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MSI to reintroduce WindPad tablets at CES, claims Oak Trail improves performance and battery life
You'll remember that back at Computex MSI introduced two tablets or so-called WinPads -- there was the Windows 7 / Atom slate and another one of the Android / ARM variety. Well, MSI is planning to resurrect those with some slight improvements for CES, and this time it's gearing up to actually release them both. First up is the 10.1-inch Windows 7 Home Premium version, which will be one of the first Intel Atom Oak Trail-powered devices out there, says the company. According to MSI's Director of North American Sales Andy Tung, Intel's tablet solution does show both battery life and performance improvements over the current Atom chips, but it's "not extremely significant." Based on our discussion with Tung, we got the feeling that it's a step in the right direction for Atom but still not as long-lasting as it needs to be to compete with ARM-based tablets. Beyond that, the tablet measures less than an inch thick and will have a 1024 x 600-resolution, multitouch display, mini-HDMI and mini-USB ports, an SD card slot, and an accelerometer. Tung wasn't ready to reveal pricing, but he said it should be available in early 2011. On the Android side of things, MSI's got a dual-core Tegra 2-powered 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800-resolution slate prepped with the same selection of ports and features -- although, this one is slightly thinner and also has a drop-proof design. So, what version of Android will it run? Well, that depends on Google's timing, says Tung. If Android 3.0 or Honeycomb is available by the February / March timeframe MSI will go with that option -- however, if it's not, it will go with Gingerbread, so it can hit the market earlier in 2011. We have to say both tablets sound rather intriguing, but will they be able to go up against the hundreds of others coming at CES: The Tablet Year? We'll know more in Vegas, that's for sure!
MSI debuts low-end Wind Top AC1900 all-in-one PC
It may not exactly stray too far from the company's previous models, but MSI's new Wind Top AC1900 does boast a slightly revised design, and some expectedly low-end but not terrible specs (assuming the price is right). That includes an 18.5-inch 1,366 x 768 display, a dual-core Celeron E3400 processor, 2GB of RAM upgradeable to 4GB, a 320GB hard drive, a built-in DVD burner, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, and Windows 7 Home Premium for an OS. Still no word on pricing or availability, but the product page on MSI's site does seem to suggest that it'll be available soon, if it hasn't hit stores already.
MSI reveals 15.6-inch, Core i5-equipped CX620 3D laptop
Need another use for those 3D glasses you were suckered into buying as an integral part of this year's Halloween costume? Look no further, bubs. MSI has just outed its latest 3D-friendly laptop, the CX620 3D. Outfitted with a Core i5 (or a Core i3, if you're looking to save a few bucks), this 15.6-incher also gets up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, a 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 GPU, HDMI / VGA outputs, 320/500/640GB hard drive, a DVD writer, two USB 2.0 sockets, an ExpressCard slot, 4-in-1 card reader and a pair of stereo speakers. You'll find Windows 7 Home Premium runnin' the show, while 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, gigabit Ethernet and a 1.3 megapixel webcam all make expected appearances. There's no telling how long the six-cell Li-ion will last once the deathmatch gets going, nor how much it'll cost when it lands sometime between now and who knows when. But hey, 3D!
Swedish website tries out Sandy Bridge motherboard with BIOS-replacing UEFI
We haven't heard a ton about the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (or UEFI for short) since a rumor cropped up back in June suggesting that MSI would be introducing it on its Sandy Bridge motherboards, but Swedish website SweClockers has now actually gotten it hands on a motherboard with working version of the BIOS-replacing firmware, and delivered our first real look at it. The biggest difference, as you can see, is a significantly more user-friendly interface, but there's also a few other considerable advantages over a standard BIOS, including faster boot times and the ability to boot from drives bigger than 2TB. Head on past the break to check it out in action, in Swedish. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
MSI brings graphics switching action to 15.6-inch FX600MX laptop
MSI stops short of calling the graphics switching technology within the FX600MX "Optimus," but it's pretty obvious what's behind the curtain. The outfit's latest 15.6-incher is equipped with a Core i3 or i5 CPU, Windows 7 Home Premium, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and a 320/500GB hard drive. There's also a 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 310M GPU, and MSI has thrown in a handy control panel to make switching from discrete to integrated a lesson in simplicity. Moving on, you'll find a DVD SuperMulti drive, two USB 2.0 ports, a 4-in-1 card reader, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, gigabit Ethernet, an HD webcam and a conventional six-cell battery. You'd be wasting your time hoping for a price and release from these guys, but usually a proper announcement means it'll be on shelves soon.
