Review of MSI Wind U123

When MSI released the U120, we didn’t expect there would be an upgraded version but here it is, the MSI Wind U123. The most important upgrade in the U123 is the Intel Atom N280 CPU. This netbook can now also be upgraded up to 2GB RAM.

Specifications
CPU type: Intel Atom
CPU speed: 1660 Mhz
Graphics: Intel GMA 950
OS: Windows XP Home
Display Size: 10″ 1024 X 600
RAM: 1024 MB
Hard Disk: 160 GB
Keyboard: YES
Mouse Pointer: YES

Design
From outside, it looks a lot like the Wind U120 especially when they both have the same chassis. It measures 10.2 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches and weights at 3.2 pounds. It is available in metallic black, white, red, and blue. Connectors and ports on the netbook are three USB ports and VGA, Ethernet, headphone and microphone jacks and also a card reader. Sound as well is passable, there are dual speakers that can be found at the bottom front of the netbook.

Keyboards
It still has the same keyboard as found on the Wind U120. We liked typing on it but there are better keyboards out there. With the kind of battery that it has, that somehow makes typing easier as the system works fine. We don’t like the small touchpad that comes with two buttons instead of the usual one. The buttons are noisy when pressed plus multitouch gestures are not supported by the touchpad which is a big disappointment for us.

Display
The 10.2-inch, LED-backlit screen features a resolution of 1024 x 600-pixel. Web sites can be viewed just fine. Colors are bright and clear. A little over of the display is where the 1.3-megapixel webcam, it’s quite handy displaying clear images and no problems when testing it with a couple of Instant Messaging applications. MSI provides the EasyFace Manager software which features facial recognition. We used it to log in the system and the program recognized us almost instantly.

Battery
With its nine-cell battery, the Wind U123 is definitely heavier than the other netbooks we have reviewed. It can last for more than 8 hours. That is by far the longest time a netbook’s battery can sustain.

System
This 10-inch netbook provides an improved performance with its Intel Atom N280 processor. Having an updated processor on this netbook really helps its performance level. It certainly performed better than most netbooks and programs open instantly when clicked. Videos can be viewed without any problems. The Wind U123 comes with Windows XP Home and software such as BurnRecovery and CrazyTalk CamSuite.

Final Word
The MSI Wind U123 is the updated version of MSI’s U120 with a better processor and longer battery life. Priced at $379, this netbook gets a must-buy from us.