New MSI Wind Ships with TV-Tuner

MSI’s new Wind U123 distinguishes itself with not none, but one, stand-out feature: a TV tuner. In addition to the usual array of holes around the rim of the machine (USB, mic in and line out, RJ45 jack, D-sub video-out and a multi-card reader) there is a TV antenna connector. It might not sound like much, but it’s pretty smart on a few levels. First, even if you have no internet you have access to free TV pretty much anywhere in the world. And if you hook the Wind up to a bigger screen at home, you now have one extra extra quill in your home entertainment quiver (sorry, again).

The U123 also has the new 1.66GHz N280 Atom processor, which performs only a little faster than its ubiquitous predecessor but uses a lot less power. And as for power, the U123 doesn’t even bother with those lowlife 3-cell batteries. Instead you get a choice of a sic-cell or the huge nine-cell, which is enough to watch a whole day of Pop-Idol re-runs. $380, available now.

MSI AP1900 All-In-One LCD PC

MSI lays claim to the slimmest all-in-one LCD PC in the world iwth its AP1900, measuring a mere 35mm in depth. This extremely slim form factor is able to minimize space usage whilst broadening the visual capacity just like other LCD monitors. As for the black bars located on both top and bottom of the screen, those are avoided as well.

Features:

• 160 degrees viewing angle
• Intel Atom processor
• Energy-saving and noise-reduction functions
• Adjustable 5° to 15° back-and-forth
• Integrated webcam
• Dual track quality microphone
• Stereo 3W speakers
• Multi DVD burner

No final word has been given on how much this 4kg PC will cost you, but it is an idea for those moving into a small apartment and need every single possible square inch.

MSI Wind U100 Netbook

When the MSI Wind was initially released in the US, it was quite attractive. It offered the Atom platform with a 10 inch screen for $400 when the competition, namely the Eee PC, was still working on 9 inches at a price of around $500. Although ASUS was quick to put out a 10″ competitor, it initially retailed for quite a bit more than the Wind and for a while at least, the Wind looked like quite a bargain.

While the Wind hasn’t changed much, it has aged quite well. The 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor is still a staple of the netbook market and the 945GSE platform with GMA 950 graphics is found in just about every netbook, new and old.  The Wind has also seen several price drops, additional storage and a new 6-cell battery option. MSI also extended the warranty from 1 year to 2 back in November. The original configuration available at launch, a 3-cell with 80GB hard drive, now sells for around $350 while the newer 6-cell version with a 160GB drive that we have in our lab today can be found for just over $420. Overall, in terms of technical specifications, the MSI Wind still appears to be competitive. Read on to find out if the rest of the package stacks up and if the new 6-cell battery is worth the extra cost.

Specifications

• Intel Atom N270 Processor @ 1.6 GHz
• 1 GB of DDR2-667 Memory
• Intel 945GSE / ICH7-M Chipset
• Integrated Intel GMA 950
  
• 160 GB 5,400 RPM Hard Drive
• 802.11 B/G/N and Bluetooth Wireless Networking
• 10/100 Wired Ethernet
• Realtek High Definition Audio
• 1.3 Megapixel Bezel Camera and Microphone
• 4-in-1 Memory Card Reader
• 10″ Widescreen LED Display, 1024 x 600 Resolution
• 3 x USB 2.0 Ports
• VGA-out video port
• 10.23″ x 7.08″ x 0.748″-1.24″ (W x D x H)
• 2.6 Pounds (w/ 6-cell battery)
• 
• Included Notebook Sleeve
  
• 2 Year Manufacturer Warranty
  
• Price: $425 USD