14 DAY TRIAL // Back in May this year, Taiwan's MSI launched a portable computer system as part of the company's growing line of Wind PCs, coming as the first MSI laptop to boast Intel's latest CULV platform for ultra-thin, ultraportable computer systems. Dubbed Wind U200, the CULV-based laptop boasted a 12-inch form factor and a design similar to that of the company's line of Atom-powered netbooks. On that note, it looks like the ultraportable laptop has finally become available outside Taiwan and is now ready for pre-order for all those eager MSI fans.
Packing an Intel Pentium SU2700 processor, clocked at a cool 1.3GHz, the new MSI Wind U200 ultraportable laptop comes as an alternative to all those low-end Atom-powered netbooks currently available on the market. The system can be equipped with 4GB of RAM, a 320GB 5400RPM hard drive, wireless 802.11 b/g/n and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, 1.3MP webcam, 4-in-1 card reader and the usual array of ports. There are three USB ports, one HDMI, one Line-out and one Microphone-in, VGA port and a 6-cell battery pack. Designed for ultraportability, the entire system is said to weigh in at just 1.5kg.
According to details that have recently surfaced on the Internet, the laptop has been listed on the website of a German online retailer for a price tag of €629 ($906). According to the German website, the CULV-based ultraportable should be shipping in about 3-4 weeks, as users can now place their pre-orders for it.
As far as performance goes, the 1.3GHz Intel Ultra Low Voltage processor isn't really much more powerful than the Atom processor that is available inside the majority of netbooks on the market. However, the support for an increased memory capacity and the larger display do make up for the shortcomings of the system.