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MSI Wind U230 Netbook Review – 6/7

There was a time when netbooks used to be dour little machines, just about getting by with their inferior performance. But that’s all changing. And the MSI Wind U230 is a prime example. Fitted with an AMD Athlon Neo processor (single core and dual core models available) and the ATI Radeon 3200 graphics chipset, this netbook mops others up with regard to speed and tasking. You’d expect to pay quite a bit more for it, but the U230 starts at an extremely reasonable $439.99. It has a large keyboard and trackpad combination, which mean that you won’t be cribbing about useability issues. And it can play a few games as well, though a bit shy of optimum settings.

MSI Wind U230 Netbook Review – Top Features

• Large keyboard and touchpad – One of the major problems people have with netbooks is the size of the input devices. The U230 has springy, flat keys that look bigger than a normal keyboards’. The trackpad is also much larger in comparision to other netbooks.
• Plays HD smoothly – The combination of processor and graphics with the hi-res screen mean that  watching HD video is no problem. There is also an HDMI out to throw video onto a large screen.

MSI Wind U230 Netbook Review – Drawbacks and things to keep in mind

• Battery life disappoints – The life claimed is 4 hours, but the U230 falls a bit short and this is our biggest gripe. This may be the worst performing netbook when it comes to battery life.
• Webcam off centre – The webcam doesn’t capture our face so much as our neck when we use it.

MSI Wind U230 Netbook Review – Ratings

1. Price and Value for money – 1.0 Star. With the specs of the U230, you’d expect a higher price tag. So at $440 we think its good value.
2. Speed and Performance – 1.0 Star. The superior processor and inbuilt 2 gigs of RAM mean this netbook is able to multi-task way better than its peers.
3. Screen – 0.75 Star. Although large with good colors and viewing angles, the screen is a bit glossy and reflective.
4. Keyboard, Touchpad, Useability – 1.0 Star. Well-sized, easy to use and responsive.
5. Portability and Battery Life – 0.5 Star. Really gets docked here. For a 12 inch netbook, 3.2lbs is quite superb taking into account a 6-cell battery. But the 6-cell battery performs like a 3-cell with only three and a half hours of runtime.
6. Looks and Design – 0.75 Star. The build quality is good, and the battery sticks out a bit underneath giving it a nice angle while typing.
7. Connectivity and Extensibility – 1.0 Star. Has a wide range of ports and connections with optional bluetooth.

This gives the MSI Wind U230 an overall rating of 6 out of 7 Stars.

MSI Wind U230 Netbook Review – Our Recommendation

The Wind U230 follows a trend that we’re noticing in the netbook market. Where earlier, there were restrictions on specs, now there aren’t. Consequently, manufacturers are all about getting the most into the smallest package at the best price. MSI have done a great job, except for the battery life. The performance is good, ease of use is good, and it looks decent. But if a three and a half hour battery is a concern for you, there’s other comparable netbooks out there with longer runtimes. If it isn’t, then the MSI U230 is one sweet netbook. Available at amazon at $439.99 for the single core processor and $479.99 for the dual core.

MSI Wind U230 Netbook Review – What have buyers on amazon said?

Pros:

1. “Full sized keyboard makes typing easy with little frustration.”
2. “Overall I highly recommend this laptop.”
3. “I am very impressed with the quality of this little laptop! It’s nicer than the $1500 Dell I use at the office.”

Cons:

1. “In reference to battery life, it’s advertised as 4 hours but I’ve found around 3 hours is more realistic. However, you can undervolt the CPU by about 20%, without losing any performance.”

MSI Wind U230 Netbook Review – Technical Specifications

• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
• CPU: 1.6GHz AMD Athlon – Neo MV-40 / X2 L335
• Display & Graphics: 12.1 inch 1366 x 768 HD Ready Display, ATI Radeon HD3200
• RAM: 2GB DDR2 (Max 4GB)
• Storage: 250GB / 320GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
• Connectivity: 4-in-one card reader, 802.11b/g/n, LAN, VGA, HDMI, 3 x USB 2.0 Ports
• Battery: 6-cell Li-ion Battery (4 hour life)
• Weight: 3.2lbs
• Colors:  Black
• Price: $439.99 / $479.99

Filed under: MSI Netbook Review