MSI Wind U123 Netbook Review

Posted on May 5th, 2009 by Denise

The MSI Wind U123 is pretty much like the Wind U100 netbook, only with the added feature of sporting a faster 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 CPU. You can also add on a larger capacity 9-cell battery. That will definitely grab the attention of anyone wanting to get their hands on an MSI Wind, or a netbook for that matter. Sure, it’s a bit heavier than your average netbook, but what’s a few pounds compared to 8 hours of continuous, uninterrupted use?

msi-wind-u123-bluemsi-wind-u123-red

As for features,

  1. The MSI U123 has a similar chassis as the U120 which is a slight improvement from the older U100. Not as sleek as the HP Mini 2140’s aluminum chassis, but still better than the U100’s. It has cleaner, stronger lines than the U100 with it’s rounded edges.
  2. The U123 has a standard 10″ screen and has dimensions of 10.2 x 7.1 x 1.3, unless you get the one with the 9-cell battery.
  3. The MSI Wind U123 with the 9 cell battery gets propped up about an inch higher, and weighs 3.2 lbs.
  4. No worries about surfing or catching a flick. It has a 10.2-inch, LED-backlit screen that supports 1024 x 600-pixel displays. The speakers are at the bottom front.
  5. As for the keyboard, it has the same big-sized keyboards that they previous models of the MSI Wind have, meaning that it’s comfortable and easy to use, even for touch typists who are used to normal sized ones.
  6. With the 9-cell battery, the keyboard is propped up at a nice angle which makes typing even better.
  7. The U123 also has a webcam with a Facial Recognition Software, the EasyFace Manager, that allows you to log in with your face rather than a password. A pretty nifty software if you ask me, but I’d personally stick with a password.

I’ve checked Amazon for you and what they have available for pre-order are the MSI U123 in blue and the MSI Wind U123 in red. Both variants retail at $349, come with the standard netbook specs (which includes a 6-cell battery rather than the 9-cell) and are priced at $349.99. The ones with the 6-cell battery run a reasonable five to six hours, unplugged.

Technical Specifications:

* Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz Processor
* 1GB DDR2 533 Mhz SO-DIMM (1 Slot) upgradable to 2 GB MAX
* 160GB 2.5″ SATA Hard Drive
* Windows XP Home, 6 Cell Battery
* 10.2-Inch 1024×600 LCD Panel
* Webcam 1.3M, Exclusive MSI EasyFace (Face Identification software) Inside

For $349.99, the MSI U123 is a solid netbook which is competitively priced. All in all, it’s a pretty good deal for your money.

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7 Responses to “MSI Wind U123 Netbook Review”

  1. Jen, on May 6th, 2009 at 12:39 pm Said:

    So where can we find the MSI Wind U123 with the NINE cell battery option? I’ve looked….not seeing it anywhere….help us out here!

    Thanks!

    Jen

  2. admin, on May 6th, 2009 at 1:38 pm Said:

    Jen, checked both Amazon and Newegg and it seems that at the moment they aren’t selling the 9 cell option. Only 6 cell.

  3. Upcoming Netbook Related Launches, Netbook Release Dates | Acer Review, Asus Review - Netbook 10, on July 5th, 2009 at 1:22 pm Said:

    [...] MSI Wind U123 – Comes with Atom N280 and an optional 9 cell battery but is pretty heavy $350, read our review [...]

  4. Netbooks by Color Series: Blue MSI Wind and Dell Netbooks | Acer Review, Asus Review - Netbook 10, on September 21st, 2009 at 5:30 pm Said:

    [...] Read our review here. [...]

  5. MSI Wind U123 with Windows 7 Starter Now Available, $380 | Acer Review, Asus Review - Netbook 10, on December 11th, 2009 at 9:03 pm Said:

    [...] We have a brief review of the MSI Wind U123 last May if you’re interested. Head on over here. [...]

  6. Windows 7 Netbook Review List | Acer Review, Asus Review - Netbook 10, on December 12th, 2009 at 4:15 am Said:

    [...] MSI Wind U123 (red and blue) – your basic low spec, good quality netbook with terrific battery life, 1.6GHz N270, 160GB HDD, $380, read our review [...]

  7. MSI Wind U123 Review: Low Cost, Average, Short Battery Life | Acer Review, Asus Review - Netbook 10, on December 26th, 2009 at 6:59 am Said:

    [...] MSI U110 Eco with a 9-cell battery can run for 15 hours, more or less. The MSI Wind U123 with a 9-cell batt can run for as long as 8 [...]

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