The Pitch: The Wind, an acronym for “Wi-Fi Network Device,” is the first 10-inch notebook to feature the speedy new Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor. Weighing in at just 2.6 lbs, MSI designed the Wind to be lightweight and ultra mobile, without sacrificing convenience or performance. The Wind features an ergonomically designed keyboard that is only 20 percent smaller than that of a full sized keyboard, with keys spaced a comfortable 0.68 inches apart. The Wind U100 also ships with a 160GB Hard drive, 6-cell battery, 1.3-megapixel webcam, and is available in white and black.
Pros: Your iPhone doesn’t quite cut it as a computer, and your laptop maybe overkill for most trips. The MSI Wind, part of a breed of new netbooks, fills the gap nicely. It costs about the same as some high-end handsets, but is for all intents and purposes a pure laptop replacement. You don’t need much else when you’re on the road.
Cons: It may have everything a road warrior may need from a practical standpoint but your screen is still small, and the keyboard is merciless on big fingers. So it takes a little getting used to, and it is not great for larger documents and spreadsheets.
Recommendation: This is a great product if you need to surf the web, catch up on email, and do light work on online office apps. For under $500, however, you get a lot of bang for your buck, and that maybe enough to overlook any shortcomings the Wind U100 may have. As a representative of the netbook class, I believe the Wind should continue to the next round of the Last Gadget Standing.




