Hot! MSI Wind 3-cell Netbook @ Costco & Newegg for $299

[Kaido]

Costco Link
Newegg Link

Includes 1gb ram, 1.6ghz single-core Atom cpu, 160gb hdd, Windows XP Home, 1.3mp webcam. Wow!!!

Resources:
Hacks & Mods Master List
Custom Laptop Skin (graphic decal)

$17.99 for 2GB RAM & RAM Upgrade Tutorial
$90 320gb 7200rpm HDD & $99.99 500gb 5400rpm HDD

MSI Wind Forums
OS X Sub-Forum

 

[ibex333]

now that.. is hot...

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: ibex333
now that.. is hot...

Usually the 3-cells only come with an 80-gig drive, so you get double the capacity at a much-reduced price. Crazy...

 

[SunnyD]

Not really all that hot.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Not really all that hot.

Thanks, updated the OP!

 

[msi1337]

$49.99 320gb 7200rpm hitachi drive for the win

 

[James Bond]

I didn't know there were so many cool hacks.... Is this considered a netbook? Is there anything else "special" about it? I was getting ready to jump on the Dell Mini 10..

 

[videopho]

Not all that hot considered the 3 cell plus tax for some.
The new N280 Atom is already out so the N270 needs to be cleared out to make room.
About 2 weeks ago, I paid $299 (ZZF) for my Asus 1000HA with 6 cell battery.
I then bought a 2gb dim from the Egg for $14 buck, so went XP and here comes Vista.
I was first skeptical about running Vista but after reading up @ Asus eee forum site, I took a plunge and it paid off nicely.
With Vista, the Office07 and some small apps run pretty fast as long as you're not doing multitasking. FF browser runs like a champ.
Being a road warrior like myself, this 6 cell can easily out last my coast-to-coast flight and still have some juice left to check my email upon arrival.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: James Bond
I didn't know there were so many cool hacks.... Is this considered a netbook? Is there anything else "special" about it? I was getting ready to jump on the Dell Mini 10..

1, has an LED screen
2, has F-keys
3, runs OS X pretty well
4, real laptop hard drive & upgradable RAM (to 2gb)

 

[hkklife]

Couple of other things to keep in mind about this particular Wind version:

1. It doesn't have Bluetooth or "N" wireless like the pricier u100 variants

2. You can stick a 7200rpm 2.5" HD in it and it will partially mitigate some of the Atom CPU's performance shortcomings (the Hitachi above would be a good choice but an older Hitachi 7200rpm drive in my old EEE ran awfully hot)

3. You can Hackintosh it (see above)

4. The new BIOS 1.09 (from December, IIRC), as well as the newer 1.0B from last month add in "official" overclocking up to 2ghz. This makes it the fastest netbook on the market using "official" means. The new BIOS also allocates more memory (224mb or so) to the GMA950 if you have 2gb RAM installed (the max for the chipset), which helps a tad if you are gaming with it

See here:
http://www.electricvagabond.co...d-bios-update-10b.html


If I had to buy any netbook on the market <$300, it'd be this one for sure. If I could dig a bit deeper, the Asus 1000HE has the newer/faster N280 CPU, sturdier screen hinges, a better keyboard & sound system, N wireless and Bluetooth. I'd take an EEE or a Wind (or Samsung NC10 or Lenovo S10) ALL day long over any of the Dell netbooks.

 

[Agentbolt]

Originally posted by: hkklife
Couple of other things to keep in mind about this particular Wind version:

1. It doesn't have Bluetooth or "N" wireless like the pricier u100 variants

2. You can stick a 7200rpm 2.5" HD in it and it will partially mitigate some of the Atom CPU's performance shortcomings (the Hitachi above would be a good choice but an older Hitachi 7200rpm drive in my old EEE ran awfully hot)

3. You can Hackintosh it (see above)

4. The new BIOS 1.09 (from December, IIRC), as well as the newer 1.0B from last month add in "official" overclocking up to 2ghz. This makes it the fastest netbook on the market using "official" means. The new BIOS also allocates more memory (224mb or so) to the GMA950 if you have 2gb RAM installed (the max for the chipset), which helps a tad if you are gaming with it

See here:
http://www.electricvagabond.co...d-bios-update-10b.html


If I had to buy any netbook on the market <$300, it'd be this one for sure. If I could dig a bit deeper, the Asus 1000HE has the newer/faster N280 CPU, sturdier screen hinges, a better keyboard & sound system, N wireless and Bluetooth. I'd take an EEE or a Wind (or Samsung NC10 or Lenovo S10) ALL day long over any of the Dell netbooks.

The Auto-overclock function makes this a really compelling netbook, in my opinion. It overclocks up to 24% and I have noticed HUGE difference in how it handles things. Windows is snappier, Hulu can play 480p content without slowdown. Throw in the EASY and 99.999% complete Hackintosh capability and this is still hands-down the best netbook for people who enjoy tinkering.

The sole thing I dislike about it is the 3 cell battery. It's good for 2 hours max. There doesn't appear to be a decent quality 6 cell or 9 cell battery out there for it, I got one off E-Bay that immediately suffered from Sudden Shutdown Syndrome.

 

[ChilliConCarnage]

I have the Wind U100 "Love" edition with the 6-cell battery, and haven't had the shutdown problem. Actually, I have 3 netbooks (a eee 900, eee 100HA and the Wind.

