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MSI (Micro-Star International), a netbook manufacturer, has announced the release of the much anticipated “Wind U160” netbook.

At first, the model seems to offer the usual netbook features: an Intel Atom N450 processor, 6-cell battery, Bluetooth functionality, and Windows 7.

However, its design shows innovation and creativity. The Wind U160 has evolved from the traditional clamshell figure to a slim .98 inches. The hinge is very much the same as a normal netbook, but has become more cylindrical with the addition of a power button constructed within. The chassis comes in a stylish gold and black model.

The Wind U160 truly shines above other typical netbooks by offering an outrageous 15 hours of battery life (in the company’s specially designed ECO mode). It’s no surprise that this netbook was the winner of the 2010 iF Product Design competition. Models are currently available starting at $380.

Via Maximum PC

MSI has come a long way.  From a little known Taiwanese brand, it has gained a foothold in the netbook market with its famed Wind line.  Now, 4 of its latest notebook models are ready for shipping.  They are dubbed the “Classic Series” and we mentioned them during our CES coverage last month. Here are the final specs on some of their siblings:

Other standard features include 1.3 megapixel webcam, multicard reader, VGA/HDMI out, 3 USB 2.0 Ports, Ethernet, and 802.11b/g/n. Unfortunately, the 32-bit OS is a let down, seeing as the 64-bit transition is now a fact of life for all companies and most of the laptops use 4 GB of RAM.

If you are still interested, go check your favorite tech supplier to purchase.

Via AnandTech

MSI’s “Classic” series has commonly been known as MSI’s budget line of notebooks, lacking a fancy exterior or other premium characteristics.  That isn’t stopping MSI, however, from putting Intel’s brand new line of  Core i Series CPUs in three C-line models: the CX420, CR420, and CR720.

Overall there isn’t much difference between the three laptops. The CX420 and CR420 will come with relatively plain 1366×768 14″ screens, while the CR720 will have a much larger 1600 x 900 17″ screen.  In addition, the CX420 will have the special honor of getting a discrete ATI Radeon HD5470 for graphics with 1 GB dedicated VRAM.  Other than that, expect vanilla features across the board.

Still, despite the lack of aesthetics or exceptional screen resolution, these may still be products worth watching.  Equipped with Core-is, the MSI C-series computers will most likely be more powerful budget laptops than their mainstream American counterparts.  Pricing will be key.

Via Gizmodo, image via MSI.

MSI is planning to hit India’s netbook market hard in the near future, according to company representatives. It will deliver not only Atom netbooks but AMD-powered machines as well.

Their lineup is impressive – four netbooks, starting at Rs19,000, and ten notebooks starting at Rs38,000. MSI is adding hi-def displays to many of the netbooks, replacing the Intel chips with AMD CPUs to bypass Intel’s restrictions on certain displays used in netbooks. Samsung did a similar thing with its NC20 netbook last year.

Frank Hsu of MSI explained what MSI means to accomplish in India:

“We are targeting sales of around 60,000 to 80,000 units in India in 2010.”

MSI’s figures in India last year were between 12k and 15k.

Via DnaiIndia.

MSI has demonstrated a few prototype computers at CES 2010 so far, including two new dual-screen netbooks – a strange category we’ve seen a few times before that hasn’t really been explored in the netbook arena.

The new MSI dual-screen netbooks have touchscreen LCDs, but won’t be used in the manner of the Kohjinsha DZ. Instead, the screens are hinged notebook-style – you can use one as a touchscreen keyboard while operating the other as a laptop display, or you can turn the whole thing on its side and use it like an e-reader

The prototype dual-screen machines come in 10-inch and 7-inch varieties. The netbooks run Intel Menlow CPUs and Windows 7, allowing for 32 GB or 64 GB of solid-state storage.

If they’re ever officially launched, MSI has stated that they will be more expensive than traditional netbooks, though that’s what we expected. MSI also showed off a traditional 10-inch ebook reader at CEs 2010, running Google Android and the Nvidia Tegra.

Via NetworkWorld.

MSI will soon be launching a new line of larger netbooks in the near future, both of which will run AMD processors. The new machiens are the MSI MS-1243 and MSI MS-1241, which recently showed up on the FCC.

These netbooks should be making an appearance by 2010 with 1366×768 pixel screens in 12.1-inch and 11.6-inch varieties. They are rumored to include 3G mobile broadband, Wi-Fi, HDMI, and a TV tuner for an enhanced multimedia experience. Both will run the AMD Athlon Neo CPU.

The MS-1243 and -1241 are also expected to run Windows 7 and a momentous 4 GB of RAM. 250 GB hard drives could be on the way as well, which is great. Both machines will start with 3-cell batteries with the possibility of an upgrade.

Pricing and availability info are unknown for now, but if I had to guess I’d put the MSI MS-1243 and MS-1241 netbooks in the $500-$600 range, due to their huge RAM and other options.

Via TheLink.

