Foreword

There are only a few a few ideas that are truly groundbreaking in every industry per decade. Exactly these are they who can ensure the survival of a company in the long term in a competitive market. The console manufacturer Nintendo and Apple’s lifestyle company, which were already more or less before the sell-off due to lack ideas, today but thanks to a brave product development to the major players in their respective field are best examples of such a development.

Almost exactly a year ago, it was the manufacturer of ASUS, which launched a mini notebook with the EeePC, which should become the bestseller not only in a very short time, but also the product of an entire industry significantly change. Because, with a view to the surprising success of ASUS won with his unusual strategy, it was only a matter of time before the competition would go with comparable models on touting. So it’s no wonder that a comparatively ausdifferenzierter NetBook market has developed itself with offerings from companies like MSI, Dell, Acer or also Medion (just to name few) within a year. The Intel booth was full of such solutions at Computex in Taipei.

The approach is followed here, is precisely to describe with one word: simplicity. Because it can be assumed is that the majority of potential notebook buyers not to the power gamers, still the professional editors, yet the graphic designers is to count the theoretical requirements for a mobile PC are easy to formulate: the everyday applications such as Office, email and browser programs should run smoothly as possible and the use of communication platforms à la Skype/MSN/ICQ/AIM and co. should cause any technical problems. In addition all conventional connectors must be installed, with the last point, the optics, should be more important for the majority of potential buyers as the adequate and meaningful distributed placement of USB connections.

That the popular Netbooks all’ these functions on paper supply, may almost as agreed. But how it looks with usability? It falls out similar compared to the comfort of a conventional notebook? Or you, must take bitter constraint of “usability” on the contrary, due to the small dimension of the devices?

With the MSI wind U100 we have while one of the major representatives of very young NetBook segment in the House but we could be brought, even at this relatively comfortable device curious, as is designed to use in everyday life. For this reason, this test in addition to General information provides some clues to the actual application of the device.

Miscellaneous

Scope of delivery

Alone the size of the packaging material speaks volumes: who expected a huge carton along with a lot of styrofoam and is worried already, where the whole afterwards could be stowed away, can breathe easier. Because instead the wind in a thus about 22 x package measuring 28 x 8 cm (L x W x H), which includes also a matching bag, the power cord, driver CD and a manual in addition to the device. Especially commendable: The pre-installed Windows XP runs for the first time the first time, in the eye jumps immediately that it largely has waived at MSI excessive installing third party software. The exception was a 60-day trial version of Office 2007 as well as the non-mandatory MSI system software in the context of our tests.

Facilities

The MSI wind has to offer a lot on paper at a moderate price of around 400 euros. This starts according to the right to mobility when the dimensions or weight: with around 1.3 kg (including 6 cell battery) when measuring 26 x 18 cm and a height of more than 20 mm, the device is compact as expected. The built-up and 10, 2-inch small Matt display maximum 1024 x 600 pixel represents, which in view of the size first once sufficiently appears.

Inside the wind, an energy-efficient Intel Atom N270 1.60 GHz with 1 GB memory Potter (DDR2 @ 667 MHz) and a 160 GB large 2, 5-inch hard drive (5400 RPM) by Western Digital. In terms of W-LAN connection can on a 802.11 b/g solution be used. Moreover, a local connection, for example, to a mobile phone, via an integrated Bluetooth offers itself. The communication skills of wind is rounded off by a 1, 3-megapixel webcam, which centered on the display, as well as an integrated microphone, which completes the possibility of video communications.

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MSI wind U100: side view (left)

Graphics enthusiasts come in the MSI NetBook not as expected at their expense. Instead of a separate high-performance single graphics chip that visualizes the wind not surprisingly and usefully on an Intel Onboardlösung (GMA 950), which is reduced to a few (old) title the mobile games. For this, in terms of connections, no wish remains unfulfilled. In addition to a VGA connector, the wind on the right side offers also sound inputs and a USB port. Also find here the 4-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, MS, MS-Pro) as well as the LAN port. The other side offers two more USB ports, as well as the socket for the power cord, which means that make both the rear and the front page without connections do, which is very conducive to the optics (see image above and below, where there is product photos without 6-cell battery).

