MSI's 10-inch Wind winds up in Best Buy
By Darren Murph 
posted Oct 6th 2008 4:53PM
posted Oct 6th 2008 4:53PM
MSI WIND BLOWS INTO BEST BUY
CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA – October 06, 2008 – MSI Computer, a leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, is excited to announce the MSI Wind U100 Netbook is now on sale at Bestbuy locations across the country. The Wind, an acronym for "Wi-Fi Network Device," was the first 10" netbook to feature the speedy new Intel Atom™ 1.6GHz processor
"We are excited to be able to reach our clients through this new channel," said MSI's Director of U.S. Sales Andy Tung. "By partnering with Best Buy we can introduce more people to the Wind, and meet the needs of the buyers who either don't want to purchase online or would like to touch and try out our netbook before making a decision."
Weighing in at just 2.3 lbs, MSI designed the Wind to be lightweight and ultra mobile, without sacrificing convenience or performance. The Wind features an ergonomically designed keyboard that is only 20% smaller than a full sized notebook keyboard, with the keys spaced a comfortable 0.68 inches apart. FULL SPECIFICATIONS BELOW:
MSI WIND NOTEBOOK SPECIFICATIONS
| CPU |
Intel Atom 1.6 GHz |
| Operating System | Genuine Windows XP Home Edition™ |
| Chipset | Intel 945GSE, ICH7-M |
| Display | 10"WSVGA (1024×600) LED |
| VGA |
Intel® GMA950 |
| Memory | 1GB DDR2/ 667MHz |
| Hard Drive | 120G / 2.5" SATA |
| Battery | Lithium Ion 3 Cell |
| WLAN | 802.11b/g |
| Webcam | 1.3m |
| Dimension | 10.23" x 7.08" x 0.748" ~1.24" |
| Weight | 2.3lbs |
| Colors | Black and White |
| Manufacturer Warranty | One Year |
OMG I want one right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why? You like OS X?
war do u mean? It's windows xp home
Enjoy that 1 hour battery time.
LAME.
Time to start enforcing HTML validations on this site. You MUST close your tags. In the example above, /sarcasm end tag was not used, therefore that post is non-compliant.
These things are totally missing their calling with less than all-day battery life.
i want a netbook that has a 6 cell standard that doesn't stick out the bottom like all the others.
So what, is this the product they've released some MONTHS back as an Advent 4211 in the UK (rebranded).
I thought this WAS already released???? Or did I miss something out here?
You missed something
The MSI Wind was released, but this is the 10"
@john: Uhm, my Advent 4211 is a 10", or at least close enough that it doesn't matter (9.9"? 9.8"?).
the only spec difference i can see is the bigger HDD, up from 80Gb to 120Gb.
So I'll ask again; what's the difference, if any? Or are the just "releasing" it again?
No difference, just available at Best Buy now. Isn't that exciting?
how do these things play video (youtube?)
that question also to the inspiron mini 9
They play videos well. (I have an Asus 1000H, so I'm guessing comparable performance).
1) Open web browser
2) Visit www.youtube.com
3) Watch Video
4) ???
5) Profit
Anyone have a SKU?
I'm betting this thing will be a BF special for $199, but only a minimum of 5.
I love BF deals. That's when I plan on getting a netbook and a couple TB HDDs.
Finally, I can purchase OS X netbook at Best Buy instead of ordering OS X from the MSI website.
Product Replacement Plans???? For laptops they offer Product Service Plans, but they recently changed it to their Geek Squad Black Tie Protection Plan (GSBTP)
Much more expensive but it covers accidental damage, at least.
----Wonder if they're gonna be offering it in all colors.
Read the article? Black and White only...
Racist </sarcasm>
They are now Black Tie Protection Plans, but they are only $20 more than they used to be and they now cover more, but they have always covered accidental damage, if you get the right one
Way to go BestBuy, getting a product that has been out for eons at other retailers.
http://www.jr.com/msi-microstar/pe/MSR_U100016US/
What it needs to do if its going to blow in to best buy is blow out the best buy incompetance...