MSI intros 15.6-inch FR600 3D laptop, complete with embarrassing eyewear
If there's a party, MSI's going. And if there's a bandwagon, MSI's onboard. It's with this knowledge firmly entrenched in our brains that we present the FR600 3D. If you'll recall, Intel actually tossed this name out awhile back when trumpeting its latest integrated graphics chipset, but now it's the proud papa's turn to make things official. This 15.6-incher is equipped with the expected 3D support, a Core i5 processor, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, HDMI / VGA outputs, a 320/500/640GB hard drive, DVD SuperMulti drive, two USB 2.0 sockets, a 4-in-1 card reader and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. You'll also get 802.11b/g/n WiFi, a gigabit Ethernet socket, inbuilt webcam and a six-cell Li-ion battery, not to mention a bundled set of 3D glasses to really get immersed in whatever it is you're doing. Per usual, the company's keeping quiet on the pricing and release front, but surely it'll be out by Christmastime. Surely.
ASUS Eee Pad EP101TC getting Tegra 2 treatment ahead of March launch?
More from DigiTimes this morning and its chatty sources within NVIDIA and Taiwanese supply chains. First up is talk that ASUS' 10-inch Eee Pad -- presumably, the Android loving EP101TC said to cost less than $399 -- will launch in March of 2011 with NVIDIA's Tegra 2 taking care of the processing duties. DigiTimes' sources also remind us that Tegra 2 tablets are on the way from Dell, Samsung, MSI, and Toshiba in addition to smartphones from ASUS, Motorola, and LG. Good to know, but for as long as Tegra 2 has been discussed, we've yet to see the SoC ship inside anything worth getting too excited over. And don't even mention the Boxee Box, they switched to Intel at the last minute, remember? Maybe Dell's Looking Glass tablet will change all that when it launches any day now.
MSI brings Core i5, GeForce GT 425M to 15.6-inch GE603 laptop
It looks about like every other MSI 15.6-incher out there, but for those who prefer classy over vivacious, he GE603 might just be right down your alley. Designed primary as a multimedia laptop with the ability to handle a modest amount of demanding games, this here rig will be available with a Core i5-460M, i5-450M or i5-430M processor, NVIDIA's GeForce GT 425M (1GB), HDMI and VGA outputs, a 320/500/640GB hard drive, a DVD burner, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a foursome of USB 2.0 sockets. You'll also find 802.11b/g/n WiFi, an ExpressCard reader, 5-in-1 card reader, gigabit Ethernet and up to 8GB of DDR3 memory. As you'd expect, Windows 7 is running the show, and the nine-cell Li-ion should keep it humming for at least a couple of hours. Per usual, MSI's not serving up details regarding a price or release date, but we both know it's aiming to have it on store shelves pre-Christmas.
MSI WindPad tablet design concepts rendered, available in your choice of innie or outie
It's a bit odd to see a gadget go from sitting in your hand to sitting in the output file of some renderer but, if images uncovered by blogeee.net are as legit as they're said to be, MSI looks to be thinking a redesign for its upcoming WindPad tablet. Two different versions are shown, one with a chromed bezel that's not entirely unlike the one we played with previously, and another with what looks to be edges that are not convex but instead concave, which actually seems like it could be quite nice for carrying whilst sauntering about the penthouse. On the back is a raised black surface that surely can't be glass... right? Anyhow, there's no being sure of the legitimacy of these renders, but both look respectable enough to show up on this tablet whenever it shows up at retail, supposedly by the end of the year.
MSI gets official with 17.3-inch FX700 and FR700 multimedia laptops
June was a lifetime ago, we'll give you that, but surely you can't forget those 16 Optimus-based laptops that NVIDIA teased us with at Computex, right? Right. At any rate, MSI has just come clean with a delightful pair of them, the FX700 and FR700. Both of these beasts boast 17.3-inch widescreen displays, the company's own anti-scratch, anti-smudge coating and a design that actually looks fairly attractive given the hugeness. The former also includes up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, a Core i5 processor, NVIDIA's GeForce GT 425M (1GB), HDMI / VGA outputs, 320/500/640GB hard drives, a DVD SuperMulti drive, four USB ports (two of the SuperSpeed variety), a 5-in-1 card reader, inbuilt webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, gigabit Ethernet and a 6-cell Li-ion that'll probably exhaust itself long before you'd like it to. The FR700 includes most of the same specifications, but opts for integrated Intel graphics for those who aren't planning to dabble too long in Crysis. Per usual, MSI's keeping quiet when it comes to pricing and release details, but we'd be shocked if they didn't find their way onto retail shelves pre-Christmas.
