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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.
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MSI North America Announces Availability of Two Powerful, Yet Portable New 12.1" Wind12 U230 Models
Both U230 Models Feature the new AMD Processors, 12.1" HD LCD, 2GB of Memory, and Windows 7 Home Premium
CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA – March 9, 2010 – MSI Computer, a leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, is proud to announce the availability of the new Wind12 U230-033 and U230-040. The new models will replace the successful Wind12 U210, a favorite among netbook users looking for a larger screen and more computing power. Upgrades to this new generation of netbooks include the first Wind to feature a dual core processor and Bluetooth connectivity.
Weighing in at just 3.3 pounds both versions of the U230 ship with 2GB of DDR2 memory, with a 6-cell battery and Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. The newest editions to the Wind family are loaded with a 12.1" HD (1366x768) 16:9 aspect ratio LCD and an ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics card. The combination delivers a bright widescreen visual experience with exceptional color saturation and crisp imagery.
The Wind12 U230 also features MSI's EDS (Ergonomic De-stress) keyboard with keys that are 51% larger than those on a standard keyboard. The larger keys greatly improve finger contact range, which reduces stress on fingers and wrists to improve accuracy and comfort. Additionally, MSI included a 1.3M webcam, HDMI port, 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA port, and a 4x1 card reader in the new U230 notebooks.
The new Wind12 U230 models are available now at Newegg.com starting at $429.99. MSI offers a 1-year limited warranty with extended customer services hours at 1-888-447-6564.
