MSI Wind desktop now available in Japan, slightly less barebones than before

Remember that thrifty MSI Wind Desktop that came out here in August? A slightly meatier version -- which looks like the one that was supposed to be out in September -- is now available in Japan. The CD100-JP Nettop still lacks a hard drive, RAM and operating system, but it's now equipped with a slot-loading drive and a snazzy white finish in addition to that 1.6GHz Intel Atom 330 and 11.8 x 9.5 x 2.6-inch case. It's currently selling for 26,000 yen, or about $290. Still no word on a US release -- last we heard it wasn't gonna happen, but we can't keep wishing.

[Samus Q. Turdburglar @ Dec 25th 2008 3:15PM]

I can understand a netbook somewhat, but why the hell would anybody buy this when you can get a full system, you know, one with a hard drive and ram? for like 300 on newegg?

[Peter @ Dec 25th 2008 3:20PM]

Because some people don't want to see a huge ugly box on their desk.

[Wolfticket @ Dec 25th 2008 3:21PM]

Because of the small, and the quiet, and the low power consumption, and the fact that if all you do is type/go on the internet/listen to music the user experience is pretty much exactly the same. Frankly, many people (maybe not most engadget readers) really don't need a full system.

[Adrian Williams @ Dec 25th 2008 3:38PM]

My friend got a small sized emachine with 21" display for less than 350 at Bestbuy

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 25th 2008 4:52PM]

They make an awesome home file/print server.

I built one using a barebones Wind box from newegg and it's been great.

[Oli D @ Dec 25th 2008 6:05PM]

Yeah I hate standard boxes but mini it's is getting pretty beefy, I have a system with a phenom black, same size...

[Oli D @ Dec 25th 2008 6:07PM]

Mini itx... Stupid iPhone

[Tech^Cellfish @ Dec 26th 2008 3:30AM]

Great for a small, power saving firewall (pfSense, IPCop, Smoothwall etc.)

[Cal @ Dec 25th 2008 3:34PM]

looks like a wii

[Arkenklo @ Dec 26th 2008 8:12AM]

Everything that is white and stands on it side looks like a Wii. Including the Xbox.

[pika2000 @ Dec 25th 2008 3:37PM]

With prices like these, sooner or later we won't think of a PC as the traditional box anymore. They'll be everywhere and are considered as appliances. All we need is an instant-on/quick booting OS with an optimized UI for touch screen/web interface.

[jinsei888 @ Dec 25th 2008 3:41PM]

wow, someone needs to welcome you to the 21st century...

[pika2000 @ Dec 25th 2008 3:55PM]

jinsei: Someone needs to bring you back to reality. Most people still consider a PC in a traditional way (that 1 box in the corner of the family room, or that 1 box where you sit and do work). Most people only have 1 PC. They don't think PC as something they use constantly like an appliance.

Hopefully we will see smaller form factors.

[KilgoreTrout @ Dec 25th 2008 5:23PM]

touch screens are ok on handheld devices and maybe car infotainement set ups, but for anything using a screen bigger than10" what is necessary is a good voice command software.
Soon even TV remotes will be substituted by small microphones, and kboards & mice will go the way of the dodo, but what will take their place will not be touch tech but voice recognition tech. This is what I use for my company's Uber-digiframes (with Wifi, Skype, landline phone,browser, push e-mail, dtv-b,webcam & mic, motion detection, & other stuff).
Being only a 10" screen my products also use a touch screen steered by a linux icon-based software , but all of my clients bar none tell me that once they start using the voice commands they never touch the screen again, and in fact I plan to drop this feature from the next batch of products.
Humans communicate by voice not by touch and machines should adapt to human needs not the other way around.
The moral of this story?
Buy shares in voice tech companies and sell those of companies producing touch screens bigger than 10". Or even better buy shares in my company (if and when they will be for sale)

[rishi @ Dec 25th 2008 6:17PM]

I have not head of any such devices on the market.

I am really interestedc can i get mored details about your company?

[Tom @ Dec 25th 2008 9:23PM]

KilgoreTrout: Soon even TV remotes will be substituted by small microphones, and kboards & mice will go the way of the dodo, but what will take their place will not be touch tech but voice recognition tech.


How is that going to work in a busy crowded office with many people talking at the same time?
How about when you want to type up something private or confidential?
Or simply browse the net whilst watching the tv? The family aren't gonna be happy with you barking commands at the laptop whilst watching the box.

[pball_inuyaha @ Dec 25th 2008 3:42PM]

Hmm, if something this small and cheap get powerful enough to churn out HD video in the near future I'd love it. I just want a simple media pc when I get an HDTV

[Kris120890 @ Dec 25th 2008 3:43PM]

Both the wind and eee desktop look like wiis only with a nice dual core atom 330s.

[kenzo @ Dec 25th 2008 3:43PM]

fo sho

[Kris120890 @ Dec 25th 2008 3:51PM]

It churns out 720P but stutters 1080P It's the chipset that's the problem. The nvidia Ion was looking good until Intel said nvidia must buy the Intel atom integrated on to the board and must separate them and integrate them on to the Ion platform. Its a big chore and nvidia may abondon the whole project. That is Intel being utter D-cks.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 25th 2008 3:53PM]

Sorry that was directed at pball_inuyaha. My apologies.