I posted this in another thread, but I can say that at this moment in time, the 1000HE is the only one I'd consider if I wanted to add a 4th netbook to my arsenal. It's at ZZF (price fluctuates from $350-380) and comes with the 802.11n and bluetooth. I think the Asus netbooks get lots of the little details right, like having a better cord, better sound, and better hinges. I just wish the 1000HE came in more colors that blue or black (in the U.S. anyway).

The weird thing is how much I love my netbook (I use the Wind, my wife has the 100HA, and the 900 is a spare). I've owned hundreds of computers since my shiny new TRS-80 I bought abut a billion years ago, but I haven't loved a PC this much in a long time. It's so fun to have this much computing power, that runs so long on battery power, that's so light that I can throw it into a messenger bag and not know its there.

 

[videopho]

Originally posted by: ChilliConCarnage
I have the Wind U100 "Love" edition with the 6-cell battery, and haven't had the shutdown problem. Actually, I have 3 netbooks (a eee 900, eee 100HA and the Wind.

I posted this in another thread, but I can say that at this moment in time, the 1000HE is the only one I'd consider if I wanted to add a 4th netbook to my arsenal. It's at ZZF (price fluctuates from $350-380) and comes with the 802.11n and bluetooth. I think the Asus netbooks get lots of the little details right, like having a better cord, better sound, and better hinges. I just wish the 1000HE came in more colors that blue or black (in the U.S. anyway).

The weird thing is how much I love my netbook (I use the Wind, my wife has the 100HA, and the 900 is a spare). I've owned hundreds of computers since my shiny new TRS-80 I bought abut a billion years ago, but I haven't loved a PC this much in a long time. It's so fun to have this much computing power, that runs so long on battery power, that's so light that I can throw it into a messenger bag and not know its there.

I wholeheartedly agree with you on the Asus 1000HE. I bought the 1000HA simply because its price was ridiculously low at $299.99 at ZZF at the time.
Otherwise I'd have waited for the 1000HE myself.
Oh swell I may buy the 1000HE and give my son the 1000HA later.
Build quality: Asus is one of the best or may be Samsung NC10 is the sole competitor.

 

[kgb2000]

If you buy from newegg, you can use www.cashbacktool.com to find the best cashback rate.

 

[MiataPaul]

Originally posted by: ChilliConCarnage
I have the Wind U100 "Love" edition with the 6-cell battery, and haven't had the shutdown problem. Actually, I have 3 netbooks (a eee 900, eee 100HA and the Wind.

I posted this in another thread, but I can say that at this moment in time, the 1000HE is the only one I'd consider if I wanted to add a 4th netbook to my arsenal. It's at ZZF (price fluctuates from $350-380) and comes with the 802.11n and bluetooth. I think the Asus netbooks get lots of the little details right, like having a better cord, better sound, and better hinges. I just wish the 1000HE came in more colors that blue or black (in the U.S. anyway).

The weird thing is how much I love my netbook (I use the Wind, my wife has the 100HA, and the 900 is a spare). I've owned hundreds of computers since my shiny new TRS-80 I bought abut a billion years ago, but I haven't loved a PC this much in a long time. It's so fun to have this much computing power, that runs so long on battery power, that's so light that I can throw it into a messenger bag and not know its there.

but will the 1000HE run OSX as easily? That is one thing I find intriguing, I know it could be made to work on most anything with enough hacking, but sounds easy here.

 

[blckgrffn]

why all the hate for the Dell netbooks?

 

[abaez]

I don't think it's hate. It's just that other manufacturers offer a more compelling product that has various advantages over a dell.

 

[ibex333]

omg.. why was this bumped?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: blckgrffn
why all the hate for the Dell netbooks?

It's a nice netbook, the Wind is just better for the price - real laptop hard drive, LED backlighting, Bluetooth option, etc.

 

[dbk]

3 cell is a turn off

 

[brblx]

it's 300 bucks, though. you can pick up a 9 cel for less than 100 extra.

 

[ericlp]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: blckgrffn
why all the hate for the Dell netbooks?

It's a nice netbook, the Wind is just better for the price - real laptop hard drive, LED backlighting, Bluetooth option, etc.

Dude, this might of been ok 3-4 months ago when you originally posted it BUT..

you can get a top of the line Asus eeePC 1000HE, $349.99, shipped @ ZZF it basically is a lot better then a MSI wind.

better keyboard - 160Gig Drive and 6 Cell Batt. 9 hours. To name a few.

 

[Cougit]

I ordered the MSI Wind U123-003US from Newegg for about $348. This model comes with a 9
cell battery.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16834152115

 

[ibex333]

Isn't it against the forum rules to bump such old threads?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: ericlp

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: blckgrffn
why all the hate for the Dell netbooks?

It's a nice netbook, the Wind is just better for the price - real laptop hard drive, LED backlighting, Bluetooth option, etc.

Dude, this might of been ok 3-4 months ago when you originally posted it BUT..

you can get a top of the line Asus eeePC 1000HE, $349.99, shipped @ ZZF it basically is a lot better then a MSI wind.

better keyboard - 160Gig Drive and 6 Cell Batt. 9 hours. To name a few.

?

blckgrffn asked about Dell, not the Asus?