MsiWind12U230
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MSI launches Wind12 U230 'Light,' shaves two inches and 30 clamshells from predecessor's hide
Are MSI's 12.1-inch netbooks a hair too large for you? Wonder of wonders, there's a smaller version that's practically exactly the same inside. Though the new MSI Wind12 U230 Light confusingly weighs just the same as its predecessor (3.3 pounds) and is still 1.22 inches thick, it's got a smaller 11.6-inch matte LCD screen that makes it two inches shorter in either direction on a horizontal plane. You're still getting the same 1,366 x 768 display, 1.6GHz Athlon Neo MV-40 processor, 2GB of RAM, Radeon HD 3200 graphics, 250GB hard drive and sub-par four hours of battery life, but MSI did think to trim the fat in one last direction, and knocked $30 off the price. That makes the now-shipping U230 Light a somewhat reasonable deal at $400 from Amazon. PR after the break.
MSI Wind12 U230 unboxed and benchmarked, trounces netbooks of yesteryear
It's no Pine Trail when it comes to power consumption, but AMD's Congo platform is no slouch, either. TestFreaks recently received the Congo-powered MSI Wind12-U230 for review, and discovered that its dual-core Athlon X2 L335 CPU and speedy Seagate drive made neat work of last year's Atom netbooks, including the formerly formidable HP Mini 311. After shooting the requisite unboxing video and posing the slender machine for a few close-ups, TestFreaks praised the large, comfortable keyboard and touchpad, while scoffing at only four hours of net browsing as the entirety of its battery life. You'll find pics, a host of benchmarks and even CPU-Z screens at the source link; now, we just want to see how the netbook handles a contemporary competitor.
MSI starts shipping two 12.1-inch, AMD-powered Wind12 U230 netbooks
It sure took 'em long enough -- just over four months if you're keeping score -- but MSI has finally shipped its next-generation netbook. The AMD-powered Wind12 U230 has left the docks today in two distinct flavors (the U230-033 and U230-040), with both touting Windows 7 Home Premium, a 12.1-inch WXGA (1,366 x 768) display, ATI's Radeon HD3200 graphics, 2GB of RAM, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, a 6-cell battery and a 1.3 megapixel camera. The duo also features three USB sockets, VGA / HDMI outputs, an Ethernet port, audio in / out, a 4-in-1 card reader and a chassis that weighs in at 3.3 pounds. As for the differences? The former ships with an AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 under the hood and a 250GB HDD, while the latter sports an Athlon X2 L335 CPU and a 320GB platter. Both are available for the taking right now at NewEgg, though it's on you to decide if the second model is really worth the extra $50 over the $429.99 base price.
MSI Wind U230 gets handled on video, SIM slot found hiding underneath
MSI's latest (and arguably greatest) 12.1-inch netbook just popped official earlier this month, and already it's making the rounds at various shows. The crew over at NetbookNews managed to get their hands around one for just under three minutes, and during that brief window of time they were able to confirm that an AMD Athlon Neo X2 chip was within. Also on tap was a 500GB hard drive and a previously unannounced SIM card slot, though the €440 ($661) price tag seems a bit steep for "a netbook." Check the walk-around just after the break.
MSI's Wind12 U230 flaunts AMD Athlon Neo X2 chip, Windows 7 OS, stress-free keyboard
Don't call it a netbook. MSI's latest sits just out of the low-end category with its 12.1-inch, 1,366 x 768 resolution screen, roomy "ergonomic de-stress" keyboard, and 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo X2, a chip that should best Intel's Atom offerings of the same spec -- at least slightly. A mere four hours of battery life is also decidedlynon-netbooky, but beyond that the usual suspects are here, including a 1.3-megapixel webcam and 160GB hard drive. It weighs in at 2.9lbs and will be running Windows 7 Home Premium (a genuine copy, MSI seems proud to point out) whenever it ships. We'd guess soon.