Two more versions of the MSI Wind netbook were recently spotted on the FCC’s website. The model numbers for these netbooks are MS-1241 and MS-1243. One model has an 11.6″ screen display while the other has a 12.1″ screen display and both are equipped with AMD processors. The MS-1243 netbook may actually be the MSI Wind U230 that is going through its final checkup before being confirmed for release.

Some other tech specs for the MSI Wind netbooks include b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G WAN, a multicard reader, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, HDMI out, and VGA out. A TV tuner will be optional. The OS is assumed to be Windows 7, as Windows XP is quickly being phased out. The overall weight for these netbooks will fall around 3 pounds.

Via NewNetbookReviews.

Last week, MSI introduced a new netbook prototype showing what it hopes to bring consumers in the near future. It’s called the Wind12 U230, and it rocks up to 4 GB of RAM, an integrated Radeon HD3200 GPU, a SATA hard drive in capacities ranging up to 320 GB as well as Windows 7 Home Premium. Other features include HDMI out, Ethernet, and 3 USBs. This isn’t a netbook to be messed with.

The surface area of the keyboard has expanded while restricting the device to 11.7″ x 7.5″. It’s still light at 1.3 kg. Its 3 cell battery runs for over 4 hours, and while I’d hoped we’d be getting a 6-cell option as well there’s no word on that just yet.

MSI is starting to truly bridge the gap between netbooks and notebooks. This machine will definitely be able to play games you’d otherwise be unable too, though the price tag will likely be high enough to justify what it gets you.

Pricing and availability are unknown for now, but we’ll be on it when the info’s out there.

Via Techspot.

Claiming that it’s this year’s “showpiece” of the netbook world, MSI has recently introduced the Wind12 U230 netbook. Not unjustly named the “showpiece” of the year, this masterpiece of a netbook features a dual-core CPU, an integrated ATI Radeon HD3200 GPU, and the capacity for 4 GB of RAM and a 320 GB hard drive. The Wind12 netbook also has an HDMI output port, Ethernet, and three USB ports, and ships with Windows 7 Home Premium. Might as well call it a laptop, no?

MSI has also expanded the surface of the keyboard to cater to users’ needs of comfort. Overall, the Wind12 netbook weighs roughly 1.3 kg, including a 3-cell battery that holds about four hours of juice. Overall, not bad specs compared to other netbooks, considering its performance capabilities.

Via TechSpot.

WiMax is the newest generation of high-speed wireless communications technology and MSI has spent an extraordinary amount of R&D resources on developing this fourth generation wireless technology for their netbooks and notebooks especially.

MSI has announced that they are the first company in the world to release a netbook that’s able to support WiMax – the MSI Wind U120.

In addition to the U120 netbook, MSI’s X-Slim X340 and X600 laptops featuring CULV platforms are the first Taiwan-based brand to receive the WiMax Forum Certification.

Via LegitReviews.

MSI is releasing its new U210 netbook to Canadian retailers. It’s been available in the States since September 2009.

The MSI Wind U120 netbook has a 12.1-inch, 1366 x 768 pixel HD-capable screen. It runs for four hours -  weak considering that it runs a 6-cell battery. This is likely due to the 1.6 GHz Athlon Neo MV-40 chip replacing the traditional Intel Atom.

The netbook has otherwise standard specs – 1 GB of RAM, a 160 GB HDD, a 1.3 megapixel camera, HDMI out, 3 USBs, VGA, and a card reader. It comes in black, blue, and white.

Via DeviceMag.

MSI has recently announced a laptop that it claims to be the world’s most powerful gaming laptop. Boasting Intel’s quad-core processor, the GT640 will also have a 1 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 graphics chipset as well as the opportunity to add up to 4 GB of DDR3 RAM. The laptop will also offer half a terabyte of storage space, a Blu-ray burner, HDMI, 7.1 channel audio output, eSATA input, and a two megapixel webcam.

Since the laptop will feature Windows 7, it will probably be released around the end of October (October 22nd is the rumored release date). There’s currently no news about pricing on this alumnium alloy-framed laptop, but we’ll let you know the deets when we hear.

Via Engadget.

The MSI Wind U110 ECO netbook may not necessarily be a super netbook, but it no doubt is equipped with a super battery. This 10″ netbook (with screen resolution of 1024×600) that features a 1.60GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor and a 160 GB hard drive boasts a battery that lasts for a whopping 13+ hours!

The U110 netbook is also equipped with two speakers, a high-definition webcam, a built-in microphone, and Bluetooth. It’s currently available for $429.99.

Via ChipChick.

While it’s easy to get excited about a particularly awesome netbook, MSI seems to have gone above and beyond the call of duty in a recent press release for the MSI Wind12 U200 featuring the altogether fantastic subtext ‘Genie of the Wind, Unlimited Magic’. Holy shit.

