MSI Wind U100-001US 10-Inch Pink features a speedy and energy-efficient Intel Atom 1.6GHz Processor to provide longer operation hours and better mobile lifestyle. This notebook is lightweight and ultra-portable, measuring about 7 inches wide by 10.23 inches long, and weighing just 2.6 pounds. Being small doesn’t mean ultra-small keyboard, the Wind features an ergonomically designed keyboard that is only 20% smaller than a full sized notebook keyboard, with keys spaced a comfortable 0.68 inches apart. The Wind comes equipped with a 10″ backlit LED screen that provides superior color quality and brightness giving you better comfort while reading reports, watching online videos and viewing photos. In addition, the 1024 x 600 screen resolution can fully display web pages, which makes it ideal for Internet browsing. With the 802.11b/g/n wireless built-in, you can enjoy the convenience of accessing the Internet anywhere and video chat with family and friends with the built-in 1.3 Megapixel Webcamera and microphone. Another wireless feature that comes with the Wind is Bluetooth, this enables you to wireless connect to headphones, or other Bluetooth devices making it more convenient by not carrying around a bunch of tangled cords. With the Wind notebook weighting less than 3 pounds, makes it a great second computer to use at school, work and to take on vacations. 10 Widescreen (1024 x 600) LED Backlit Display Built-in 1.3 Megapixel Webcamera and Microphone Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 Two internal Speakers Built-in 802.11b/g/n Wireless 10/100 Ethernet LAN Integrated Bluetooth 4-in-1 Card Reader – SD, MultiMedia Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro Ports – 3 x USB 2.0, Headphone out; Microphone-in, VGA, RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions – 10.23 (L) x 7.08 (D) x 1.24 (H) Approximate Unit Weight – 2.6 Pounds
Helpful consumer’s review
There are so many comparably priced netbooks on the market that it can be pretty hard to choose one. Like other netbooks, the MSI Wind U100 features a small footprint, a very light weight, and WiFi capabilities. And, just like other netbooks, it lacks a disc drive and bears a smallish keyboard. It lacks the ability to do a lot of heavy graphics work, but it runs GIMP well enough for simple image editing, so I have no complains in this department.
I decided on the MSI Wind U100 because it offered just the right combination of features for under $400:
* Good battery life (with a six-cell battery),
* a 10-inch screen,
* and a generously sized hard drive
These were the main factors that influenced my decision. It doesn’t hurt that its physical appearance is pretty easy on the eyes (if you’re a fan of pink hearts, that is) but, of course, we all know it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
I can’t comment on its ability to smoothly juggle the needs of Windows users, but I can attest that the MSI Wind runs SUSE Linux like an absolute dream. I’ve had some minor issues with getting the right drivers for my machine, but that is easily fixed by a quick download or two. The WiFi is seamless, which was a huge breath of fresh air after attempting to wrangle with Ubuntu Linux.
Overall, I’m quite pleased with this netbook (which I use for primarily for writing and for taking notes at school). The keyboard is decently sized and surprisingly easy to get used to. In an hour’s time, I was touch-typing with almost no trouble at all.
The Wind isn’t exactly perfect, though. In future versions, I’d like to see the option for a solid-state hard drive. Also, it would be nice to have two separate buttons instead of the single long button that the current models have. I’ve noticed that there’s sort of a “no man’s land” on the button that is neither a left-click nor a right-click, which can be a bit annoying at times. The track pad could also stand to be bigger.
However, in regard to the machine as it is right now, I’d have to say it excels as a netbook for its excellent battery life, generously-sized hard drive, and nice-sized keyboard. I’m certainly quite happy with it thus far, and if you’re looking for a light-weight mini-pc to handle a bit of net surfing, writing, and the like, then this may be the right machine for you.
