14 DAY TRIAL // It was just a few hours ago that rumors made their way to the net regarding a certain netbook line that MSI was reportedly working on. Unlike most rumors though, which can live and, especially, thrive for weeks before they get confirmed or disproved, this one saw a very short lifespan indeed. Just a few hours after the report was made, MSI officially introduced two of the mentioned products, namely the Wind U130 and U135.
The netbooks are built on the Pine Trail platform, which was also announced a short while ago, and combine the reduced power requirements of the Windows 7 OS with the next-generation single-chipset architecture and the Intel Atom N450. This enables the devices to consume at most 5.5 watts, prolonging battery life by 15% while still boosting performance by 10%. Not only that, but the netbooks can operate in Gaming, Movie, Presentation, Document and Turbo Battery modes. These are possible via the built-in MSI ECO Engine Technology and each setting manages the actual power consumption in response to the selected workload.
The models were created based on feedback from MSI's customers. As such, they not only make better use of their respective resources but also have a stylish design that supplements their versatility. The Wind U130 is available in Snow White and Brilliant Black colors, whereas the U135 will be available in Sterling Silver, Brilliant Black, Midnight Blue and Cherry Red. The latter will also make use of the exclusive MSI Chiclet keyboard with unique key design for improved tactile feedback and quiet typing.
A noteworthy fact is that the two Wind netbooks are the first to receive International WiMAX Forum certification. In addition to the 3.5G capabilities, they also boast 802.11b/g/n WLAN and V2.0 EDR Bluetooth. I/O and extra features include an integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam, stereo speakers and microphones.
The MSI Wind U130 and U135 will become available in January and will come with Visual Effect 2 and print Creation packages, as well as bundled with MSI's own Easy face security recognition software.