000H have been launched in Korea (and may even be available as we speak).
Read:
- DigiTimes
- AVING.net -ASUS to launch its new generation of Eee PCs ‘901/1000H’ in Korea
MSI Wind U100 - Amazon Ship Times (US)
June 30, 2008
Looks like shipping dates for the 10.2-inch MSI Wind U100 in the United States are starting to firm up. The U100 will be available in the last week in July into the first weeks of August.
Model # MSMU1-035LABK at Amazon.com is showing as shipping in 3-5 week for $499.99.
Specifications:
- Windows XP Home
- 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor
- 80 GB Hard Drive,
- 1 GB RAM
- 3-cell battery (3 hours battery life)
It’s only one model, but it’s a start.
As far as 6-cell batteries, expect it to be several weeks after the 3-cell battery models ship (although nothing would prevent you from buying the 3-cell model now and ordering a 6-cell battery later on).