All ridiculosity aside, the MSI Wind12 U200 is either a netbook or a ‘CULV laptop‘ depending how much you like correcting people. But I’m getting off topic – here are a few gems from the creators of the Wind netbook:

“…The MSI Wind12 U200 is like a dancing fairy, possessing a light and agile body…”

“…[It] presents you with the most comfortable and splendid display, able to show off the vastness of the ocean and the land…”

“…You’ll hardly notice its weight at all while on the road…”

“…A Wide View With Boundless Reach…”

“…Marvelous Software Gives You Unlimited Joy…”

Unlimited joy? That’s a tall order for under $1000!

All joking aside, the press release is an entertaining read if you’re interested in the MSI Wind12 U200 netbook. It describes the features you can expect, albeit in superlative terms, so go have a look.

Why wait for MSI to officially release the MSI Wind U210 that’s been available in Europe when you can pre-order it on Amazon right this instant?

The 12.1″ U210 netbook has an LCD display with 1366×768 resolution, is powered by a 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 CPU and an ATI Radeon X1250 GPU, and has 2 GB of RAM and a 250 GB hard drive – not bad specs at all for a netbook. Like many other netbooks, this device also has b/g/n Wi-Fi, an HDMI port, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam.

The U210 has a six-celled battery, which supposedly allows the netbook up to five hours of runtime. Dimensions of this machine are 7.4″x11.7″x1.2″ and it weighs roughly 3.2 pounds.

It’s available for pre-order from Amazon for $429.99 in both black and white, so if you’re interested, click here to place an order for black or here to place an order for white.

Via MarksTechnologyNews.

Competition is feverish in the netbook arena, with budget buyers and college kids opting for the cheaper PCs more than ever before. ASUS, whose woes we wrote about just days ago, seems to have taken the hit harder than initially imagined.

Once occupying the top spot for netbook sales, ASUS now holds second place. Acer has taken the lead, MSI is in third, HP in 4th and Lenovo in 5th place. Strong growth from MSI made Dell drop down to sixth. Here’s market researcher Eileen He from Gartner’s explanation:

“Acer is ranked number one because of their marketing campaign and their channel strategies… The result is similar across Asia-Pacific. After advertising and product design changes, Acer has bounced to number one.”

In total PC sales, ASUS is being beaten as well, with HP in first and Dell, Acer, Toshiba and Apple filling up the remaining top positions.

Netbooks as a whole, however, showed a 398.4% year on year leap by Q2 2009.

Via ARNNet.

The rumor about the MSI touchscreen Pine Trail netbook that runs on Windows 7 is actually not a rumor at all. Turns out, MSI plans on officially launching such a machine at the next CES.

According to Intel, the Pine Trail platform is not yet perfected, but the company hopes to start shipping to its customers before the end of this year. Hoping to be the first to the market with a Pine Trail netbook, MSI is eagerly awaiting for Intel to put the finishing touches on the Pine Trail platform.

MSI hopes to introduce the Pine Trail platform with their 10″ Wind U150 netbook. The Pine Trail platform is different from other previous Intel Atom processors because it combines the CPU and the GPU into one chip instead of having two separate chipsets. Intel’s new platform is also expected to have 20+% better power consumption.

There’s no other new information just yet on the MSI Wind U150 touchscreen netbook, but when there is, we’ll be sure to let you know.

Via Gizmodo.

Adding the MSI X-Slim X600 to its lineup shows that MSI has decided to follow in the footsteps of a number of manufacturers in adding a netbook killer to its lineup.

At 15.6 inches the X-Slim doesn’t seem to resemble a netbook at all. However, for a mere $800 ou can get this 5.5 lb notebook with a 1.4 GHz Core 2 ULV chip, ATI HD 4330 graphics, and a 1366 x 768 pixel WXGA display. It’s a tempting offer for those who consider netbooks to be too weak and notebooks too expensive.

It doubles standard netbook figures in offering a 320 GB hard drive and 4 GB of RAM standard. Other features include a 6-cell battery, 2 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI out, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, and you’ve got a machine with a lot to offer in a thoroughly oversaturated market.

Via TheInquirer.

The MSI Wind U200 netbook had a launch back in May of this year, but the company has just only recently officially announced this 12.1″ device.

The U200 will be powered by one of two Intel Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processors, either the 723 or the SU3500, and be able to support up to 4 GB of RAM. Here’s a more comprehensive list of some tech specs of this machine:

• Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
• Chipset GS45 + ICH9M-SFF
• VGA GMA 4500 MHD
• Memory Type DDR2 667/800Mhz
• 160/250/320GB SATA HD
• Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g/n
• I/O Card Reader 4-in-1 (support SD, MMC, MS XD)
• Communication LAN 10/100/1000
• (Optional) Bluetooth
• Three USB 2.0 Ports
• HDMI

With a 6-cell battery, the U200 is expected to last for roughly 6.5 hours when running in ECO Turbo mode,. This is a good amount of time, considering the 12.1″ screen size. Three-celled or nine-celled battery options are also available for this machine. With a 3-cell battery, the U200 weighs roughly 1.4kg. The netbook is 31mm at its thickest point.

Pricing is not yet available for the MSI Wind U200 netbook, but it should be soon, since the AMD version of this machine (the Wind U210 model) is already available in Europe.

Via NetbookChoice.