WiMAX may be in its infancy as far as mobile broadband internet services go, with just 2-million users around the globe, but that isn’t stopping MSI from rolling out netbooks with built-in WiMAX modules. The first model to sport WiMAX capabilities will be a version of the 10 inch MSI Wind U120.

The U120 with WiMAX will hit India starting in January. India is expected to have 19 million WiMAX subscribers by 2012. You know, assuming the technology actually takes off.

MSI is also expected to offer WiMAX capable versions of its X-Slim X340 and X600 laptops. No word on whether any of these versions will be available outside of India anytime soon.

Back in December I started to notice that the price on the original MSI Wind U100 with a 3 cell battery had fallen to around $300, but it wasn’t clear whether this was a permanent price drop or just a holiday sale price. With several new models hitting the streets in 2009, it looks like the $300 MSI Wind U100 is here to stay.

Amazon is currently offering the netbook for $299.95, with free shipping.

The Wind U100 has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, a 10.2 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and runs Windows XP Home Edition.

Or for just $30 more, you can pick up a newer MSI Wind U120 with the same basic specs, but a 6 cell battery that should provide around twice the run time.

You can read more about these netbooks in the Liliputing Product Database:

• MSI Wind U100
• MSI Wind U120

ZipZoomfly

Online retailer ZipZoomfly is offering a $90 instant rebate on the MSI Wind U120 netbook. That means you can pick up this laptop for just $310.

The Wind U120 has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, a 10 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, 1GB of RAM, a 1.3MP camera, 802.11b/g WiFi and a 160Gb hard drive. It runs Windows XP, and this version ships with a 6 cell battery. I’d ignore the weight and dimensions listed on the ZipZoomfly web site, because I’m pretty sure they describe the shipping package, not the computer. The actual weight is about 2.25 pounds and the computer measures 10.2″ x 7.1″ x 1.3″. You can read more about the MSI Wind U120 in the Liliputing Product Database.

The ZipZoomfly instant rebate will probably expire soon. But that doesn’t mean you have to pay $400 to get this netbook. Amazon has it in stock for about $330.

via LogicBuy

Sure, Dell offers its netbooks in “cherry red,” “pretty pink” and with a variety of designer stickers, sometimes you want a netbook to look business-like. So MSI is adding a classy looking gray model to its MSI Wind U120 lineup. Which basically means you can get the netbook in gray or white. There’s no black, pink, or purple option available yet.

The mini-laptop has a 10.1 inch display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 160GB hard drive. Prices start at $439.99, although it looks like you should be able to get 802.11n and a few other features if you’re willing to pay a little more.

via Netbook News.it

The folks at Laptop Magazine and Wired’s Gadget Lab have each had a chance to spend some alone time witht he new MSI Wind U120 netbook. The netbook features just a few modest changes from the original MSI WInd U100 laptop. It has a new chassis, two mouse buttons below the touchpad instead of one, and a new facial recognition feature that lets you login to your computer just by looking at it.

While Gadget Lab says the new touchpad is larger and easier to use, Laptop Magazine, which has a much more comprehensive review says it’s still the same size and disappointingly small. Even more interesting, Laptop Magazine says the U120 gets about 30 minutes less battery life than the U100. The new netbook tops out at about 4 and a half hours of use while the older laptop lasted for about 5 hours of web browsing.

On the bright side, MSI expects to sell the Wind U120 for just $379, which is about $70 less than a U100 with a 6 cell battery.

The MSI Wind U120 is a lot like the original  MSI Wind U100. It ships with Windows XP, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, and 1GB of RAM. But while the Wind U100 accepts up to 2GB of RAM, it turns out there’s no easy way to upgrade the RAM in the newer model.

I’ve seen several different sets of photos of the MSI Wind U120 netbook with its top off. But somehow I didn’t notice the lack of a memory slot until jkOnTheRun’s Kevin Tofel pointed it out the other day. Apparently MSI decided to do away with the memory slot in order to make room for the integrated 3G card and the optional SSD. That means that you get 1GB of non-removable memory with the MSI Wind U120 and no way to upgrade it, even though the computer could theoretically support up to 2GB of RAM just like its predecessor.

This probably isn’t a big deal for some users. I’ve never bothered upgrading the RAM on my Eee PC 1000H, and it runs Windows XP, Windows 7, and a wide variety of Linux distributions just fine with 1GB of RAM. If you’re a hard core multitasker or gamer, you might want more memory. But you’ll also probably want a faster computer.

Several online retailers are taking preorders for the MSI Wind U120 netbook. The U120 is MSI’s sequal to the MSI Wind U100, and to be honest, there aren’t a ton of differences between the two products. The new computer adds support for 802.11draft-n wireless and a 6 cell battery appears to be standard on all models so far, while the MSI Wind U100 shipped with either a 3 or 6 cell battery.

The U120 also has two distinct mouse buttons for left and right clicks below the touchpad, while the older netbook had a single button with a rocker dial. And as jkOnTheRun points out, there’s some new software on the U120 including a facial recognition program that lets you login to your computer by flashing your mug at the webcam.

Amazon is showing three models right now, the MSI Wind U120-001US, the MSI Wind U120-024US, and the MSI Wind U120-020US, with prices ranging from $379.99 to $469.99. The last one is the most expensive, and actually ships from J&R, which also does a better job of explaining the differences between these computers. According to J&R, the U120-020US has Bluetooth, 802.11n, and a 160GB hard drive while the other models have 120GB of storage and no Blutooth or 802.11n. But the Amazon product listings make it look like all three models have the same specs. So place any pre-orders with care.

The MSI Wind U120 netbook may not be available for purchase yet, but Rob at MSI Wind en Espanol has been playing with one sicne last month, and this weekend he took the netbook apart and post some photos of the mainboard and all the other components. If you’re a hardware hacker looking for a spot for a GPS module, take a look.

If you want to know how the Wind U120’s innards look compared to the original MSI Wind U100, there are plenty of topless images of the original MSI netbook online.

via Eee PC.net

How many times have you found yourself wishing that your netbook touchpad would glow when you scroll your finger over it? Well, MSI has finally heard your plea. The company is showing an MSI Wind U120 netbook at CES with a feature that does exactly that. 

And umm, yeah, that’s about it. Otherwise it looks exactly like any other MSI Wind U120, which is to say it has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, a 10.2 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, and a roomy hard drive. 

But if you’re looking for some of that hot glowing touchpad action, check out the video after the break.

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MSI plans to show off its updated line of netbooks and low power laptop and desktop computers at CES this week. To be honest, I’m not expecting many surprises. We’ve already heard about the company’s U110, U115, and U120 netbooks as well as several low power nettop and all-in-one desktop computers. But MSI is at least making a few rumors all official-like.

For instance, back in November we heard that the MSI Wind U120 netbook might support WiMAX broadband wireless. Now it looks like MSI is confirming that the netbook will be “WiMAX Ready.” If I were the sort to go out on a limb, I would guess that this means that not every U120 will come with the WiMAX chip enabled, but you may be able to order a U120 with this feature for a few bucks extra. The netbook will also come with an optional 3.5G network card.

MSI will also be showing off its Wind NetON line of all-in-one desktops featuring dual core Intel Atom processors.

via Electronic Pulp