MSI Wind U135 hands-on impressions
By Joanna Stern 
posted December 21st 2009 6:56PM
posted December 21st 2009 6:56PM
We've got to admit the 3.1 pound U135 looks strikingly similar to its rival Pineview-powered ASUS Eee PC 1005PE, though its navy blue lid (also available in silver) has a diagonal pinstripe pattern that seems to hide fingerprints quite well. Like previous generations, the plastic build feels solid -- well, as solid as plastic can feel -- and its six-cell battery only protrudes slightly from the bottom of the netbook.
MSI nixed the flush keyboard and replaced it with a chiclet one (was there some sort of industrywide vote on moving to this style keyboard?), and we found the matte keys to feel a bit sturdier than those on the 1005PE. The trackpad, which has that same striped pattern at the, has been expanded. Also, it looks as if MSI is using the same silver single mouse bar as ASUS, though it's at least quieter. The 1024x600 resolution 10-inch display is unsurprisingly glossy, but the quality is pretty standard.
As for performance, we're seeing the same sort of experience as with the 1005PE: Overall it seems snappy for a netbook, but not much faster than N270 or N280 machines. The 5200mAH six-cell battery is a bit smaller than the 1005PE's so you might not get that 10 hours of juice, but we'd still expect it to get more than seven hours.
With the loads of refreshed Pine Trail netbooks hitting during the first few days of the new year you'll have your pick, but at $330 -- $50 less than the 1005PE -- the Wind U135 looks like it will be one of the most affordable. Though if you can wait just a little longer we've heard MSI will be releasing the Wind U160 at CES, which will have similar specs but an entirely different design.
Joanna, do you work exclusively with laptops?
@AndroidRokz
No the question I'd be asking her
*Not
@AndroidRokz
Nope, also covers netbooks it seems.
@Wwhat
Netbook = Laptop.
Excellent product.. I use the Asus when traveling and they work excellent for skyping family when you are out of the country or simply watching movies, checking email etc
@E30 Kid On the outside, the MSI Wind U135 looks like just about every other Wind netbook that you’ve already encountered. Not too boastful, but way not shabby either for your 2010 budget netbook
http://bit.ly/msi-wind-ui35-pine-tree-powered
Netbook != laptop (technically speaking)
@E30 Kid
Was a joke you see :D
Profile view? Work on your pics Joanna.
It's really thick. I expect more this late in the game.
@Jeff
yeah, looks suspiciously like my wind u100
"without MSI dropping a new Wind"
Shouldn't it have been "breaking a new Wind"?
Looks alot like the Toshiba nb205 with those stripes and keys
If only atom D510 had ION2 support, but let intel to screw that up for us!
No matter what, the EEE 1005HA still holds the best keyboard layout and feel I have ever worked with on a "netbook"-laptop. (IMO)
Netbooks need to be thinner still.
@Hydraulics
That thing sure does seem pretty monstrous from the pictures, but at second glance, I think it might be a bit of an illusion. The battery sticks out underneath at the tail end (creating the illusion of the thick chassis), but there appears to be some sizable clearance from there on in (towards the trackpad).
Not bad..but i still wont be buying another netbook until they bring back the 9" models...
Looks like ill be hanging on to my perfectly sized Mini9 for awhile yet.
When the dust settles from the slew of Pine Trail netbooks, I'm going to buy one. This may be the best candidate if the "unofficial" wifi card driver still works for hackintosh. Here's hoping.
@AndroidRokz: not good at anything, just blabla...
"was there some sort of industrywide vote on moving to this style keyboard" Yes, when MacBooks became popular.
@Tokiopop
"Yes, when MacBooks copied it from Sony".
There, fixed that for you.
Make it non-glossy, and put a matte screen.
@lifebot
Damn, that thing is hella shiny. Wait, do kids still say "hella"?
Wow. That is NICE. REALLY NICE. I'm in love with the chiclet keyboard. I think they are thinking about implementing that with all of their units from now on. Pretty bold considering Apple has been the only ones(?) with the signature chiclet keyboards. Is this available in the US yet? I haven't heard anything about the U135. I know msi is giving u100's out as a holiday promotion. not sure is it has anything to do with the u135 though. but yeah, msi is having some kind of points collecting promotion to give away 6 u100. Pink ones! hah! hope this info helped.
Am I the only person who doesn't care for chiclet keyboards?
Perhaps I have just gotten used to being spoiled by thinkpads. One of my biggest complains during my attempt to go to that 'other' brand notebook was the keyboard.