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MSI wind U100: side view (left)

In terms of energy supply is in the wind either a 3- or 6-cell battery used. Our daily test took place with the 6-cell version, what increased maturity (see the section “Performance”) on the one hand, of course, but also cuts in optics with it brought (see section “Optics & processing”).

Optics & processing

The MSI wind U100 is all in all as a good example from the NetBook segment. In white run available for this test, the device also whether the rounded corners is a subjective feelings after very feminine. The bottom is, however, on closer inspection pretty clunky and less beautiful. Due to the outstanding down, on the back battery about 3.7 cm in height can be our model at the highest point measured, what is of course well above the level with abmontiertem battery (it is, as mentioned, at approximately 20 mm). Because the rubber feet mounted in the front, lower part be significantly flatter than the outstanding battery, also a perceptible gradient is created (see image below). The increase in run time, which is achieved through the use of the 6-cell battery has thus visually as expected much stronger influences, as it would be the case with a conventional notebook in the case of wind.

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Due to the 6-cell battery, the wind takes off

The processing can be however very little room for major complaints. The housing includes flush and the plastic case is overall quite solid. The visualization of the State of the system via next to a software-side representation of the display also eight at the front is led. The Schaniere for fastening of the display go almost already a bit too fluid and act contrary to the rest architecture less stable. For this reason should be refrained to wear the device on the display through the area. The moderate toughness of Schaniere is reflected also, the display is not stuck, but picks up possible vibrations of the ground. Also you may finicky complain that the keyboard when closed-lid mode on the page is visible (see image below), which certainly, is due to visually but not sound practical reasons.

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Striking slot when closed

Despite these criticisms, MSI delivers from a decent product in terms of optics and processing.

Performance

With the listed facilities, the MSI wind moves with a view to potentially possible performance, as well as the price roughly in the area of cheaper 15 inch notebooks. The big difference is so actually in the likely increase in mobility. But how looks indeed with the performance? Primarily, because this test is a daily check, which has no competitors, with which it is useful measure could wind. However, we want to give some relevant hints at this point.

First, the wind U100 was abused with PC mark 05. Even if the application can cause problems in principle due to the non-standard resolution, it was possible to have passed the tests without complications. Here points could be achieved in network mode pretty exactly 1500 which in comparison to the direct competitors from ASUS, Eee PC 1000H, a draw means. Performance varies without plugged power, which means that the user has access on the go on most of the possible performance. The following screenshot also provides evidence to suggest that is the built-in 160 GB Digital quite beats hard drive from Western.

The temperature record of the components is still of interest. To get here a few benchmarks, the small tool HW was sought immediately after the run of PC mark 05 monitor.

Although the values are all acceptable fields, but must be noted that hand in hand also he was clearly to hear fan, which is again noticeable should make also in everyday life (see the section “VGA output & presentation”).

For the actual usefulness in everyday mobile, of course also the battery life is important. To ensure level playing field, the terms have been identified always starting from the following settings:

• All system devices to
• Exceptions: Bluetooth, webcam
• Display brightness to 50 %
• WiFi on and connected
• Sound on

To determine of the battery, the battery Eater tool came 05 Pro version 2.70 to use. This irritates the performance of the test device from a classic test and disabled all recharging it. Because the standard user hardly consistently completely can keep his device, should be noted that the “classic” result therefore provides insight, how long last the mobile device in an above-average demanding conditions. Moreover, the application provides the ability to perform a “idle” test. Because the actual battery performance varies depending on the user behavior, the mean value obtained from two tests as a good benchmark for how long you can work with the wind on the road actually can serve. In addition to the results of the measurements described above, the following table also provides insight into the runtime enabled mobility optimization. Using the key combination fn + F10 added the MSI wind U100 in the BIOS 1.07 and older to 800 MHz down and should thus provide an once again extended battery life.

