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
MSI Wind U100 Unboxing, UK Availability
July 2, 2008
Looks like the MSI Wind U100 is starting to show up in the UK, as of yesterday.
Morgan Computers is showing it in stock (via Mobile Computer) for £329.99 excluding VAT (around $655). This is the 10″ version, with an 80GB hard drive and Microsoft Windows XP Home (hence the higher price).
HEXUS.channel spoke with MSI UK’s product marketing manager, Richard Stewart, who confirmed that yesterday (July 1st) was in fact the launch of the MSI Wind in the UK. In addition to Morgan Comptuers, play.com and Ebuyer would also be stocking it at some point.
Also, an unboxing video has been posted on YouTube, from somebody who received their MSI Wind (apparently in Italy).
Read:
- HEXUS.channel
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).
MSI Wind U100 and Mac OS X
June 30, 2008
It was only a matter of time - somebody got a hacked-up version of Mac OS X to run on a new 10.2-inch MSI Wind U100.
The Intel Atom-powered Wind U100 isn’t even out in most markets, but it’s available for some, and a poster over in the InsanelyMac.com forums has posted a thread (Spanish language) about their experiments with a hacked 10.5.2 running on a Wind U100.
While we neither condone nor condemn such attempts, we find it interesting enough to post, seeing that we really want something smaller than the 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air or MacBook that’s running OS X and that is officially produced by Apple.
It appears from the translation that they were able to get most things working, although they were having resolution/display problems as well as wireless connection problems. Wired ethernet and Bluetooth 2.0 worked “out of the box” as they say.
This was originally started a few weeks ago, but over the weekend some links to videos and more impressions popped up. Thanks to Tim for emailing us.
Read:
- Forums.InsanelyMac.com
- Translated with Google (English)
- YouTube Video - Use
- YouTube Video - Starting up
ASUS Eee PC 1000H and MSI Wind Compared
June 27, 2008
LAPTOP Magazine has put together a head-to-head comparison of the Eee PC 1000H and the MSI Wind NB.
Both of these ultraportable laptops feature 10-inch widescreen displays (with a resolution of 1024×600) as well as 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPUs and 80GB hard drives.
They also have “over-clocking” modes (or “Super Hybrid Engine switcher” when it comes to the 1000H and TurboDrive for the Wind) that allow you to bump the CPU speed up from 1.6GHz to 1.8GHz for the EEE PC 1000H and 1.9GHz for the MSI Wind (keep in mind they have to be plugged into an external source when overclocked - otherwise the feature is used to slow the CPU down to save on battery life).
Even putting aside the price (the MSI Wind is $150 cheaper), the Wind came out on top, with a much better battery life (40+ more minutes than the 1000H even with the 1000H’s 6-cell battery, 5+ hours total).
Read: LAPTOP Magazine
MSI Wind Roundup, Availability in the US
June 27, 2008
Almost two weeks ago, the online MSI store was listing the 10-inch MSI Wind as being available today - June 27th - in the US but that’s not going to happen, unfortunately. Originally it was scheduled for June 16th, 2008. Now it’s looking like the week after next, July 7th or July 8th (coincidentally around the same time as the Eee PC 901 and 1000 launch).
An email was posted to the MSIWind.net forums (via liliputing) from MSI (a North American contact) stating that it would the week of July 7th, “due to the industry wide battery shortage“. The good news (if you want to call it that) is that shipping for the MSI Wind NB from the MSI Online Store will be upgraded to overnight shipping, free of charge. Contact numbers are listed at the link above.
