MSI WindPad 100 is a 10-inch, Intel Atom-powered Windows 7 tablet

Oh, hello WindPad! MSI just took the wraps off its 10-inch, Windows 7 tablet during the company's Computex press conference. The tablet is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor, 2GB of RAM, and packs a 32GB SSD that boots Windows 7 Home Premium, though MSI has created a Wind Touch UI layer. While they were showing early prototypes, it will have two USB ports, an HDMI and a webcam when all is finalized. According to an MSI product manager on hand, the WindPad 100 will hit the market later this year for around $499. We just caught a few minutes with the tablet so hit the break for some early impressions and a short hands-on clip.

MSI WindPad 100 hands-on

The 10-inch tablet is made entirely of plastic -- it does feel quite cheap, but on the other hand it's incredibly light (it's only 1.7 pounds). The prototype they had out didn't have any of the final ports, but eventually it will have an HDMI jack that should be able to output 720p video to an HDTV. Our biggest concern about the tablet comes with the speed. We noticed it taking a few seconds for applications to launch, and the Wind Touch UI was incredibly sluggish. Speaking of the interface, it's just a basic skin on top of Windows and should provide easy access to applications. The 1024x600-resolution capacitive display did seem responsive, though we would have rather it had a higher resolution.

[HereAndNow Posted May 31st 2010 4:01AM]

I would prefer this configuration:

1. A thin & light ULV notebook running Windows 7/OS X/Ubuntu.
- high performance
- full-size keyboard
- serious content creation
- media library

2. An iPad/Android/WebOS tablet, with remote desktop software (e.g., Citrix), to access my desktop apps, if/when I need to.
- simple & intuitive
- touch-optimized
- no maintenance
- instant/always on
- very responsive
- low cost
- resource optimized (CPU, memory, battery, ...)

For those people whose computing is limited to basic email, web browsing, etc., option 2 might be all they need.

Running a desktop OS on a netbook or tablet, with a wimpy CPU, is simply going to be slow & frustrating.

[jon Posted May 31st 2010 4:17AM]

@HereAndNow

Hate to break it to you, but W7 will run the same on a ULV proc, whether it's in a notebook or a tablet.

That's why people are excited about this, it's a W7 tablet with something other than an Atom CPU.

[jon Posted May 31st 2010 4:19AM]

@jon

NM. Thought I was in the Eee Pad post.

Down rank away.

[dds1043 Posted May 31st 2010 4:11AM]

Engadget, thanks for "The Room" reference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMyV2YQgAA&feature=related

[rwalrond Posted May 31st 2010 9:15AM]

Looks ok, but this thing should be fully working by now. Apple now has a 2+ Million unit lead, these guys need to step their game up!

[rwalrond Posted May 31st 2010 4:37PM]

@rwalrond This video shows a little bit more info:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2guthSb3mlw

[MFPrice Posted May 31st 2010 1:08PM]

Wow, the Asus engineers must be totally pissed. Looks like Microsoft let them completely down on the OS and greased the skids with payola to Asus management not to talk about their nice Android alternative. Asus engineers, you really got F____.

[AJ2000 Posted Jun 1st 2010 1:41AM]

re.: "the WindPad 100 will hit the market later this year for ..."
Yeah, right.
More Tease-Ware BullSh*t.

[Levi Posted Jun 6th 2010 12:44PM]

With the manufacturer name on the front, it'll look a bit wrong to use it in portrait. Not that it's a deal breaker, just pointing out that I think that's kind of a bad design choice.

[tom902 Posted Jun 6th 2010 3:11PM]

first of of all... how does this compare to the netbook!!!

its touch screen jeez its pretty much an ipad

except its stronger...

i hate these double standards?