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The results show that the use of the 6-cell battery with 4400 makes mAh obviously clearly noticeable. When round two and a half hours of running time are possible with the 3-cell version, were possible in an ideal, using the large battery just under five hours. As the actual daily operation of all expectation turns out after incriminating as in “idle” mode of battery eater, the result is then but not quite as excellent. So it can be assumed that one can use the wind effectively for four hours, with the use of mobility-optimised mode ‘ with down switch CPU makes no too much difference.

In the newer BIOS versions (1.08 and 1.09), the wind in the network mode offers the possibility of using the aforementioned key combination making an overclocking by the way. After the overclock can be selected first in the BIOS under the DOC tab between 8, 15 and 24 percent, so that the unit can theoretically be operated nearly 2 GHz. While it is advisable to proceed slowly and to respect the stability and heat generation. In addition to the BIOS can speed through fn + F10 changed the General LED – visualised the status which is CPU in this case about the color.

Wind in everyday life

The MSI present for this test wind has a pre-installed Windows XP Home ULCPC license. Because the Service Pack 3 is integrated, of only a few a few urgent Windows updates. If you are not a purist and just continues to work with the given installation, the first Setup – is finished in well an hour depending on the number of programs to be installed. Thus this is wind as user friendly.

But how is it actually in everyday life? To find this out, a current, conventional 14-inch notebook for a week was exchanged consistently the NetBook from MSI.

Mobility

In terms of mobility the wind compared with our 14-inch notebook has the nose naturally clear front. What seems already in theory due to the different nature, became also quite practically pleasantly noticeable within the framework of the test. Although the wind rather with its 1.3 kg under the Netbooks is a heavyweight, so the difference of about one kilogram is clearly noticeable to the said standard notebook. In addition to the weight this is also to the small mass of the device to find back, where the actual amount due to the 6-cell battery (see “Facilities”) at least visually slightly restricts the first perceived feeling of absolute agility.

Nevertheless, deserves the wind without another the predicate “portable”. This applies both to the carry with the hands, and a rucksack or in a bag. In the latter case, it can be even said that an extra laptop bag thanks to the small dimension is actually unnecessary. And if you have to fight anyway always with space problems, will feel the wind as a boon.

Surfing & reading

What for portability is a blessing, for the concrete application in parts of a curse. Because longer working the wind the small sized processing method does quite negative. This is due above all to the resolution of 1024 x 600. It seems on paper with a view to the 10-inch display as sufficiently to so we notice in practice but rather quickly that often lacks the actually necessary space for a comfortable working. This represents a significant shortcoming in connection with the touchpad of wind: da this with 4 x 5 cm (H x W) quite small fails, one due to the dissolution when surfing or email retrieving must but constantly scrolling and mouse buttons go also also still pretty cumbersome, this activity will quickly become the real training for the hands. A little workaround here can by abandoning all not necessarily necessary bar – for example in the browser in the Office suite as well as in Windows (keyword: taskbar)-be obtained.

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Wind-Touchpad

In addition to this acrobatic performance, great sensitivity needed is also when reading. Apart from the fact that the reading of longer texts under the said resolutions is no feast for the eyes, in this case a common scrolling is necessary, so that the wind at this point as the representative from the NetBook segment never turns to be ideal tool.

To write

Whether in the surfing, email, chat or work: the relevant activity, which is followed up on a portable computing field is writing. In this respect plays the comforts that one learns this, not least due to the size of the available keyboard, an important role. Because of this, wind was moved during this test of the email client on that. Moreover, all the articles on the device were written.

The wind keyboard layout is conventional and thus well used. Probably the biggest and therefore getting used bedürftigste contrast to the layout of many other notebooks is located in the position of the left fn button; It is located in the extreme lower end, where inexperienced users suspect usually CTRL. The writing feeling on the wind is also positive to note: the buttons are pressed moderate 3 mm, while a barely perceptible noise is created. The possible writing speed is, as long as you get used to the position of the CTRL key is quite high, bigger hands due to the size of the keyboard (14 x 26, H x W) just when using the 10-finger technique, some difficulties are likely to have.

