Winds of change
It really is the year of the tablet at Computex 2010. ASUS has already launched one, while Intel and Microsoft are both hot for them. Of course all of them are being launched in the considerable shadow of the Apple iPad, which already has a two million unit head-start on them.
Taiwanese system and component-maker MSI took its time in coming out with the Wind netbook after ASUS had, once more, set the pace with that form factor, but it's among the first to get a tablet out this year.
The MSI Wind Pad runs the Intel Atom Z530 (featuring Imagination Technologies' graphics) and runs Windows 7 Home Premium. So, in principle, there's no reason why it couldn't have been launched a lot earlier. MSI reckons this 2.4 watt platform still allows eight hours of battery life and it throws in embedded 3G, GPS, accelerometer, webcam and ten inch touchscreen to boot.
Rather confusingly, however, the press release obliquely refers to NVIDIA Tegra and features the photo below, bigging-up Android. We figure MSI is trying to say it's going to be processor and OS agnostic with the Wind Pad.
On top of all that there's some bespoke MSI software. It has its own UI on top of the OS, designed to make it as easy as possible to access things like the browser, instant messaging, Skype, media player, etc. There's also EasyFace 2.0 face recognition software with contact management cross compatability, some magnification functionality, and some e-reader software.
Here's the full spec list and image of the device with the customary Computex tot.
- CPU/OS: Intel Atom Z530/Win7 Home Premium
- Display: 10" wide with Multi Touch
- Memory: DDRII 2GB , SO DIMM*1
- Storage: 512MB NAND Flash On Board + internal SDHC support to 32GB
- 802.11 b/g/n、3G Module: Embedded
- Web Cam: 1.3 M Pixels
- GPS: Embedded
- G Sensor: Embedded
- Battery Life: 8hrs
- Dimension: 274 x 173 x 16.6mm
- Weight: 800g (with battery)
- I/O Ports: 1xUSB, 1X Mini USB, Mini HDMI, DC in, H/P out, SD Reader, SIM Card Slot
