MSI Wind U160 confirmed for CES, but we've got your first look right now

On the heels of getting our hands on the budget, Pine Trail-packing Wind U135, MSI gave us a heads up that at CES it'll be releasing the totally redesigned 10-inch Wind U160. The pictures make it look ever so trim and classy, though we can't help but notice the chassis' uncanny resemblance to the Toshiba Mini NB205. Under the lid it appears to have a chiclet keyboard and a touchpad that's only differentiated from the palmrest by a grid of raised dots (eh hem, ASUS). Inside it's got that 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor we've been hearing so much about and most likely the array of standard netbook specs. MSI claims the battery will last for more than 10 hours on a charge, and pricing for the U160 will start at around $350. We'll be bringing you more information and hands-on impressions out in Vegas, but in the meantime feast your eyes on the glamor shots below.

MSI Wind U160 Gallery

[Badison Posted Dec 22nd 2009 12:31AM]

I'm loving that hinge design/aesthetic

[Special Agent Steve Posted Dec 22nd 2009 12:51AM]

@Badison
Everything except the color XP

[Jeff Posted Dec 22nd 2009 1:48AM]

@Badison

Yea, it seems to be the new way to attach an lcd.

It looks more like a Vaio FW than a Toshiba, btw.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2009 1:53AM]

@Badison

They literally stole it from SONY VAIO!!!!!!!!! Bastards!!!

[Jeff Posted Dec 22nd 2009 2:04AM]

@(Unverified)

Yea, just like the chiclet keyboard!!!hahaha

[inspectornugget Posted Jan 5th 2010 9:26PM]

@Special Agent Steve Lol, I guess you can't help about that XP colored design. And engadget had this review apart from any people on the world. This one has 10.1-inch netbook takes a page from the Sony Vaio playbook (or Toshiba Mini NB205) Thanks to the new CPU, the battery is expected to last for more than 10 hours, and pricing will start at about $350. More Details: http://bit.ly/msi-u160-wind-details

[goopy Posted Dec 22nd 2009 12:31AM]

It's not that I don't like it but that awfully look alot like Sony Vaio SR/Z series.

[goowiz Posted Dec 22nd 2009 1:42AM]

@goopy
Just wat I was thinking...
looks like a sony knockoff... the power button in the hinge, the chicket keyboard, the little dip in the chassis from the handrest to the keyboard area...

[Plexus Posted Jan 23rd 2010 9:43PM]

@goopy

So?
Is that a bad thing?

[jayayess1190 Posted Dec 22nd 2009 12:39AM]

This and the 1005PE are my favorites in design so far.

[dgman Posted Dec 22nd 2009 12:49AM]

perfect design

[namkha84 Posted Dec 22nd 2009 12:57AM]

Very nice !!!

[comments Posted Dec 22nd 2009 1:27AM]

At least it looks nice. Something to look at while that slow Atom (pretty much the same speed for a couple years now) stutters on a flash video.

[eggimage Posted Dec 22nd 2009 1:34AM]

so as ASUS's given up the design of S101,
MSI is now taking it over and selling it

[tobey Posted Dec 22nd 2009 1:58AM]

Wow, MSI seems to be jacking a lot of designs lately. What happened MSI? You used to be cool...

[Wildman Posted Dec 22nd 2009 2:14AM]

looks kinda classy. but i can't begin to guess why i'd like to use a trackpad that is just bumps... nor am i a huge fan of chicklet keyboards. but that hinge design (w/ power button) has been making the rounds for a while...

[fokka Posted Dec 22nd 2009 2:34AM]

@Wildman

the nipplepad is really a downer. know it from my gfs 1005hah

[gerrrg Posted Dec 22nd 2009 3:01AM]

I just can't stand those 10.1" screens on the majority of netbooks...I wish they'd make them 11.6" standard.

[YpoCaramel Posted Dec 22nd 2009 8:40AM]

Well these are glamor shots ... the actual thing may vary.

[DaveBrubeck Posted Dec 22nd 2009 8:45AM]

Wow! It's like a Vaio FW, only less classy. Not that Engadget seems to mind. Of course, if this looked even remotely like, say, a MacBook Air, we wouldn't hear the end of it,

[MRCUR Posted Dec 22nd 2009 10:35AM]

Now this looks promising. I've always liked MSI's netbooks, but they always have a huge ass battery coming out the back/bottom. If this thing can get decent battery life (4-5 hours is all I'm asking for) without a bulge, then I'm (pretty much) sold. I just hope they get the HD accelerator card in here...

Is it just me or do all the netbook chicklet keyboards look EXACTLY the same? As in they're all coming from the same ODM...

[plwh888 Posted Dec 22nd 2009 12:00PM]

Will Sony sue them ??? look like a Mini Vaio Z.

[synaesthetic Posted Dec 22nd 2009 3:26PM]

It's a tiny Vaio FW!

Put an 11" screen and ION in this and I'd be all over it.

[dank414 Posted Dec 22nd 2009 3:41PM]

Sony design for the price of Chinese brand equals a win~

[Mars478 Posted Jan 17th 2010 3:27PM]

When the heck is this going to be released! I want to buy one!