MSI debuts Atom N280-equipped Wind U100 PLUS netbook

Frankly, we're beginning to wonder just how many iterations of the Wind U100 MSI can dish out before it's forced by riots and a bombardment of Molotov cocktails to come forward with a completely revamped Wind netbook. At any rate, today the company has just unveiled its U100 PLUS, a familiar looking fellow with a 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor, a hamstrung 945GMS chipset, Intel's GMA950 integrated graphics, up to 2GB of DDR2-533 RAM, a 10-inch LCD (1,024 x 600), 160GB hard drive, 4-in-1 multicard reader, VGA output, three USB 2.0 sockets, an optional 6-cell battery (3-cell is standard), WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Crazily enough, MSI asserts that users can see upwards of 7 hours of use with the standard battery, which is easily one of the most unbelievable statements we've heard in the past 4.32 hours. Per usual, pricing and availability will come in due time.

[Via iTech News]

[Peter @ Apr 21st 2009 11:02AM]

Cool.

[THizzle7XU @ Apr 21st 2009 1:03PM]

Where have I seen these near exact specs before?

Oh ya, every netbook announced since the ASUS EeePC 1000HE came out(which is awesome, btw).

[King of Fun UK @ Apr 21st 2009 11:03AM]

You're kidding... Right? 7 Hours? My U100 3 cell lasts about 1 1/2 hours tops with medium brightness and wifi turned on.

Such lies! :o

[Chuckles McGee @ Apr 21st 2009 11:54AM]

Dude, it's a U100 PLUS!!! That's because it's better than the U100! 7>1.5 hours!!!

But seriously, I do look forward to the day that a cheap netbook's battery life can surpass that of the best ultraportables.

[Ian @ Apr 21st 2009 12:23PM]

I get about 2.5-3 hours on my U100 3 cell. My gf's 6 cell in my U100 lasts about 5.5 hours, but only about 3 in hers (its got OS X).

[Buis @ Apr 21st 2009 11:19AM]

Good matte screen and the added likability that MSI distributed OS X drivers for their wifi card. Better dan U123, where upgrading voids warranty.
98%win, needs a 1366 * 768 pixel screen.

[SteveJ @ Apr 21st 2009 11:16AM]

That's 7 hours if you turn off the screen, wifi, hard drive, keyboard, trackpad and can opener.

[cb88 @ Apr 21st 2009 4:01PM]

It doesn't have a can opener .... yet

[SteveJ @ Apr 21st 2009 11:17AM]

But seriously... it doesn't mention SDHC support. I presume that SDHC is supported, but can anyone with a prior Wind verify that? Also, is it possible to install OS X on one of these things (through nefarious means) and if so, how well does that work?

[ZSX @ Apr 21st 2009 12:02PM]

I have a first gen U100 and it has SDHC support. OSX is also surprisingly easy to install and works very well. There is a good guide over on MoDaCo on how to do it.

[tamoghno @ Apr 21st 2009 11:23AM]

they better solve their availability issue

[r3loaded @ Apr 21st 2009 11:23AM]

Please, why are we still stuck with "new" netbooks with that ancient 945 chipset which is bigger and uses more power than the Atom CPU? Where's the GN40/Ion love?

[Stereodude @ Apr 21st 2009 12:20PM]

Intel's own slides show Atom 280 + GN40 to use 16.5W, whereas the Atom 280 + 945 uses 8W. I'm guessing that is what's keeping the GN40 away.

[sam @ Apr 21st 2009 12:30PM]

The 945 chipset has 9.3W TDP. GN40 has 14.5W. GeForce 9400M (Ion) is in the middle with 12W.

In other words, the older, crappy chipset made on ancient processes is in fact still the best option for netbook use. (Given that you don't actually need fancy graphics or high-res video decoding. Which most netbook users don't, or at least, not in favour of battery life.)

So, that's a very good reason for a company to stick with the 945, I'd have thought, especially if you plan on lying about battery life. Moving from 270 to 280 will save a whole 0.5W, so the battery will last very slightly longer. Woohoo.

By the way, this chipset/graphics situation is pretty depressing. I don't know if the problem is inherently difficult or what, I have no knowledge of how to make a microprocessor. But surely somebody should be able to come up with a modern graphics processor that does the equivalent of the 945, ie ok for basic netbook use, in 2W say - the same power usage as the processor. It's ridiculous that the graphics processor takes between 4.5 and 7 times as much power as the main CPU. Or am I missing something?

[psyopper @ Apr 21st 2009 11:24AM]

Ahhh, the venerable N280 and 945 combo. You may say hamstrung, I say it's Hackintosh ready.

[SkratchBoard.com @ Apr 21st 2009 11:26AM]

These specs should have been in the U120.

[shaka999 @ Apr 21st 2009 11:31AM]

Why aren't we seeing the GN40 chipset? I'm waiting....

Even better, an ION based netbook.

[Jamus @ Apr 21st 2009 11:37AM]

So given the pent up interest in ion-based netbooks, do you think manufacturers are going to jack up their price by large margins?

I don't know if they are going to keep the non-ions around for the "cheap netbooks" and the ions as "premium netbooks"? Or will the non-ions hit bargain basement pricing to get them out once ions show up and everbody and their brother switches over to them as somewhat standard config? If they keep pushing the prices up, they are going to screw themselves over on what made netbooks popular in the first place.

[Cosmo @ Apr 21st 2009 11:43AM]

I'm surprised MSI is still rolling out new U100 models when the U120 has been out for a while, but I like it that way. I much prefer the U100's design.

[Ninbrendo @ Apr 21st 2009 11:49AM]

"...in the past 4.32 hours."

Very clever. ^-^

[ZSX @ Apr 21st 2009 12:04PM]

The U100 is a great notebook and if MSI can keep the price the same but build on features then they have a winner here. Most other companies add specs to their netbooks but also jack up the price which kinda defeats the purpose.

[Ian @ Apr 21st 2009 12:25PM]

What availability issue? Newegg has them for $299, MicroCenter has them in a B&M store for $329.99, and I can go get them any day of the week. There was an issue for the first 2-3 months they were out, not so much since about September/Oct of 08.

[Ian @ Apr 21st 2009 12:26PM]

Fail reply is full of fail and aids.

[ishism @ Apr 21st 2009 1:33PM]

So, does this thing properly play Hulu and youtube? That's all I want to know.
Oh yeah. And emulators?

[Tony @ Apr 21st 2009 2:50PM]

The specs here is what the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 should have been.....with user UPGRADABLE MEMORY.

[sam @ Apr 21st 2009 5:47PM]

anyone got an opinion on how much more this is worth than the original U100? (i've got one, thinking about spending the money to hold onto a warranty and keep it up to date). i think its worth about $100 to me. anyone?

btw- thanks in advance for those that will respond with some version of "don't do that", or "why?". i'm not looking for your opinion on whether i should, just how much of a hit$ i should be willing to take to do it.

[war_06 @ Apr 21st 2009 8:22PM]

What! This is silly, i bought this model last week, an MSI U100+, in Australia mind you, comes with everything the same except that it has 1GB of 667 ram.