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MSI Wind U100-432US 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 6 Cell Battery) Black
 
Manufacturer: MSI COMPUTER
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List Price: $379.99
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This is cool.
 

Product Description

Enjoy ultimate computing mobility with the lightweight yet power-packed MSI Wind U100 Mini Laptop, which features a 10-inch LCD screen for excellent web browsing, Intel's newest low-power processor, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and familiar Windows XP Home operating system. The crisply and colorfully designed Wind U100 also includes an integrated webcam for video chats and an ergonomically designed keyboard that's makes typing easy.



The MSI Wind U100 in black.
Designed especially for mobile devices, the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor uses a brand new design structure new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--to conserve energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet--up to 6 hours with the included 6-cell battery. This model also features a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB max), internal stereo speakers, multi-format memory card reader, three USB ports, and a VGA monitor port. It also includes the next step in Wi-Fi networking with a Draft-N wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n). This model comes in black, but the Wind is also available in pink and white, and it includes a carry bag that matches its color.

Ride With The Wind
The Wind--which stands for for "Wi-Fi Network Device"--offers a number of convenient features that make this mini notebook a highly functional and easily portable laptop PC. The 10-inch LCD screen has a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution, which enables you to view full web pages while browsing the Internet. It's also embedded with an LED power-saving backlight technology, which not only helps to lower power usage but also provides richer and brighter colors. The Wind U100 is also equipped with a 1.3-megapixel webcam (placed in the bezel above the LCD) and integrated microphone, allowing you to snap still photos of yourself while on the go for sending via email or join video chats with friends and family.



The keyboard is 20-percent smaller than a standard full-sized keyboard, but offers excellent spacing between keys.


Magnify a portion of the screen for closer viewing of photos or documents.
The ergnomically designed keyboard--just 20 percent smaller than a full-sized keyboard--provides excellent texture and tactile feel when typing, and the keys are spaced at a comfortable 17.5mm width (0.68 inches). Additionally, the ingeniously designed spacebar and 2.1-inch touchpad allow your fingers to move smoothly while avoiding strain.

The Wind U100 also has the ability to magnify text within software--whether it be an Internet browser or office document--with a unique magnifying glass overlay, making it easy to focus in on what you're reading or precisely edit photos.

Finally, your Wind U100 will is constructed using a special Insert Mold Roller (IMR) technology that protects the notebook from fading and also reduces the impact of fingerprints, so the laptop will continue to look brand new.

Processor
The Intel Atom processor uses a brand new design structure that packs in 47 million transistors into a single chip sized at just 22mm (0.87 inches), and it uses just 2.5 watts of power--less than 1/10 of the 35 watts used by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor--for excellent battery management. This 1.6 GHz Atom processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache (which temporarily stores data).

Hard Drive
This version of the Wind U100 comes with a 160 GB hard disk drive (5400 RPM), which offers enough to room to hold a digital audio library of over 26,000 songs and still have room left over for movies, games, and a large collection of software. This Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to Firewire and USB 2.0.

Memory
This laptop is installed with 1 GB of DDR2 RAM, which has a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. It can be expanded to a maximum of 2 GB. To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.

DVD/CD Drive
Because of its size, the Wind U100 does not come with an integrated optical drive, but optional CD/DVD read/write drives can be connected to the laptop via one of the three USB ports, enabling you to create your music mixes, burn movies to DVD, and more.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This notebook can be wirelessly networked with the integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g/n). Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks, allowing you to link up to home networks as well as Wi-Fi hotspots while on the go. You'll also enjoy wireless connectivity to a wide range of peripherals with the built-in Bluetooth. It comes with the following ports:

  • 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
  • 1 headphone/line-in and 1 microphone/line-out
  • 1 VGA video output (15-pin, D-Sub)
  • 4-in-1 memory card reader, compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick, and Memory Stick Pro
  • Fast Ethernet port for a 10/100 connection

Dimensions & Weight
The MSI Wind U100 measures measures 10.23 x 7.08 x 1.24 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 2.6 pounds.

Power
This model of the Wind U100 comes with a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which provides up to 6 hours of usage. The long battery life is aided by the low power consumption of the Intel Atom processor, as well as MSI's ECO energy-saving technology, which can distribute power intelligently and adjust screen brightness to prolong the operating time of the battery. Using the ECO Engine software, you can choose between five power modes--gaming, movie, presentation, office and turbo battery.

What's in the Box
This package includes the MSI Wind U100 laptop in black, AC adapter, carry bag, and printed instructions. It's backed by a one-year manufacturer's warranty.

Product Details

  • Intel Atom 1.6 GHz Processor 512 KB L2 Cache, 533 MHz Bus speed 6 Cell Battery 1.3 MP Web Camera Includes protective bag
  • Built-in 10/100 Ethernet LAN Card / Built-in 802.11b/g/n WLAN Card / Bluetooth Supported
  • Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition
  • 160 GB SATA Hard Drive, 1GB DDR2 667MHz RAM, 2 GB Max
  • 4-in-1 SD/MMC/MS/MSpro Card Reader, 3 USB 2.0 Ports, 1 Mic-In Port, 1 Headphone Port, 2 Internal Speakers, SoundBlaster-compatible Audio

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Customer Reviews

has been my only PC for a year
 
Review Date: January 31, 2010
Reviewer: JMH, USA
I bought this when my old desktop bit the dust last February. I don't need a high-performance PC and was attracted to the compact netbooks for some reason (I had never wanted, needed, or used a laptop before but it seemed like a cool gadget!). Despite having never heard of MSI computers, I decided on the Wind based on several features: easy 2GB RAM upgrade, built in Bluetooth, the proprietary overclock/underclock, 3 USB ports, bigger keyboard and monitor compared to other netbooks at the time, 160GB HDD, and Windows XP. Turns out I made a good choice.

