Specifications and musings
Specifications
|
Processor & cache |
Intel® Atom™ N270 1.6GHz processor |
|---|---|
|
Operating system |
Windows® XP Home |
|
Chipsets |
Intel® 945GSE+ICH7M |
|
System memory |
1GB (DDR2-533) onboard |
|
LCD display |
10in 1,024x600 LCD panel |
|
Graphics & video module |
UMA |
|
Audio |
HD Audio, Stereo speakers |
|
HDD |
80GB/120GB/160GB SATA |
|
Webcam |
1.3M / 2.0M |
|
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 19.75-33(h)mm |
We've emboldened the specification-differences between the original wind, U100, and the new model, U120H. There's nothing in it with respect to the processor, chipset, graphics, memory, screen, or audio, so you may be wondering what the fuss is about.
Indeed, perusing further, the U120H supports an 80GB mechanical hard-drive whereas the U100 doesn't, and it also does without 802.11n, which is now standard on the older model.
You have to go right down to the communications to see that the U120H supports 3.5G, or HSDPA, for mobile Internet usage without the need for an additional dongle - a SIM card will do.
Looking further down, the U120H is actually a little larger than the previous model, with MSI prescribing a height of up-to 33mm, compared with the U100's 31.5mm.
The battery options remain with three- and six-cell models, but MSI has also introduced the 'hybrid' Wind U115 that ships with the energy-saving salvo of Z530 CPU - lower-power Silverthorne - and Poulsbo chipset, which you'd normally find in smaller MIDs (mobile Internet devices). The U115 also adds in a hybrid SSD/mechanical-drive setup to boost battery life, as well.
Summary
With the addition of an HSDPA SIM slot and scant little else, the U120H is more of a sideways move than an advancement over incumbent U100. Likely to be priced at around £319, the specification is still decent enough, we suppose, but we'd have liked more innovation, really.
MSI will also retail a U120, shipping without HSDPA support, and that model will retail at around £269. However, let's see if there's more to the U120H than a minor change in specification.