MSI launches 15.6-inch GT663 laptop with NVIDIA graphics
MSI's just added to its gaming laptop lineup with the GT663. This 15.6-inch bad boy boasts a quad core Intel Core i7 CPU, up to 12GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M graphics with 1.5GB of GDDR5 RAM, a choice 500GB, 640GB or 1TB RAIDs, optional DVD or Blu-ray drives, Dynaudio speakers, and Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed. The 15.6-inch panel comes in full HD or backlit flavors, plus the standard 802.11 b/g/n WLAN,Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR,1x Gigabit LAN, two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, eSATA, Express Card reader and a five in one multicard reader. There's no specific pricing or availability information yet.
MSI's Wind Top AE2420 3D hits US shores for $1,800, Blu-ray and glasses included
Well, it's about time! Excuse our impatience / excitement, but we've been hearing about MSI's 3D all-in-one since March, and the company's finally done putting the finishing touches on it. While MSI's claiming it's the "world's first 3D all-in-one," the Wind Top AE2420 3D isn't just another 3D display that comes with active shutter glasses -- though it does have those features and in unison they do a mighty good job of displaying high def, three-dee video and images. But beyond all that, the company's gone and packed the back of the 24-inch, 120Hz LED panel with a Core i7 870s processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 graphics, 4GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage. And that's not all... amongst other things, the right and left edges are home to a USB 3.0 port and Blu-Ray drive. Oh yes, it's one monster of a machine, but it's gonna cost ya: MSI says the system will come in at $1,800 at most e-tailers, though there may be some other configurations. Still, the swirly design, touchscreen and THX speakers make it a rather luring family or living room PC. Either way, we're just happy this thing's finally arrived -- hit the break for the full press release as well as the gallery below for some pictures of the rig and MSI's rather hefty glasses. %Gallery-102079%
NVIDIA trots out GeForce 400M series laptops, shows off StarCraft II gameplay (video)
You might have hoped that NVIDIA's introduction of the 400M series of mobile GPUs would bring about a slew of hot new laptops to drop into our gaming boudoirs, but we are in fact left facing more of the same. Externally, anyhow. The chipmaker rolled out the green carpet for a set of upcoming machines in London today, but they were refreshes, rather than overhauls, of current hardware. The big news is to be found within, as the new GTX 460M has made a home inside the updated ASUS G53, Toshiba Qosmio X505, and MSI GT663. The common thread among these three is that they're all big and hefty, and all emit a subtle vroom sound every time you touch them. What we learned from NVIDIA today is that the GTX 480M will remain an exotic (you might even call it quixotic) GPU reserved for large-screen gaming stations, the GTX 470M will similarly be an enthusiast part, and the GTX 460M will be the company's big play for the mainstream performance market. It also became clear that even the third GPU in the company's mobile hierarchy will need quite a bulky cooling setup (and a proportionately huge charger) to do its job, but NVIDIA's promises of much-improved performance might just make it worthwhile. As to the more sane among us, there was a selection of pleasingly thinner machines, like the ASUS N53 and Acer Aspire 5745, which make do with the lower-specced GT 420M and GT 425M graphics chips. Those are expected to be NVIDIA's biggest sellers, and the video demo after the break of the 425M churning through StarCraft II is certainly appealing. We should note, however, that the latest (though definitely not greatest) Prince of Persia game was also on tap on one of these machines and its frame rate gave us a delightful old-timey feeling any time we entered combat with its emulation of stop-motion animation. So, as ever, it's looking like great graphics will require great rigs, but we can probably expect a decent -- not game-changing (get it?) -- leap in performance among the lighter options as well.%Gallery-101899%
Lessons in Bell Curves: 15-inch laptops still king, despite wealth of portable alternatives
Jimmy Eat World didn't concoct the masterpiece that is The Middle for nothing, you know. In yet another example of the middle muddying up the waters for everyone else, DisplaySearch has found that the vast majority of systems sold in America fall into the 15.6-inch category, despite the fact that many offer no gain in resolution over 12- and 13-inch ultraportables with 1,366 x 768 panels. The reason? For one, supply and demand. The sheer quantity of 15-inch machines on the market pushes prices south, and on days like Black Friday, rarely is any size as discounted as the tried-and-true 15-incher. The numbers here would show an even greater difference if the tablets were yanked, but what's made clear is just how little interest is being shown by the masses to the outliers. In fact, Laptop found that MSI is officially putting the kibosh on its plans to ship the 13-inch X360 stateside, and a number of other manufacturers are mulling similar decisions (though "off the record"). So, are you helping to jumble up the middle, or are you a loud-and-proud 5-percenter?
