Impressions and Conclusions
After running the MSI Wind U230 through our tests, it is safe to say that it is one of the fastest performing netbooks we have tested here at PC Perspective. (In some tests it was nearly twice as fast as the Asus Eee 1201N). For a netbook, the MSI U230-040 definitely has some teeth to chew through some of your most intensive everyday tasks. Indeed, the Wind U230-040 was able to run Illustrator CS4, Photoshop CS4, and a host of other smaller apps simultaneously without any significant issues during my typical work day.
MSI also puts their money where their mouth is by reinforcing the system with a long lasting 6-cell battery that runs 3 hours full-tilt before depleting. This means you have the ability to do some serious work (or play) while out and about. The AMD Radeon HD 3200 graphics and HDMI output makes it a good choice for professionals looking to connect to external projectors or displays, or for home users looking to watch a show or just getting a larger display to extend the desktop.
MSI also puts their money where their mouth is by reinforcing the system with a long lasting 6-cell battery that runs 3 hours full-tilt before depleting. This means you have the ability to do some serious work (or play) while out and about. The AMD Radeon HD 3200 graphics and HDMI output makes it a good choice for professionals looking to connect to external projectors or displays, or for home users looking to watch a show or just getting a larger display to extend the desktop.
While the technical prowess of the MSI Wind U230 is clear, the design of the product could be better – it doesn’t do the product any justice.
To nit-pick: the plastic styling can look cheap and rather conventional; the screen tilt should not have been an issue; the keys feel floppy; and the and the misplaced Alt key (or extra “” key) can become an annoyance. Add up all these little quirks and you get the feeling that MSI could have done a lot better with the design of this product.
However, none of these issues are deal breakers. The bottom line is that the MSI Wind U230-040 is a strong performer and has great mileage on the battery, just as long as you can tolerate its warts. At a street price of $470, the MSI Wind U230-040 has lots in the value department making it strong alternative to the similarly priced Asus Eee 1201N.
To nit-pick: the plastic styling can look cheap and rather conventional; the screen tilt should not have been an issue; the keys feel floppy; and the and the misplaced Alt key (or extra “” key) can become an annoyance. Add up all these little quirks and you get the feeling that MSI could have done a lot better with the design of this product.
However, none of these issues are deal breakers. The bottom line is that the MSI Wind U230-040 is a strong performer and has great mileage on the battery, just as long as you can tolerate its warts. At a street price of $470, the MSI Wind U230-040 has lots in the value department making it strong alternative to the similarly priced Asus Eee 1201N.
can you upgrade the cpu?
can you upgrade the cpu?