Review - MSI Wind Netbook U120-024US

Pros: Big Hard Drive, Webcam,10" Bright Screen, Low Price

Cons: Wireless g, but no wireless N.

Summary: If you need a little more than just connecting to the internet at the coffee shop, the MSI Wind Netbook U120-024US should do the trick. With plenty of hard drive space and slightly larger screen than your typical netbook, the MSI Wind Netbook will actually let you get some work done.

I've never been a big fan of these netbooks. The early ones actually had less memory and processing power than my blackberry. However, we are now seeing some come out with the new Intel Atom Processor, 10" screens, and most importantly, a real 160gb hard drive! With Windows XP installed, you can now run all your office applications and software that you would on your desktop. Now you can actually get some work done. In fact, for normal office/student use, this can be your sole computer. Just add a USB keyboard/mouse and attach a 20" monitor, and you have yourself a virtual desktop.

The Wireless G is sufficient for 99.9% of wireless users right now, but wireless N is the latest and greatest. Although technically faster than wireless g, it's real advantage is range. However, don't let the fact that this runs on wireless g keep you from buying it. I don't know of any hotspots that are using wireless N right now, and for home/office use, range is probably not a problem.

As for the processor and memory. The MSI Wind Netbook U120-024US uses Intel Atom which is designed primarily to extend battery life by using less power. From various benchmarks, it excels in office applications and multimedia decoding (watching DVD's for example). For gaming and other high graphic intensive applications, it lags significantly behind processors found in larger 6 pound laptops.

The MSI Wind Netbook U120-024US comes with 1gb of ram and can be expanded to 2gb. For normal use on a Windows XP operating system, this should be fine. Generally, you'll only notice your system slowing down when you have several applications open at the same time. If you constantly open several applications at the same time, a 2gb upgrade is cheap and you'll be glad you did it. Otherwise, just open one thing at a time, and close it each time you're done before opening the next app.

I really can't comment on the webcam too much. It works, the picture is decent in bright light, and it will work with all the major messenger services. Nothing to brag about here, but it's there if you need it.

In summary, the MSI Wind Netbook U120-024US does more a blackberry, let's you do excel spreadsheets and word documents, checks your email, and comes with a real hard disk for saving your work. Also, the 10" big enough for you to actually see things. The amazing thing about his netbook is the price. It costs the about the same as other netbooks that don't have a real hard drive.

Quick Specs: MSI Wind Netbook U120-024US Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB DDR2 667MHz, 160GB SATA, 10" WSVGA LCD, 1024x600, LED Backlight, Intel GMA950, 4-in-1 Card Reader, 1.3MP Cam, 10/100, 802.11b/g/, 6-cell Li-Ion, Windows XP Home

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