10"WSVGA (1024×600) LED
typo?
Don't think so
Its LED backlit, 10" and 1024x600... wheres the typo?
I believe he thought it was meant to say LCD, but he didn't realize that it was an LED backlit display.
feel like an idiot for buying this for 500 bucks when it came out
That happens with all tech. Wait another year and it'll be even cheaper...
Look on the bright side, you could've been a buyer of the $600 iPhone....
Or were you?!
@luked
I was.......lol well at least I got a 16gb iphone not an 8 for that price ($550 and change). I did buy it knowing that the 3g was probably just months away so it's not like I was taken, I went willingly.
How about 349 with Linux?
I just don't have any use for XP on one of these.
3 Cell? that defeats the purpose of being small and light if it can only last max of 2 hours on one charge
If only I had money....
At least I can go and see what it is like in person....:0)
I have the same msi wind, its a great machine but that battery sucks so bad. It lives on the charger, that being said, OSX86 leopard runs on it perfect for the most part. Which is the only reason i have it, sound, and bluetooth and the camera are supported, wifi support is coming , for now you can change out the card with a dell truemobile 1500 wireless N , and its supported under leopard (plus you have wireless N vs the wireless g it came with) I bought my laptop in asia, but mine came with a 160gb hard drive and 2gb of ram
Wewt!
I'm heading to Best Buy, tonight. If they have them instock, I'm canceling my Lenovo S10 pre-order.
Worse review of all netbooks....why not push them more.
That awfully looks like the black macbook.
The bad points:
1. No Bluetooth
2. Only 1 Gig RAM
3. No Ethernet
4. 3 cell battery
5. No HSUPA
This makes me go for a EeePC 901 with HSUPA !
It's got Bluestooth, you can fit 2Gig of RAM & it's got ethernet. It would be nice to have mobile broadband but not many do yet and it's true that the 3 cell battery sucks. 6 or 9 cell will be available soon.
The profit is a lie! The profit is a lie!
6-cell battery, or don't bother coming to the game.
They need to take a chill pill so it up and get back in the game or rush in, but they'll feel kinda strange. Because 3 cell is so tame get a 6 cell ya lames.
3cell battery? no thanks.
Cheaper than the Dell Mini 9 I ordered. Real HD, larger screen. Hmmmmmm....but battery seems weak. If this thing runs OSX that is all the sweeter.
Can someone tell me, who is MSI? I never ever heard of them until I started reading engadget, and I don't think that brand sells here at all. Are they a good brand? Are they new to the game or what? And while I'm at it, I may as well ask the same about Lenovo too. They sell here, but I thought they were a seriously bad brand because of their name.
Lenovo=used to be IBM, pretty solid.
MSI=can't comment personally, but I'm thinking it's similar to asus, although I heard they went from using high-quality parts to lower quality parts after the Wind was reviewed by most places.
Lenovo is the original design manufacturer for the old IBM Thinkpads. Lenovo bought the Thinkpad brand from IBM and continues to sell their product with the Thinkpad brand. Lenovo's market share is HUGE. They are the world's fourth largest computer manufacturer. Old timers might remember Lenovo as Legend or QDI brand.
MSI aka Micro Star International has been around for a LONG time and have been a major supplier of the brands you are more familiar with. MSI's components are of high quality & performance. They are like Asus. Been around a long time and have a good reputation and large market share.
Thanks for the info guys. I have now changed my mind accordingly!
I think my reason to dislike Lenovo originally is because when they first showed up here, they were selling in a shop which everyone considers cheap and crappy. So my mind screamed 'avoid!'