[whiskey @ Dec 25th 2008 3:58PM]

Because you could probably pair it up with this http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2008/10/13519/ and end up having something AWESOME!... maybe...

[Arkenklo @ Dec 26th 2008 8:45AM]

Yeah, or maybe not.

[bill cant fart @ Dec 25th 2008 4:05PM]

Does anyone know how well this would run Boxee at standard def? I've been looking for something kinda like this.

[bill cant fart @ Dec 25th 2008 4:46PM]

Oh wait... Japan. Nevermind!

[CleverEndeavor @ Dec 25th 2008 4:08PM]

i would prefer a real computer not this piece of (blank)

[Abuzar Baloach @ Dec 25th 2008 4:50PM]

Shit? Is that what you meant to say?

[CleverEndeavor @ Dec 25th 2008 6:22PM]

yes. that was what i meant to say, i was being respectful of this great website and not dirtying it up with unnecessarily vulgar language (aka youtube).

[anantha92 @ Dec 26th 2008 11:45PM]

Who fucking cares?

[greatcaffeine @ Dec 25th 2008 4:11PM]

Is anyone else as uninspired by MSI's products as I am? I've never used their Wind desktops, but I can't help but think they look fragile just by looking at them. Can anyone vouch for their build quality?

[Smileypanda @ Dec 25th 2008 8:19PM]

I break my Wind all the time.
Sorry.....

[pran @ Jan 1st 2009 3:08PM]

I saw an Msi Wind U-100 (netbook) with OSX running on it. I am going to get myself an Msi Wind too (but I am waiting for the U-120 which has a longer battery life...)

[va jj @ Dec 25th 2008 5:16PM]

well this work fit nicely next to my polar white wii and polar white ds lite. lets just hope they bring it to the states so i dont have to import it.

[Alvaro @ Dec 25th 2008 5:29PM]

Nettops are interesting and I foresee an increasing usage, but this one does not seem that *small* to me. Seen from a side it's bigger than an A4 paper. OK, smaller than the typical case, but too big compared with Linutop, AOpen's Mini PC or Asus Eee Box. Even MSI Wind netbook is smaller and it includes a screen. Is this extra space only for the DVD drive? They could put the slot on a side, in parallel with the main board and make the thing a bit thicker but shorter.

[lockout @ Dec 25th 2008 7:22PM]

=\

[OQuaTanginWann @ Dec 25th 2008 7:27PM]

This newer Wind Nettop is kinda a rip-off. I have the original barebones version and it's great. But it was $130 without the optical drive, HD, or RAM. So about $160 without RAM or HD. This new one is over $100 more just to get a slot loading optical drive.

For those questioning the need for these little machines, look no further than your utility bill. Up until recently I always let my gaming machine serve double-duty as a light media server. It's efficient by gaming standards, but I verified that it still eats about 5 times more power than my nettop.

Plus during the summer my gaming PC would raise the temp in my home office 3 to 5 degrees.

It also doesn't hurt that I'm not running my highly overclocked gaming components 24/7.

[James Young @ Dec 26th 2008 1:22AM]

for those saying this nettop is a ripoff compared to the msi wind original, it looks like this one has the dual core, the original has just single. I love my msi wind nettop original.. great nas/download box

[digitallysick @ Dec 25th 2008 7:38PM]

Why would i want this when i could get a netbook for the same price, that comes with ram, screen, and webcam?

[Cockroach @ Dec 25th 2008 7:59PM]

D-Sub VGA??? Why?
"Supports two SATAII devices" & "Maximum cost-effectiveness utilized the highest performance and scalability of the 3.5-inch hard drive"
I'll take it that that's an user option of installing either two 2,5" or one 3,5" HDD, right?

[Megan @ Dec 25th 2008 8:03PM]

ick. its ugly

[Smileypanda @ Dec 25th 2008 8:18PM]

Now all we have to do is wait for the tech support recording of someone claiming to have "broken their Wind." Or maybe that pun wouldn't work in Japanese...

[tj @ Dec 26th 2008 2:08AM]

whoa... this guys are just dishing it out now
i honestly think it looks sleek
could definitely see myself pickin one up at that price

[anantha92 @ Dec 26th 2008 11:47PM]

Sane people would spend the extra hundred and get a nice PS3 with linux. I wouldnt mind a great linux machine with upgradable HDD space even if it takes about 2 and half as much space this does.

[Peter @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:24AM]

I got my hands on one the other day and did a quick review here:

http://portablemonkey.com/article/msi-wind-nettop-cd100-jp-review/

[p Bort @ Jan 3rd 2009 12:50PM]

This is the big sister of the current verison on sale here in the USA. Comes with NO motherboard information on the CD. Give me a PDF of the tech manual,please. You have to take the case apart and remove the mother board to insert the CF card. Do not buy this item if you intend to boot from the CF slot. It will not POST with a card installed.
You have to take the case apart and remove the mother board to insert the CF card and then when it will not boot past POST. No real instructions on where the front panel plugs into the motherboard, so when you take it apart be aware what and where stuff goes! IMHO the case design just stinks. DVD drive hits the power plug on motherboard, CF card location IMHO
This is not my only MSI computer I love my netbook.