MSI U115 Hybrid SSD / HDD netbook unleashed upon the world, could be awesome

MSI's officially launched the U115 Hybrid netbook we saw not too long ago, which can operate both SSD and HDD drives at the same time. The 10-inch (1024 x 600 resolution) laptop primarily uses the SSD, reserving the HDD for storage, and boasts an "Eco Mode" button which will temporarily disconnect the HDD to save power. The hybrid functions should provide both a faster OS and longer battery life -- but we'll wait till the test results are in to form our opinions. If you've forgotten, spec-wise the U115's got a 1.60GHz Intel Atom CPU, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, plus 8GB SSD / 80GB HDD, 16GB SSD / 120GB HDD, and 32GB SSD / 160GB HDD storage options, and a 2 megapixel webcam. No word on pricing or release date for this bad boy yet. We'll keep our eyes peeled.

[Via PC Launches]

[Jack @ Dec 29th 2008 8:18PM]

How about that netbook minus the 120 GB HDD? SDDs were practically made for this application!

[decapitor @ Dec 29th 2008 7:53PM]

I noticed when replacing the SSD on my Mini 1000 that it takes up basically no space at all (about the same size if not smaller than a stick of laptop RAM), and had there been two ZIF connections on the mobo I could have fit both a 1.8 inch drive and the SSD. I say this only to point out that this isn't very difficult to do for manufacturers and is a pretty good idea imo.

[Chase @ Dec 29th 2008 8:49PM]

to all those below...no, it can't play crysis...

[Knee to the Groin @ Dec 29th 2008 9:58PM]

What SSD did you drop in there, if you don't mind tellin? Link to it?

[decapitor @ Dec 30th 2008 12:10AM]

@ Groin,
I used a 1.8 inch Mtron Mobi 3000 16 GB from Rocketdisk. Had to take out the recessed USB port but I wasn't gonna use that anyways.

[J. Limon @ Dec 29th 2008 7:55PM]

Hopefully they fix the low quality of the displays..

Every MSI I delt with had severe light leakage issues or dead pixels.

[Rob @ Dec 29th 2008 7:55PM]

What's the meaning of Billy Idol's picture? I love Billy, but I can't connect the two here. "Rebel Yell?" "Eyes Without A Face?" "Dancing With Myself?" Which one is it?

[Uncontrol @ Dec 29th 2008 8:02PM]

this netbook could be awesome

billy idol is awesome

ergo,

[Chase @ Dec 29th 2008 8:48PM]

i figured it out: the picture at any higher resolution would break the screen. but lucky for them, these things only have a 10" screen.

...and no, it can't play crysis to all those below me...

[Ryan @ Dec 29th 2008 8:04PM]

This comment is actually for another post that has comments disabled, and because the stupid Engadget contact form states that my gmail address is invalid.


Paragraph six of this post:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/29/switched-on-when-hardware-startups-zagged/

Has this ugly sentence:

"In contrast, Celio Corp,'s REDFLY broke with netbook mania by offering a corporate-focused smartphone companions that offers a larger screen and keyboard complement the applications and connectivity of a smartphone using Windows Mobile, with others in tow."

With plurality verb disagreement, and what appears to be a missing word in this phrase: "and keyboard complement the applications"

Let's just avoid looking at how much of a run-on it is in addition to those two fundamental flaws.

As a question, though, is there a specific reason comments are disabled on that post? It was a pain to do all of this through your contact form instead... which then tells me that my email address @gmail.com is not valid, and won't let me submit this damn form!

Utter fail.

-Ryan

[AVG @ Dec 29th 2008 8:08PM]

"Utter fail" is right.

[Patriks7 @ Dec 29th 2008 8:17PM]

First off, this is a blog, not some newspaper where their spelling needs to be perfect etc..
Second, posts for 'Switched On" has had posts disabled ever since it began..
Third, we already see your name once, no need to write it again..
Failz0r.

Patrik

[wyatt @ Dec 29th 2008 8:37PM]

patrick, aren't you contradicting your third complaint by showing your own name twice?

[larry Friedman @ Dec 30th 2008 11:06AM]

@ Ryan

That post has nothing to do with this post.

In your need to appear clever, not only did you massively fail, but
you look like a massive tool. At least try to stay relevant.

[seamonkey420 @ Dec 29th 2008 8:07PM]

hmm, not sure if i'll bite on upgrading.

hard to upgrade my msi wind when i already got all the bells and whistles hacked in (touchscreen, wifi, osx, next up gps).

but to the new netbook user, sounds like a sweet netbook.
(trying to use the term netbook as much as i can in defiance of psion!!!)

[loosely_coupled @ Dec 29th 2008 8:08PM]

It all depends on the SSD. most of the netbook SSDs are bargain basement and slow as hell..

[Spencer @ Dec 29th 2008 8:17PM]

Am I the only one who thinks that thing looks a lot like Dell's Inspiron Minis?

[Peter @ Dec 29th 2008 8:28PM]

This will be awesome, but only as long as they don't only sell the bilingual keyboard.

[sjsu @ Dec 29th 2008 9:05PM]

I submitted the same idea to Asus a month ago, a SSD/HDD combo. I'd love to see all netbooks with this option available, but as an option.

Wondering if the HDD turned off will mean that it is not prone to failure due to the parked heads? I mean all the jarring in your bag shouldn't mess up the HDD right, it's only when it moves when spinning. If that is the case, it'd be like an SSD netbook with built in "external" HD

[dcoaster @ Dec 29th 2008 9:10PM]

Perfect for Windows 7.

[bogman12 @ Dec 29th 2008 9:20PM]

Who cares? the touchpad button is still as crappy as the current Wind. I absolutely hate the stiff trackpad keys on my Wind U100..

[Joshua Walters @ Dec 29th 2008 9:20PM]

And my Wind still hasnt arrived!

I hate getting behind on tech... I knew I should have just waited for the new ones.

[Boards of Canada @ Dec 29th 2008 9:25PM]

hu... why put a bigger screen (AKA bigger netbook) if they dont upgrade the resolution... you dont get more space!

[larry Friedman @ Dec 30th 2008 11:26AM]

Higher res screens are more expensive and it still needs to be priced like a netbook.

[dave @ Dec 29th 2008 10:57PM]

netbook(TM)

[nikster @ Dec 29th 2008 11:59PM]

Why the hell is that not in my $2000 MacBook Pro? The OS and apps should go on the SSD, the media - which takes up most of the space by far - goes on a slow HD which actually never spins up unless I watch a movie or listen to music. It would be heaven. 32GB of fast SSD would be plenty. It would be faster and use less battery.

Yeah there's the ExpressCard slot but there are no fast SSDs in ExpressCard format out there.

[Michael B @ Dec 30th 2008 12:04AM]

Um, nice specs, but what is up with that background?

[ASEEF Parladka @ Jan 10th 2009 6:56AM]

Nice & Superb

[netbookwereld.be @ Dec 30th 2008 1:55PM]

The picture posted with the article is of a device known as the medion akoya e1210, which is a clone of the msi wind u100.
Just to let you guys know.

[SPOKe @ Dec 30th 2008 2:46PM]

These OEMs should stop blaming performance on the HDDs and just put in a decent CPU and graphics sub-system. Donks.

[Bookworm @ Jan 9th 2009 3:49AM]

I definitely want to know the pricing. I just got a Wind but my brother needs a computer for class, so if it's cheap enough I might pass this one on to him and get this.