Good news for netbook users with the need for a larger sized storage facility - Toshiba will soon be launching a range of solid state drives that can offer you between 8GB and 32GB of storage and read/write speeds of 80MB/sec and 50MB/sec respectively. There will also be a 2.5 inch notebook version with 256GB of storage and read/write speeds of 120MB/sec and 70MB/sec.

Exact release dates and pricing details are unknown but, expect a release towards the end of the year and more information as it comes in.

via

Spotted a local PC dealer in one of the Malls in the Philippines selling the MSI Wind U100 at around $549. I immediately checked Amazon and it is currently listing the MSI Wind U100 at an SRP of 552.85. This model comes with the 1GB RAM, 80GB HDD, Windows XP and 6-Cell Battery Pack. That’s definitely a big difference in prices, right?

But wait here’s something more. As part of an ongoing promotion, the said Philippine store is offering to upgrade the memory of the MSI Wind to 2GB and its HDD to 160GB. Now, that is definitely a big steal! The promo period runs until September 30, and I’m hoping to raise some funds to get one for myself. Maybe it’s time to replace my Asus Eee PC 701 4G model by now. Any donors out there? :-)

Incidentally, said store is also selling another version of the MSI Wind called U100Lx. What makes this model different is the fact that it only comes with a free DOS OS. This unit sells for around $422. And the store is also offering to upgrade its HDD to 160GB for free!

If you’re wondering if it’s worth waiting for the 6-cell version of the MSI Wind, Kevin from JKonTheRun puts the MSI Wind battery under the test and gives his opinion.

Kevin performed two tests as the MSI Wind allows you to underclock the CPU with it’s unique “Turbo” button. Both tests were run with Wi-Fi on, 50% screen brightness and Windows power management turned off. BatteryEater was used to perform the tests, which gives the minimum battery life.

On the first test performed, the results were 3 hours and 39 minutes. When “turbo” is turned on, the minimum battery run time is increased to 4 hours and 59 minutes. Kevin points out that these are the worst possible scenario results as every day usage will not consume as much processing as the BatteryEater. Under normal usage conditions, he believes that you could get nearly 5 hours out of the MSI Wind without underclocking, but 7 hours with the underclocking turned on.

Overall, he thinks that it is worth holding out for the 6-cell version, because not only is there added runtime, but the 5200 mAh battery is designed well to nicely into the Wind, without adding much bulk.

For those who are getting bored of the look and feel of their netbooks, French company Skinizi is offering a new way to add some spunk to the otherwise boring look of our netbook’s chassis. Skinizi’s punky skins for netbooks look pretty cool with various artsy designs. But aside from serving as decoration, these skins are also super low-profile protective skins made of advanced 3M adhesive. In addition, these skins are also easily removable, so you can easily switch from one design to another.

Skinizi’s has various designs for our Eee PCs 700/701 and 900 models as well as MSI Wind’s U100 netbooks. Pricing for these skins starts at around $35/piece. It doesn’t matter whether you have the 7-inch or 9-inch netbooks.

Via 

After recently changing their netbook’s touchpads to sentelic from Synaptics, giving less functionality, MSI are upgrading the hard drives in one of their netbooks.

MSI will be upgrading the hard drive of their U100 to a 120GB hard drive which will ship as standard. MSI should be starting this immediately, however it could still take a while before the 80GB ones are sold and you start seeing the 120GB version.

MSI’s U90, U100’s little brother with a 8.9 inch screen, will continue to ship with the original 80GB hard drive.

Via: Hexus

While the rest of the Asian countris are already enjoying the MSI Wind U90 a couple of months ago, it is only now that said netbook is making its way into the European markets. Register Hardware is reporting that MSI has officially announced the MSI Wind U90, which is a scaled-down version of the recently released Wind U100 (in Europe). Getting an SRP of around $485 which is a bit lower than its big brother Wind U100 which priced in at around $593. Although many of us may already know this, the Wind U90 will feature an 8.9-inch display and 80GB of HDD.

In a related development, the MSI Wind U100 which was introduced last week in Europe with an 80GB HD has upgraded its capacity into 160GB and which now cost around $585. Similarly, for those who wants the 10-inch display with 80GB of HDD may opt to get the MSI Wind U100 in pink color which packs in 80GB of HD and retails for $575.

Via [Register Hardware]

German Eee PC site Eee PC News managed to score some more official photos of the recently showcased LG X110 netbook. Much as we don’t want to believe that this is not a direct clone of the MSI Wind, looks and feature wise, the LG X100 may after all be a rebranded MSI Wind.

Well, at least we are not alone in saying that the LG X110 maybe a rebranded MSI Wind after. Liliputing and Engadget also noticed the striking resemblance of the LG X110 to the MSI Wind. And these official photos certainly helps in pointing the similarities. We’ll let you judge whether LG X110, is just the same MSI Wind in a different clothing.

Interestingly, the while they share almost the same specs, the MSI Wind has a higher price than the LG X110. How could that be possible?

Anyway, feast your eyes on some more official photos of the LG X110 folksies!

The global battery shortage is rolling on it seems but, it has come to light that online store Mwave is selling the MSI Wind with a 6 cell battery at last. They are in stock at $570 which is more than MSI indicated they would cost when they announced the Wind however, the global battery shortage then kicked in and MSI could only offer the 3 cell version until now.

There doesn’t seem to be any other retailers stocking the 6 cell version of the MSI Wind so if you want to grab one, head to Mwave and you may be lucky. Even MSI’s own website isn’t selling these netbooks yet.

Via: jkOnTheRun

The first third party 4900mAh batteries for the MSI Wind are starting to appear for sale.

Bluetrade are providing batteries that should be fully compatible with both the MSI Wind U90 and U100 models. The batteries should also be suitable for use in MSI Wind ‘clones’. Material.net is selling these batteries around 79 Euros which is $118 US.

There is no news of a release elsewhere in the world yet but, we will keep you informed as news comes in.

Via: Blogeee

Although the MSI Wind has been available in some Asian countries and also in the US for quite some time now, it is only now that it was officially introduced in the European market, in time for the IFA show in Berlin.

Our European friends will get a taste of the MSI Wind U100 in three colors - white, pink and black and retail for around 399 Euros. For that price, European netbook fans will get the same 1.6GHz Intel Atom-powered netbook with a 10-inch WSVGA display screen (1024×600 resolution), an 80GB HD drive, Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, a card reader, 3 USB ports, webcam and Windows XP for OS.

Likewise, MSI has also officially launched the MSI Wind’s little sister, the MSI Wind Desktop PC which is the direct competitor of Asus’ Eee Box. The Wind Desktop PC will have the same 1.66GHz Atom processor but with a bigger capacity 320GB SATA HD drive and a DVD optical disc burner drive. It will also come with six USB ports. This desktop will have Suse Linux 10 for its OS and will retail for around 249 Euros.

Via PC World