MSI Wind: Hands-on, with exclusive photos
Tags: msi, windows vista, linux, mini
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.
We can't talk about the CPU yet -- it's top secret -- but we can tell you it's very quick and very power-efficient. What's more, the CPU can be overclocked by about 20 per cent using a dedicated button and MSI's TurboDrive Engine -- which we saw on the TurboBook GX600. The Wind will also sport 1GB of RAM, an 80GB mechanical hard drive, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, three (count 'em) USB ports, a D-Sub video output, a 4-in-1 memory card reader, and a 3-cell battery with a claimed life of 3-4 hours.
The Wind will initially go on sale with a 10-inch, 1,024x600-pixel screen. This, it has to be said, is very, very good, since it doesn't use that awful reflective coating we saw on the HP 2133 Mini-Note. MSI also plans to ship a version of the Wind that uses an 8.9-inch display. They'll both use the same chassis, so expect the smaller version to have a large, unsightly bezel around the screen.
The Wind will ship in both Windows XP and SUSE Linux guises, with the XP version costing £329. Pricing on the Linux model isn't yet confirmed, but it'll be significantly cheaper, obviously.
We know you have more questions, and we have the answers. Click Next Photo for tonnes more info, and bask in the portable glory that is the MSI Wind. -Rory Reid
Update: Read our full MSI Wind review here, watch our hands-on video here and discuss it in our MSI Wind forum.
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AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 2:16pm
When can I get one? (Im in England)
Rory ReidThu 29 May, 2008 2:26pm
2nd week of June, my friend. 2nd week of June.
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 4:25pm
Did you guys try out the overclock button? My MSI Wind got a BSOD when I tried it -_-.
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 4:43pm
What DC voltage does the Wind use?
Rory ReidThu 29 May, 2008 4:53pm
The overclock button worked perfectly for me.
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 4:56pm
Could you change Suse for xubuntu or the new "ubuntu netbook remix"?
After novel patent deal with mircosoft I prefer to avoid Suse - obviously avoiding windows in first place.
Rory ReidThu 29 May, 2008 4:58pm
Well if you buy it, it's your laptop. You can put whatever you want on it.
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 5:01pm
This thing looks like crap! What are you people smokin? Get an Apple Air.
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 5:12pm
I highly doubt you'll get 4 hours battery life. The 2133 gives me about 2 hours max.
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 5:17pm
apple air? please, not the same segment. $1800 vs. $500, and the Wind is almost as powerful, and lighter. Nice try troll.
Rory ReidThu 29 May, 2008 5:21pm
To the battery guy: The HP 2133 is NOT the same laptop as the Wind.
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 5:43pm
Linux, obviously cheaper? Naive assertion. Windows is pulling all sorts
of shenanigans to force such companies to make linux either *more* expensive
or at least not cheaper.
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 6:43pm
I want you so bad!!!!
There's only on thing missing: touchscreen
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 6:44pm
But the OC button really overclocks the CPU by 20% or the CPU normally runs at slower speed (less than 1.6GHz)?
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 6:54pm
I sure hope they can add WiMax and GPS to it
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 7:38pm
*RORY*
What is the DC input voltage of the Wind?
AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 8:16pm
My only question is: Where in the US can I buy or pre-order it???
This one finally has everything EXCEPT a camera which telescopes out of the display and rotates 360 degrees.. but I won't wait for that.
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 12:03am
Question:
Is the RAM upgradeable (as in easy panel access)? [not necessary but convenient]
What IGP is used? [if it's the GMA 950, then Compiz will run well]
The processor is the Atom 330 (1.6 GHz, stepping down to 1 GHz, dual-core)
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 2:31am
HAHA, i was JUST about to buy an EEE PC 900. I think I'll wait now, see what the reviews say about this.
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 2:35am
Rory...I see you had it powered up...can you say anything about the battery life? did you do any tests ??
oh, go oooooon - tell us!!! :))
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 5:23am
This beats EEE PC - which I very nearly just bought, purely on screen real estate. If it´s not 1024 (or fiona apple), I don`t give a damn.
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 10:00am
Well, the 2133 also happens to be using a VIA CM-7 processor, and the Wind is, most likely, touting an Atom
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 1:24pm
Bah! I but an XPS1330 and then all this kicks off. Ah well. I hope playing games and doing my IT consultancy work are compensation for dragging the weight of a full on mini PC everywhere. These are increasingly nice. Didn't like EEEPC when I saw it though. Great in promo shots, bit pig ugly face on with the screen open when seen in the flesh. Hopefully this does not repeat.
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 1:50pm
I want it lol
You say second week of June, I say that's my birthday :D Birthday money + MSi Wind = Funtime!
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 6:32pm
Ill take one with a dual core atom, 2 GBs of RAM and a 320 GB HDD :)
Anybody have any idea of the chances of getting a Dual Core wind before October?
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 7:50pm
"Ill take one with a dual core atom, 2 GBs of RAM and a 320 GB HDD :)"
Too bad we can't have more than 80GB with WinXP - Microsoft made that part of the limitations for licensing XP for UMPC's.
But a Linux version could have more.
A dual core Atom Wind would be great. Not sure I can wait that long though, I really want a new computer and I really like the Wind.