Sure it's a neat travel PC (it's been a welcome companion on a couple of vacations where I would have been without a computer), but it's the only computer I own period. I look at it sort of like an mp3 player with docking capability; not that I only play music on the Wind, I mean metaphorically...

At home I can plug in to AC power and connect the VGA-out to a widescreen monitor, run the headphone-out to my old 2.1 stereo setup, and use the 3 USB ports to power any number of devices (such as my wireless keyboard + mouse combo receiver, external hard drives, Samsung DVD Burner, a 56k modem if I'm staying somewhere with no broadband at all, even my Playstation 3 controller with the right driver). The Wind does everything I need (I regularly use the Opera browser, word processors, AVG Antivirus and Spybot S&D, winamp, some old games such as Half-Life, Morrowind or even JNES and ZSNES, Daemon Tools, uTorrent, VLC player, etc) and by "docking" it I don't sacrifice comfort by going with the tiny keyboard, touchpad, and 10 inch screen. Then if I want to hit the road with my PC, I just unplug and load up my laptop bag.

Using my Wind this way, I've probably put a more stress on it than it was ever intended to endure, but I have never had a problem with it that I couldn't easily fix. I leave it on all day every day, lift it by the LCD monitor while open, drive around with it on the front seat, let it get dusty on the floor, accidentally knocked it off a chair or two and spilled beverages on the lid, get crumbs in the keys, etc... not that I abuse it on purpose, but stuff happens you know :-)

The only problems so far: First a broken battery compartment tab that happened when I dropped it edge-first during the first week of ownership. The battery has not truly locked in place since then. Creative solutions abound, like velcro or adhesives or maybe a professional fix, but since the battery has never fallen out under its own weight I haven't bothered (I can yank out my battery by hand without unlocking it though). Second, there's a dead pixel on the monitor. Just the one. That's pretty much it.

Netbooks have a lot of limitations, and if you're shopping for one you should be familiar with them (relatively slow processors, little upgrade capacity, odd screen resolution, no dedicated video, small size everything, lousy onboard speakers, things like that generally go with the territory). Then again you probably don't intend to make it your main computer like I have. They're not really designed for that kind of use. But if you're wondering whether the MSI Wind series are reliable machines that will stand up to regular use, my personal experience with this one indicates YES. My Wind has gone above and beyond the call of duty and isn't showing any signs of slowing down.
Good Netbook, but some quality problems
 
Review Date: January 17, 2010
Reviewer: J. Hunter, San Jose, California USA
Overall I like the MSi Wind U100 432US, but I would NOT recommend it. There seems to be some quality issues with with a number hardware components, including the selector rocker arm, touchpad, power connector, microphone, etc. On the positive side, I was able to triple boot load it ( with Fedora 12 Linux, Win7, and Leopard), and it seems to work well.

The MSi U123 model is a much better model to go with --better design and hardware quality.

Before purchasing a Netboot of any brand, a person needs to resarched a bit. A regular Notebook (with small form-factor) is a much better value for the money, such as the HP dm3t model Notebook.
Net Book
 
Review Date: October 23, 2009
Reviewer: Jennifer L. Philson,
This net book is wonderful. Very portable and lite. Easy start up. Slightly smaller key board is still easy to use. Only comes with Microsoft office as a trial package. I recommended it to several of my friends who have since purchased this product. Battery life is as exptected, about 4hrs depending on use and settings. I would definately recommend this product, especially for those who do a lot of traveling.
Sold it to buy a HP Mini 311
 
Review Date: October 14, 2009
Reviewer: Excelsior, CO, USA
I had the u100 for a few months, and it was a decent little laptop for travel, but so many things about it bothered me that I decided to sell it and get a slightly larger Mini 311. The main problems are that the u100 screen is 10 inch, with a resolution of only 1024 x 600, whereas the HP Mini 311 comes with a 11.6-inch display with 1366 x 768 pixels resolution. The benefits for me are that the screen resolution allows me to see so much more, and have several more applications in view at one time.

In addition, the color and contrast is much better with the Mini's glossy display -- the Wind has a problem with color, as all of my digital photos seem off when viewed on that unit. The Mini weighs a bit more (8 or so ounces) and is an inch wider, but is much more stable in my lap. Many others have reported the unstable nature of the Wind, with the 6-cell battery it is impossible to keep this thing balanced on a lap -- and often it falls over backwards when resting on a table. I got tired of that and decided to get a nicer netbook that was well balanced on my lap!
He's my special litte guy.
 
Review Date: September 25, 2009
Reviewer: Isaac N. Wilson, Tempe, AZ United States
Four stars even though the charging system fried itself after 2 months. Turnaround on the repair was very fast. They told me this issue has been dealt with in newer models. Built-in overclocking is fun and puts a cool "turbo" icon on the screen. Good for everything except games.

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