NetbookTech

MSI exits 2008 by announcing a new netbook model – the MSI Wind U115 Hybrid. Why the hybrid nomenclature? The system utilizes both a solid state drive (SSD) and a hard disk drive (HDD) simultaneously. Want to maximize battery life? Switch on “ECO on Mode” which shuts down the internal hard disk drive in favor of the solid state drive which offers a reliable and power efficient storage system.

Interestingly enough, the U115 also features the Intel Poulsbo chipset which means you’ll get the Intel Atom Z530 processor as opposed to the more common N270 processor seen in the majority of netbook systems out there.

MSI claims the U115 can achieve “super long battery life” but offers no details as to how long exactly this is.

Another new feature of the U115 – increased distance between the keys – 17.5 mm to be exact.

You still get a 10 inch display with the common 1024 x 600 resolution. You also get an LED power saving backlight display which offers a brighter more power-efficient display.

Specs for the MSI U115 Hybrid include:

• Intel Atom Processor Z530 running at 1.6GHz
• Windows XP Home
• Intel Poulsbo US15W chipset
• 1GB (by module only) DDR2 533MHz. Chipset support to 2GB
• 10 inch 1024 x 600 LCD panel
• 120GB/160GB 2.5 inch SATA HDD
• 8/16GB SSD
• 4 in 1 memory card reader with support for xD/SD/MMC/Memory Stick
• 2 megapixel webcam
• D-Sub, 3 x USB 2.0 ports. microphone in, headphone, RJ45 port
• 3/6 cell battery
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
• 2 Speakers
• Measures 260 x 180 x 19~31.5 mm
• Weighs ~1.0 kg

No word on pricing nor availability as of yet.

[Check it out]

MSI Wind owners who want or are running OS X on their respective netbooks have one more reason to celebrate. Official drivers for the Realtek Wi-Fi card have finally emerged although they are not available directly from Realtek. The drivers are currently floating around in the MSIWind.net forums and also available for download here and here. Cool stuff.

[Check it out via SlashGear]

A new review of the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is out – this time from the folks at Stuff.co.nz. While there’s a lot going for the Mini 12, there’s also a couple of annoying features. The system supports a max of 1GB of RAM, has a slow, pokey hard drive, and comes with Windows Vista (not Windows XP or Linux like other models out there). Here’s a snippet from the review:

“For all that, the Inspiron Mini 12 isn’t as good as it could be.”

NotebookReview takes a look at the new HP Mini 1000 netbook here on their website. The Mini 1000 is HP’s second generation netbook featuring a larger 10.2 inch display, and the Intel Atom processor. I recently played with the Mini 1000’s keyboard and I must say, it’s quite good. Here’s what NotebookReview thinks of the Mini 1000:

“The HP Mini 1000 is a clear winner on the netbook front, offering a great design and being very user-upgrade friendly. It offers the best keyboard out of the entire netbook crowd, only matched by the earlier Mini-Note 2133 which uses the same design. “

Finally, DailyTech reviews the MSI Wind U100-483JP netbook here on their website. Here’s a snippet:

“Although the Eee PC 1000H is a solid choice for portable computing I think the MSI Wind U100 is the better pick.”

Enjoy!

The product page for the MSI Wind U120 netbook is now up on the global MSI website. As mentioned in the previous post, the MSI Wind U120 is essentially a remodeled U100 with optional WiMax/3G support. Specs for the Wind U120 are as follows:

• Intel Atom N270 processor running at 1.6GHz
• Windows XP Home OS
• Intel 945GSE + ICH7M chipset
• 1GB of RAM
• 10 inch 1024 x 600 LCD panel with LED backlight technology
• HD audio with stereo speakers
• 80/120/160GB 2.5 inch SATA HDD
• 1.3 megapixel/2.0 megapixel webcam
• 4 in 1 card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro)
• 10/100 Ethernet
• 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
• Optional Bluetooth
• 1 VGA, 3 USB 2.0 ports, microphone in, line-in, headphone out, LAN
• 3/6 cell battery
• Measures 260 x 180 x 19.75 ~ 33 mm and weighs 1kg

[Check it out]

LaptopMag interviewed MSI’s Director of U.S. Sales, Andy Tung, and received tons of juicy bits of information about upcoming MSI netbook models. Here are important tidbits from the interview:

• Wind U100 and U120 are parallel products featuring the same specs except the U120 will sport a new design and WiMax/3G options. The U120 will be available in the U.S. starting in January and will feature an Intel Atom N270 processor, 160GB HDD, 1GB of RA, and Wi-Fi. Price will be the same as the U100 although 3G/WiMax will cost more.
• Wind U110 and U115 will come out near the end of January and will have the Intel Atom Z530 processor. Both models will have long battery lives. The U115 will have both an SSD and a hard drive inside – AND you’ll be able to turn off the hard drive to conserve power. This results in the U115 hitting around 10 hours of battery life
• A new U300 model will be introduced at CES sporting a 13 inch display. This is not part of the Wind lineup though it “will be a very thin, light and affordable ultraportable.”
• MSI will also introduce a touch-enabled Wind at CES to compete against ASUS
• MSI says no to Linux for the U.S. market
• Best Buy sells around 10K units per month – not bad considering the Wind is only available at around 20 percent of the Best Buy stores
• Finally, upgrading the Wind’s RAM does not void the warranty on the netbook (good to know)

You can read the complete interview here at LaptopMag.

[Check it out]

MSI is spiffing up their Wind netbook collection with the introduction of the new MSI Wind Netbook U100 Vogue edition netbooks. The Vogue lineup consists of four new colors to the Wind empire – Angel White (U100 Vogue-WH), Wind for Love (U100 Vogue-HT), Empire Black (U100 Vogue-BK), and Romantic Pink (U100 Vogue-PK).

Spec wise, the Vogue editions are identical to the original Wind netbooks. You’ll get the following:

• Intel Atom processor running at 1.6GHz
• Windows XP Home SP3
• Intel 945GSE+ICH7M chipset
• 1GB DDR2 RAM
• 10.2 inch 1024 x 600 resolution LED power saving backlight display
• Intel GMA950 graphics
• 2.5 inch 160GB SATA HDD
• 4 in 1 memory card reader
• 802.11b/g/n Draft 2.0 Wi-Fi
• Ethernet
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
• VGA, 3 USB 2.0 ports
• 1.3 megapixel webcam

[Check it out via AVING USA]

Just in time for the holiday season, MSI has released a new Cherry Red version of the MSI Wind U100 netbook. Unfortunately this model is only available in Taiwan to celebrate “IT month” (what the heck?). Spec wise – there’s nothing different with the Cherry Red edition but hey.. the red color is more than enough right?

And finally, in other news, MSI will be displaying the upcoming MSI Wind U120 netbook at CES 2009 (We’ll be there folks!). The three pound Wind U120 has many of the same features as the U100 but also comes with an updated look (white with black accents) and WiMAX or HSDPA compatibility. The U120 comes with an Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, three USB ports, a 4 in 1 card reader, a 160GB HDD, and even comes with an external mouse. No word on pricing or availability as of yet.

First.. a little disclaimer – please don’t try this at home unless you know what you’re doing.

The crazy folks on Team Australia over at XtremeSystems.org have taken a poor MSI Wind netbook and overclocked the processor and system resulting in an Atom processor running at over 2.3 GHz. (Mind you, the stock speed of the Atom is 1.6GHz).

In the picture linked here, you’ll see the system clocked at 2315.7MHz with the FSB cranked to 771.9 MHz. Nuts! In this picture below, the system is actually clocked just a tad bit higher at 2385.8MHz (the FSB at 795.3MHz). Again.. nuts.

BTW, you have to love the cooling device

[Check it out via Ubergizmo, Engadget]

The good folks at LaptopMag have published a comprehensive head to head comparison of five 10 inch netbook systems – the Samsung NC10, the MSI Wind U100, the Lenovo IdeaPad S10, the HP Mini 1000, and the ASUS Eee PC 1000H. Comparisons were made across performance, Wi-Fi, design, screen, connectivity, keyboard/trackpad, battery life and value.

Wondering who won at the end? Well the publication chose the Samsung NC10 as the overall 10 inch netbook winner stating:

“Of these five netbooks, the Samsung NC10 came out on top in six categories–Design, Screen, Keyboard, Trackpad, Battery, Value–and got decent scores in every other area, earning its place as the best 10-inch netbook we’ve seen so far.”

Very cool – congrats Samsung – you’re late to the party but you’re rocking!

[Check it out]

While we may not see an actual Apple branded netbook system anytime soon, this certainly hasn’t deterred folks from installing OS X on a netbook system. However, at least one person has taken this a step further by not only installing OS X but also physically modifying an MSI Wind netbook – making it look like what a possible Apple netbook could look like (if they would only make one of course). The end result? Say hello to the “MacBook Nano”.

The transformation process from an MSI Wind to the “MacBook Nano” also happens to be documented pictorially on Flickr.com. Very cool stuff though ..I can’t say that I will ever spend the time to do something like this.

[Check it out via eWeek, MacRumors.com]