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 8:34pm
Does anybody know where this will be on sale in the UK? All my searches have drawn a blank so far, seems a bit strange if indeed it is only 2 weeks away from release. I was considering the Eee 901 but this seems better value for money and with a better keyboard. Why all the secrecy ref the CPU type?
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 8:47pm
online retailer: Expansys
AnonymousFri 30 May, 2008 8:59pm
Expansys were advertising it, then it vanished. I mailed them and they said they would not be selling it... They said:
Dear customer,
This means that we do not offer this product and that we will not get it in the future.
Sorry for that.
Thank you
Best regards
Zoé Engelvin
Ireland and UK Customer Service
eXpansys SAS
AnonymousSat 31 May, 2008 2:09am
Where can we get it in France or Italy?
AnonymousSat 31 May, 2008 2:36am
Why the H*## are the ports all on the right hand side???? where the majority of users will be putting the mouse! I hate this fatally annoying flaw which can be found on so many laptops!
AnonymousSat 31 May, 2008 5:09am
who says that its gotta all?what about a DVD writer/reader built in?there is a Korean one that hasa DVD and touch screen!Look up in the IT malls in Singapore and Malaysia.
AnonymousSat 31 May, 2008 7:05am
i prefer the 8.9“ one that will come later bit than the exsiting 10.2”，8.9“ is the perfect size for any UMPC，not too big as normal nb，not too small to read website，waiting。。。
AnonymousSat 31 May, 2008 4:18pm
i want buy one ,i am in china,what time i can buy?
AnonymousSun 1 June, 2008 2:24pm
how much ghz does it have?
AnonymousSun 1 June, 2008 2:26pm
will it come in different colours like black?
AnonymousSun 1 June, 2008 6:02pm
It comes in a range of colours including black.
I've heard the first batch of these are going to ship with the 3 cell battery giving a puny 2.5 hours bat life and then they will start shipping with the 6 cells giving 6 hours at a later date. Does anyone know if this is true? If so it might be a wise move to hold off buying one initially.
AnonymousTue 3 June, 2008 7:48pm
Rory, will it be available to all Europe in the 2nd week of June? In Germany?
AnonymousWed 4 June, 2008 7:32am
According to the Computex statements from MSI, the $ 500 windows xp verson WILL have the 6 cell battery with their given time of 5.5 hours of run time, on its release June 16th. So I would expect that it will have at least 4 hours of heavy use which is really nice (at least 4, i'm going to say it will probably be close to 5 like they say). And it's cheaper than an eee 900, even sporting a new atom cpu.
A question was asked earlier about RAM upgrade, yes it can be upgraded by removing a panel to a max of 2 gb, but voids warranty last i heard. But if you don't mind that, then why not do it if you wish to. People with questions only need to browse google some and read a few reviews to find out more information.
AnonymousWed 4 June, 2008 11:45am
Why oh Why dont these mini laptops sport a sim slot? especially with the mobil broadband going round like crazy. got a 7GB data sim with three and looking to use it with a mini-laptop without having that ugly dongle sticking out
.
Rory think you should have a word with the ASUS and MSI
AnonymousThu 5 June, 2008 1:25pm
At Elonex: MSI Wind UK, 1.6GHz, 1GB, 80GB, Linux, 1.3MP, Black, Available 19/07/08 at £317.94
@ Rory: Any information at all why the Wind is not available your MSI £225 price, alternatively where did you get the price from? Or is this just another example of Rip-off-Britain pricing.
At £225 I'd buy three, at £318 + P&P I won't be buying any.
AnonymousThu 5 June, 2008 1:32pm
OOPS - Correction to above, not at Elonex, £317.94 is at eXpansys.com UK
AnonymousThu 5 June, 2008 6:23pm
WILL THE MSI WIND BE ABLE TO GET A SSD< AND ALSO COULD YOU RUN A LITE VERSION OF VISTA ON THIS> GREAT REVIEW RORY> SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS
AnonymousSun 8 June, 2008 12:45am
will the 6 cell battery stick out?
AnonymousThu 12 June, 2008 5:25am
hey, i live in australia!! yeah all that way down the bottom of the globe. Theres not much news over here about the wind. It looks alot better than other UMPC's. Just wondering if anyone knows when it will come to australia, or if we (australians) will be able to purchase it over the net? Cheers
AnonymousSat 14 June, 2008 5:56pm
cclonline are selling the xp version with1 gb ram for £304 incl Vat in all colours and anticipated despatch is 9th July. Just ordered mine.
AnonymousSat 9 August, 2008 9:38am
I've just bought one under the Advent brand in PC world for £279. Its only difference is the top cover is black. If your like me, and not computer afay, then their £2 per month back up seems worth while for a portable device thats going to get some knocks.
I've ead the'turbo' button info I can find. But it seems to me that it slows the unit instead of speeding it up. Does that mean its already 'turbo'ed'? can anyone help please. ...and what advantae would I gain from increasing the ram. Is it worth it?
Other than that - I've found it to be a blinding little unit. Recomended.
Ask questions, share opinions and find answers in the CNET.co.uk forums
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AnonymousThu 29 May, 2008 1:08pm
This looks awesome. I want one. now.