MSI WindBox III gets a bit more oomph, still lives on your LCD
If your current WindBox is growing a bit long in the tooth, MSI has a newcomer with somewhat more respectable internals. Since it's a fanless machine designed to live on the rear of your LCD, you won't be ordering one with a Core i7, but the included Core 2 Duo chip is certainly a step above what's been offered in the past. It's designed primarily to be used as an ultra-low power solution for folks needing to handle the simplest of simple tasks, though the integrated graphics are purportedly capable of HD playback (on a good day). It's packing DVI, VGA and HDMI outputs, six USB 2.0 sockets, a pair of mini-PCIe slots, inbuilt 802.11b/g/n WiFi and a Bluetooth module, but your guess is as good as ours when it comes to price or availability.
MSI waiting on Intel Oak Trail for Win 7 tablet, Android version will hit before end of the year
Remember MSI's Windows 7 WindPad that we went hands-on with back in June at Computex? Of course you do. Well even though it's been given a bit of Photoshop polish lately, MSI isn't planning on launching it until Intel releases its Oak Trail Atom platform for tablets and netbooks at CES 2011. MSI's Andy Tung told us that the current Atom platform just doesn't provide adequate battery life and power for the form factor, and that it's finding the Oak Trail platform to be much better in all areas with the Windows 7 OS. Tung also said it's still experimenting with the dualscreen Win 7 tablet, but similarly needs a better hardware platform. Oh don't worry, there's still some tablet love to come from MSI this year -- the company still plans to release its Tegra 2-powered, Android 2.2 WindPad 110 tablet in time for the holiday season. MSI is working with Google, and we were told that the Android tablet should have access to some sort of app store. It's clearly got the tablet bug, and Tung even told us that the company is minimizing the number of netbooks it has in its lineup. That sure seems to be a common trend these days.
MSI's 10-inch WindPad 100 advances past prototype stage, gets pictured with a dock
The wait for a legitimate mass market Windows 7 tablet continues, but at least MSI is showing signs of progress. The WindPad 100, which we saw at Computex in prototype form, has now reached design maturity and the concordant gallery of pictures has been distributed to the world. There's no word of any spec changes, meaning we're still looking at a 1.66GHz Atom Z530 CPU, 32GB SSD, 2GB RAM, Wind Touch UI overlay, and HDMI plus 2x USB ports on the stat sheet. The 100 has been joined by a new dock in these latest images, which will throw in the typical expanded connectivity options. We can probably expect to see both reappearing at IFA in Berlin in about a month's time.%Gallery-99506%
MSI ships Core i5-packin' P600 and S6000 laptops to egomaniacal cube dwellers
Call 'em suitable for business travelers (or whatever this guy is), or just call 'em classy -- either way, MSI has a new pair of 15.6-incher headed to North America. The P600 and S6000 don't differ much; by and large, the only thing keeping them from merging into one is the smaller battery (and thus, lower weight) of the S6000. Both units boast Intel's Core i5-450M processor, integrated GMA HD graphics, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 1,366 x 768 resolution panel, 3-in-1 card reader, 500GB hard drive, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, stereo speakers, HDMI / VGA outputs, a pair of USB 2.0 ports and an eSATA / USB combo jack. They're both rocking Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) under the hood, with the S6000 and its 4-cell battery starting at $799.99 while the 8-cell'd P600 goes for $829.99 and up. In other words, your corporate card can totally handle either... or both.
MSI's Core i7-equipped GT660R makes itself available to US consumers
MSI's GT660 has been kicking around in various forms for a few months now, but the latest edition (dubbed GT660R) is just now splashing down on a few e-tailer websites. Boasting a 1.73GHz Core i7-740QM processor, 6GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive (7,200RPM), Blu-ray combo drive and NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 285M, this 16-inch beast is more than capable of handling whatever HD media and first-person shooters you've got sitting around. 'Course, you'll need to be fully prepared to lug around 7.7 pounds of heft, and the 1,366 x 768 resolution is far from ideal, but at least you're given a 64-bit copy of Windows 7 Home Premium. It's up for order now at $1,699.99, but unless you've got a thing for atypically large pixels, we'd suggest springing for an alternative that'll display 1080p natively.
MSI rumored to have TriDef 3D laptops on deck, no active shutters required
We've heard this song and dance before, but DigiTimes has it that MSI is on pace to shove out a 3D laptop this September. Before you open that jaw and feign a yawn, you should know that the company is purportedly not following convention by integrating NVIDIA's 3D Vision technology; instead, it'll rely on Dynamic Digital Depth's (DDD's) TriDef 3D software for transferring 2D images to 3D. This means that users will be able to use cheap-o polarized glasses rather than the more expensive (and battery draining) active shutter variety. Somehow or another, the whole thing is supposed to launch at under a grand, so we'll be poking around on the IFA show floor hoping that this one comes to fruition.