'i' MUST ADMiTE i LiKE THiS APPLE MACBOOK CLONE, SHAME THE BATTERY LiFE NOT AS GOOD AS MY OTHER NETBOOK (MACBOOK AiR), WELL iTS STiLL GOOD
For who cares I called the nearest four BestBuy stores to me in Tampa and none of them have even heard of MSI, except one guy and he said that Best Buy does not carry them. So I wonder when they'll be in. I'd like too see them in person. I just bought one online today with the 6-cell but for a hundred or or so off I could probably pick up the 6-cell later...
That said, now that I think of it, somebody strike by if they see/hear of one in-store.
**strike back (is what I meant).
Come to mention it... where's your source for this announcement Engadget?
Oh yeah... sorry...'forgot it was Engadget. ;-)
Too bad MSI is too late on their price drop. The Acer Aspire One was on sale at BB for $349 with similar specs (except the 10" screen). With a $100 off coupon I had, it couldn't be beat.
What $100 off coupon for BB are you referencing?
What do you trolls do all day when not bringing up apple in every post? (you can't reply to clak. try it.)
On topic, It makes me sad when a netbook has twice the RAM and hard drive space as the laptop I bought 2 years ago for twice the price.
Just an FYI, BestBuy doesn't offer PSP/PRP's any more. Now they are called Geek Squad Black Tie Protection.
Wow.
Cool! I may go pick one up, but I don't know about that Battery Life
Oh and btw that Product Replacement Plan at Best Buy gave me a new Laptop after my HP broke down. It was too expensive to repair so I got a new one! Sweet Deal.
PSP\PRP are still in effect in Canada AFAIK.
I asked one of the employees about the "Black Tie" and they had no idea.
The 10-inch Wind with a 6 cell battery has been available for 479.99 after rebate since October 1. It was on Amazon about 2 weeks ago and has been on sites like excaliberpc.com for a while.
Sorry, it has been available for that price since September 15, I believe, not October 1.
If it was a 6-cells, I would get it right away.
Very nice. Those XP-based, sub-400 dollar netbooks with viable specs (and by viable, I really just mean non-SS, old school HD driven machines) are hard to come by in retail stores, so hats off to MSI for getting one into Best Buy. Still gonna wait until BF to buy one though; I love those BF price drops.
Dammit, we Europeans are getting the shaft again. This thing's €429 in Germany, has been since release :(
I looked at getting the Acer Aspire One from Best Buy just because I was thinking the Product Replacement Plan wouldn't be too expensive..yea right.
AAO: $349 + tax
PRP: *$300*
Seriously??? You want me to pay near the same cost for a device for a "warranty?" Yea right, how about I just hold onto that money, and buy a replacement (which will probably be spec'd better) if/when mine actually breaks.
the $300 protection plan is expensive, but it cover
Dust
Heat
Humidity
Power surge
Normal wear and tear
Accidental PHYSICAL damage
Virus removal 4 times a year
Online data backup
4 tech support calls a year
Priority repairs
Annual computer check
All that for 3 years,that does have value to some people
They also have an accidental only one for $100
Im going to check when I can but can I buy the 6 cell seperately?
I forgot.
Is the battery interchangeable? If so, would it be worth throwing in a 6- or 9-cell?
Battery is interchangeable but is EXPENSIVE
6 cell = $142
9 cell = $180!!!
http://www.lionbattery.com/description.php?noproduit=1631
PRPs are for small gadgets like iPod Nanos and Shuffles. PSPs or Product Service Plans are for notebooks, you have to get them fixed, no replacements unless it breaks a lot (Lemon), and no software support, so don't go getting viruses.
Also BBY updated their plans, the PRPs are now called "Gadgets and Gizmo" plans, and the PSPs are called "Geek Squad Black Tie Protection", fun facts, the G&G warranty doesn't poof if you get a gadget replaced now, you can get it replaced for new devices multiple times, and the GSBTP MUST be called "Geek Squad Black Tie Protection", because "Black Tie Protection" is trademarked by another company. :P
...and while this book may be old to us, I can guarantee at least 80% of the people that shop for computers at Best Buy have never seen it before. Probably more like 95%.