For writing shorter, everyday lyrics this is wind, so all in all properly equipped. Who wants to make longer documents, should set but also with a view to the limited point of view and frequently need scrolling on the output to a monitor and a USB keyboard connection.

VGA output & presentation

Who wants to work on the wind away from the use of mobile to the local desktop, should feel sooner or later tried, for reasons of comfort to an external monitor to. This can be quickly with no bolts or 5.2.3 connected thanks to the robust VGA output. In our test, we could work the wind with a 22 inch Samsung SyncMaster T220. The result was evident: in the highest native resolution of T220 (1680 x 1050), the MSI NetBook made a good figure.

Apart from that, we tested the possibility to present something with the wind. Connected to a slightly older Beamer, the projection of a usable image was possible on the maximum resolution of 1024 x 786 after some fine tuning of the device. The wind is in principle so quite suitable for such purposes. This fell to but that the fan all in all however quite noisy works, which in this case though of the still fair Beamer was drowned out, could notice however unpleasant at more professional presentations in the small district with State-of-the-art projectors. However, this fact is based on a subjective perception, which can be placed with concrete dB figures at this point.

Play

That the MSI wind has designed not to play, is beyond question. However, may the one or the other potential buyers wonder whether older titles on the device can run. For this reason we have tried the good old “day of defeat-classic”, with the result of surprisingly little goes down: who takes low resolutions at old games in purchase, could wind technically get on. Would be recommended it, resorting to old strategy title (e.g., age of Empire 2) since first-person shooter expected more poorly than right. The aforementioned DoD had to play in a resolution of 800 x 600 at about 15 frames per second – no fun, only not quite on the connected 22-inch screen.

Conclusion

One thing is certain: the wind U100 belongs under Netbooks definitely to the superclass. This is first of all at the price get stuck: the device is about as expensive as a low price-15-inch laptop with 400 euros (EIA). For this to get but also a decent facilities: addition to the current, low-power CPU, MSI installed all the mobility-loving users might need in terms of hardware or port. This is reflected in the performance again, where is it to make any complaints. With around 1,500 points in PC mark 05, a reasonable temperature against time and hard drive, as well as a good but not excellent term there is nothing in the U100.

In this respect, we were full of praise, if our test at this point would have expired. But have we gone explicitly on a step, to explore how are Netbooks – here actually hit by a prominent Deputy – in everyday life. Because what like to hide hunting after as possible smaller, faster technology, is the degree of usability, which as a daring, generated from this test statement, threatening to suffer also parallel to the decreasing size of the devices. This is a difficult situation: on the one hand portable devices must be – the adjective suggests – as light and small sized. But it wants to carry the equipment on the other hand not just through the area, but work also with highest possible comfort.

And here, so can be after a week of intensive with the wind, the crux lies hidden. For as “Wind in everyday life” to refer to the section, the comfort just not readily is given. This is a plausible cause: course, Netbooks are smaller than conventional notebooks. And accordingly space keyboard and touchpad, with the latter at the wind definitely a little bigger would have can be found. A second, less obvious cause can be found in the price. Because Netbooks the principle must be cheaper than their big brothers and sisters, they experience a rapid fall in prices in this year, job is saved just but to many people. High-resolution displays inevitably push the price of the final product in the height, the majority offers similar in the truest sense of the Word as the wind of Netbooks.

Of course, the choice of a NetBook, despite or because of these concerns is an individual thing. Who from time to write a few texts or emails, is about an IM program would like to Exchange or old PC title play, is with the wind U100 and – if technically actually par – his counterparts excellently served. In this respect, the device would then be more likely be an ideal complement as an addition to a stationary PC or a notebook. But also those who more often, longer or even exclusively to work on a NetBook, is not ready. In this case, there are then two ways: either the constraints resulting from the resolutions are accepted or compensated for by the frequent use of external peripherals (keyboard, mouse, monitor), or it is acquired, a more expensive currently typically NetBook, which offers a higher resolution. Another question is whether is worth the price premium to be expected in the latter case with a view to the currently very favourable conventional notebooks.