Overview, contents and specification
On delivery, the first thing you'll notice is that MSI might be using an Apple-esque design for the notebook itself, but Apple's design style hasn't been passed onto MSI's lacklustre packaging.
At first glance, you might be mistaken for thinking you've purchased one of MSI's motherboards.
Still, it's a subnotebook and cheap is the name of the game. The Wind is packaged safely inside, along with a useful carrying case; a lithium-ion battery; mini power-brick charger; a few pieces of documentation; and driver CDs. Yes, CDs, though like most subnotebooks, Wind offers no optical drive. MSI needs to detail clearly where its software is available for download online, or better yet, provide the drivers on a 1GiB USB stick.
At first glance, the Wind easily raises a smile. Those unfamiliar with subnotebooks will greet it with a customary "no...that's not a PC, it's just a toy...surely?".
Well, it's certainly a fully-fledged PC, and it's packing Intel's 1.6GHz N270 Atom processor. The Wind's complete specification, as detailed by MSI, is as follows:
|
Processor & Cache |
Intel® Atom™ N270 1.6GHz Processor |
|---|---|
|
Operating System |
Windows® XP Home |
|
Chipsets |
Intel® 945GSE+ICH7M |
|
System Memory |
512MB/1GB (DDR2 667) |
|
LCD Display |
10” 1024x600 LCD Panel |
|
Graphics & Video Module |
UMA |
|
Audio |
HD Audio, Stereo speakers |
|
HDD |
80GB SATA |
|
Webcam |
1.3M / 0.3M |
|
Card Reader |
4-in-1 Card Reader, SD/MMC/MS/MSpro |
|
Communication Port |
Built-in 10/100 LAN |
|
I/O Port |
Graphics Card Output (15-pin, D-Sub)
X 1 |
|
AC Adaptor |
Output: 20V DC, 40W / Input: 100~ 240V AC, 50/60Hz universal |
|
Battery Pack & Life |
Li-Ion 3/6 cells |
|
Dimension & Weight |
260(l) X 180(d) X 19-31.5(h)mm |
It's something of a controversial spec. sheet, and we'll explain why. Intel's low-power Atom processor aims to help extend battery life on portable devices, yet MSI has shipped the Wind notebook with a disappointing three-cell battery. Whilst carrying out everyday tasks, we've managed to keep the Wind going for approximately two and a half hours. That simply isn't good enough - particularly when ASUS' Eee PCs can manage four to five hours. There are plans to launch an optional six-cell battery, but we'd have liked to have seen it included with the device from the get-go.
MSI has opted for the largest of subnotebook screens, a 10in LED, but it offers only a 1,024 x 600 resolution. That'll match what's available from the competition, and some may argue that the pixel-count is sufficient for your daily web-browsing needs. But, we're going to have to disagree, it's only sufficient if vertical scrolling is one of your favourite pastimes. If not, you, like HEXUS, will be wishing MSI had packed-in a few more pixels - it would have made us happy, and put one over the competition.
Then there's the hard disk, of the mechanical variety. SSDs are rising in popularity, but perhaps the subnotebook doesn't have the need? MSI clearly believes it isn't yet time to make the switch to flash-based storage, and the Wind features a 2.5in 80GiB SATA HDD. The advantage of course is increased storage capacity, but you'll have to make do with the hard drive's noise, weight and susceptibility to data loss should it be dropped.
Another unfortunate hiccup is that of wireless connectivity. Wind provides Wi-Fi support in the form of 802.11b/g, 8.02.11n is nowhere to be seen - look hard enough and you'll find it on ASUS' Eee. There's also no 3G support, which we believe to be a feature ideally suited to such a portable device. Bluetooth is included, and the Wind's Wi-Fi functionality does the job, but it certainly hasn't pushed the boat out.
So, we're clearly not blown away by the spec sheet, it just about keeps on par with the competition but doesn't raise the bar. Fortunately for MSI, design and usability are a couple of the Wind's key strengths, so let's take a look, shall we?