MSI Wind Netbook

MSI Wind Netbook

Developer	Micro-Star International
Type	Subnotebook/Netbook
Media	80, 120, 160 or 250 GB 2.5" HDD
Operating system	Windows 7 Starter, Windows XP, Linux
CPU	Intel Atom @ 1.60 / 1.66 GHz (N270, N280, N450)
Memory	1 GB (Linux) or 1 GB / 2 GB (Windows)
Display	10" (25.4 cm) 1024 x 600 LED-backlit TFT LCD
Input	Keyboard Touchpad Microphone 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
Connectivity	10/100 Mbit Ethernet 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN 3 USB 2.0 ports 4-in-1 Flash Memory card reader Bluetooth (only Windows version, not Aldi Medion version)
Power	6-cell (5.5 hours) or 3-cell (2.5 hours)
Dimensions	25.98 × 18.0 × 3.40 cm
Weight	1.0 kg (3-cell battery) or 1.2 kg (6-cell)

The MSI Wind Netbook is a family of subnotebooks / netbooks designed by Micro-Star International (MSI). Wind stands for "Wi-Fi Network Device". The first model was announced at CeBIT 2008,^[1] and first listed for pre-orders on May 9, 2008.^[2] While initially 8.9- and 10.1-inch screen versions existed, as of 2010 only the 10.1" remain, with a resolution of 1024×600. While most models have 1 GB of RAM, some have 2 GB, and hard disks range from 80 GB on the oldest to 250 GB on the newest models. Also featured are Bluetooth, WLAN and a 1.3 megapixel camera. The Wind PC is MSI's response to the successful Asus Eee PC.^[3] The keyboard is 92% of full-size.

Now available by MSI are 10-inch and 7-inch Wind Pad tablets using the Android operating system.

OEM versions

MSI Wind Netbook U90x

MSI Wind Netbook U90x internals

When the original Wind U100 was released, many original equipment manufacturer versions of the Wind were also released, under different names.

• Advent 4211, 4222 as an in-store brand for PC City, PC World and other Dixons Stores Group retailers in Europe and the UK.^[4]
• Ahtec LUG N011 in the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium. Offered with SUSE Linux, Windows XP or no operating system. Has the same design as the original Wind (white). Comes without logo on the case. Can be upgraded at purchase.
• Averatec Buddy^[5][6][7]
• Axioo Pico in Indonesia with a 160 GB HDD, versions with and without Bluetooth
• Certified Data U100 in Canada, sold at London Drugs.
• LG X110, marketed in Argentina, Brazil (modelos x110-1010 & 1000) and Sweden
• Hannspree HANNSnote with a 6-cell battery and a 160 GB HDD
• Medion Akoya Mini in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland and Australia (as of 23 October 2008) (the Medion Akoya Mini is a slightly different containing a different wireless card, no Bluetooth (Aust. model features mini Bluetooth dongle), and 0.3 Mpx camera).^[4]
• Mivvy M310 in the Czech Republic.^[8] but with 2GB of RAM and a 120GB HDD.
• Mouse Computer LuvBook U100 in Japan.^[9]
• Multirama HT Xpress Book in Greece with 160 GB HDD
• NTT Corrino 101I and Aristo Pico i300^[10] in Poland
• Positivo Mobo White in Brazil, with 4 models: 1000, 1050, 1070 and 1090. All sport Intel Atom Processors and range from 512 MB RAM / 80 GB HDD (Mobo White 1000) to 1 GB RAM and 160 GB HDD (Mobo White 1090).
• Proline U100 in South Africa.
• ProLink Glee TA-009 in Singapore with touchpad buttons positioned by the side and optional 3G HSDPA connectivity.
• RoverBook Neo U100 in Russia with 120 GB or 160 GB HDD
• Terra^[11] 10G in Europe with various option
• Tsunami Moover T10 in Portugal (XP version only)^[12]

Some OEM versions are offered in different colors to the original MSI Wind, apart from the Tsunami Moover (white only), the Mobo White and the Ahtec LUG N011 (white only).

Specifications

	Linux Version	Windows XP Version / Advent 4211	Medion Akoya Mini	Windows 7 Version
Operating System	Novell Linux (SUSE)	Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition		Windows 7
Memory[Note 1]	1 GB DDR2/667 MHz (onboard)[13][14]		1 GB DDR2/667 MHz (SODIMM)	1 GB DDR2/667 MHz (onboard)
WLAN	802.11 b/g		802.11 n
Webcam	1.3 megapixels		0.3 megapixels	1.3 megapixels
Bluetooth	No	Yes	No (some regions include free USB module)	Yes
Chipset	Intel 945GSE, ICH7-M
Display	8.9"W or 10.1"W (1024×600) LCD with LED backlighting			10.1"
VGA	GMA 950
Hard Drive	Western Digital Scorpio 80 GB,120 GB or 160 GB / 2.5" SATA / 5400 RPM
Battery	3-cell, 2200 mA·h: 2.5 hours or 6-cell, 5200 mA·h: 5.5 hours (in some areas 4400 mA·h)
USB	2 USB 1.0, 1 USB 2.0 Ports
Ethernet	10/100BT Ports
Audio Interface	3.5 mm jack Input/Output connectors
Card Reader	4-in-1 Card Reader– SD/SDHC, MMC, MS, MS Pro
Dimension	260 x 180 x 19–34 mm (10.23" x 7.08" x 0.748"/1.34") 38 mm thick w/feet
Weight	2.3 lb (1.04 kg) for 3-cell, 2.6 lb (1.18 kg) for 6-cell
Touchpad	2.0 x 1.7 inch (Initial batches had a Synaptics touchpad with gestures, though later batches have a Sentelic touchpad with less widespread driver support)

1. 2 GB maximum memory.

Hacking

The MSI Wind netbooks (specifically the MSI Wind U100) have been subject to hacking; especially as Hackintoshes. Though many other netbooks can also be installed with Mac OS X, the MSI Wind is one of the most popular mainly because of its ideally large keyboard, simple design, and wide availability of options. Currently the MSI Wind (specifically the U100) can be installed with Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8 with a modified bootloader and kernel. Installing Chrome OS and turning it into a Chromebook is also a common hack.

See also

• Comparison of netbooks

References

1. "MSI's Wind PC 10-inch pictured". www.fudzilla.com. 2008-03-10. Archived from the original on 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
2. "MSI Wind listed". www.fudzilla.com. 2008-05-09. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
3. , “Up close with Dell’s Eee PC killer”.
4. "Medion Akoya E1210 to take on Eee PC". www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk. 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
5. Averatec’s Buddy netbook available for $449.99 www.netbooktech.com
6. Now shipping: Averatec Buddy Netbook 13 October 2008, news.cnet.com
7. AVERATEC Buddy 10.2" Netbook www.trigem.com
8. "MSI Wind heads to Czech Republic, gets redubbed "Mivvy M310″". www.liliputing.com. 2008-07-21. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
9. "LuvBook U-Series". Retrieved 2008-11-06.
10. "Netbook Aristo Pico i300". Retrieved 2008-12-04.
11. terra-computer.fr
12. "Tsunami Moover T10".
13. MSI Wind Description– eXpansys UK Archived July 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
14. Play.com (UK) : MSI Wind U100 / Atom 1.6 GHz / 1 GB / 80 GB / 10" / Linux / Netbook / Pink : Computing– Free Delivery

External links

• MSI Wind Model Comparison
• current MSI Wind products (official site)
• The Atom-based Eee PC-a-like which talks the talk and walks the walk
• Register Hardware MSI Wind Review (XP Edition)