MSI X-Slim X430 launched

MSI has uncovered a new ultra-slim notebook AMD-based notebook, the MSI X430 which is the newest member of X-Slim series. X430 offers a bit more horsepower than X410. The X430 comes with Athlon Neo X2 dual-core processor and more power efficient RS780MN+SB710 chipset which includes Radeon HD3200 integrated graphics.

It has a glossy 14-inch with 1366×768 resolution, 2GB DDR2 RAM, up to 500GB HDD, optional Bluetooth, (optional external) optical drive and draft-n wireless. Measuring 349x234x24.5mm. You can get one with either 4-cell or 8-cell battery. No information on its availability and price

MSI Wind U230/Wind 12 appears on MSI Website

A new MSI Wind model, the Wind12, also known as, the Wind U230 has been spotted which is equipped with new AMD Athlon Neo X2 dual-core processor aka AMD Yukon MV40 along with ATI Radeon HD 3200 integrated graphics. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium as OS.

• 12.1-inch display
• 1366 x 768 resolution
• AMD RS780MN + SB710
• upto 320GB hard disk
• 4GB RAM
• VGA and HDMI ports
• Ethernet
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• Wi-Fi b/g

It comes with 3-cell battery with 6-cell battery as option.

[MSI WIND U230 official webpage]

Atom N470-equipped Netbook can have 2GB RAM – Atom N450 left in dark

Finally, it will be possible to use more than 1GB memory in netbooks. Intel’s upcoming Pine View processor, N470 is faster than the current Atom N280/N270 and runs at 1.83GHz clock speed. It is set to make its debut in March. Based on Pine Trail-M two chip platform has N470 CPU coupled with integrated graphics and NM10 southbridge that has the rest of the chipset.

But this is not the case with N450, an Atom processor scheduled to be launched on January 3rd next year. It will come with Condor Peak Wlan and with 1 to 2GB of DDR2 memory.

Intel suggests to use 20GB to 32GB SSD or 160GB hard disk. The choice of OS is Moblin Linux, but it is not mandatory to use it. The OEMs and manufactures are free to opt other operating systems.

Interestingly, you have to use battery with 4-cells or less and allowed screen sizes are upto 10.2-inches.

Commentary: This is not a good news for the netbook market. Here is few reasons:

1. 4-cell battery: Currently, plethora of netbooks are using batteries with 6-cells or some even use 9-cells. Excellent battery life has been one of the core reasons netbooks are so popular. If Intel throws-in such a limit to the mix, it can be hazardous for the netbook market.
2. 160GB HDD: It has been just few weeks that manufactures have started to churn-out netbooks that have 250GB or 320GB hard disks.
3. 32GB SSD: Imagine the huge Windows 7 installation on that small SSD. Add in the space for pagefile and hibernation and you will be left even less space!
4. 10.2-inch screen limit: Not allowing the netbook vendors to use the Atom N470 processor in netbooks using more than 10.2-inch display will hurt Intel only as it will allow the vendors and manufactures to instead use the AMD Neo CPUs. Foolish move, Intel

Acer Ferrari One quick review

Apart from sporting stunning and sleek looks, Acer Ferrari One netbook is based on AMD’s Congo platform. Some people may regard it as ultrathin notebook, but we prefer to call it a netbook with lots of muscle-power.

Its AMD Athlon X2 L310 processor works at 1.2GHz clock speed and features 1MB of L2 cache. It has Radeon HD 3200 integrated graphics which comes with up to 2048MB of HyperMemory or to be precise it has 256+128MB of dedicated memory and up to 1663MB of shared system memory. The netbook/notebook is equipped with 2GB of DDR2 667/800 RAM ( upgradable upto 4GB as it has two SO-DIMM slots). This is unlike most of the netbooks that can have only upto 2GB RAM and sport only one SO-DIMM slot.

Click on read more to read more

MSI U200 launched, another 12-inch netbook

After 10-inch netbooks, 12-inch netbooks are on rage right now. MSI U200 is decent looking netbook, which comes with an impressive resolution: 1366 x 768. You do not see that resolution on a netbook often. Rest of its specs are pretty much netbook-ish:GMA 4500M integrated graphics, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, 2GB of DDR2 memory, and 250GB HDD. It weighs 1.4kg and comes with a 3-cell battery. There is no information on the price as of now

I love the fact that it comes with such a decent resolution, perfect for doing stuff which requires high resolution such as running Visual Studio. Also, 2GB RAM should make processing even more smooth.