eeextra.com

We would like to sum up all the facts coming up about the new UMPC from MSI, the MSI Wind.

The wise MSI is preparing to launch a low cost UMPC in order to counter the EEE PC 900 and the HP Mininote market progression - the MSI Wind.

Basic specification

• 10″ screen displaying a 1024×600 resolution
• CPU: Intel Atom at 1.6GHz
• Hard disk: 80GB
• Networking: Wifi, Bluetooth, ethernet
• RAM memory: 1GB
• Operating system: Linux, or MS Windows XP Home
• 3xUSB, SDHC card reader
• Weight: ~2.65 pounds
• Webcam: 1.3MP
• Pricing: $549 for Windows XP or $399 for the Linux version
• Battery: 6 cells Vs 3 cells respectively

The MSI Wind has many positive solutions integrated. The 10″ screen has a LED backlight, which provides more contrast and a brighter image.

MSI has waited for the new Intel Atom processor to come up, a modern and low energy consumption processor, that outstands the sluggish VIA C7 from the Mini note.

The battery is announced to last for up to seven hours. That is a hard to believe fact for a 10″ display device with wifi connectivity, I’ll be waiting for the first reviews to confirm it.

The production od the Wind has been outsourced to the third party laptop manufacturer Quanta computer based in Taiwan. Quanta has a UMPC producing history, they have designed the OLPC XO1 in the past, as well as the Airis Kira and all its clones.

The only negative side would be the use of a standard hard disk. It does provide more space, but an SSD is more resistant to shocks and vibrations and therefore more adaptated to an ultramobile use.

We can expect the MSI Wind to be a serious competitor on the UMPC market, and the consumer to win from the upcoming pricing race.

More details at: official gallery (The pictures above are property of engadget) | liliputing