The MSI Wind series is well established as one of the finest, most progressive netbook ranges in the industry. The original Wind U100 was one of the first netbooks to embrace the 10-inch form factor and the company’s latest model, the Wind U130, is amongst the first to use Intel’s next-generation, battery-friendly Atom N450 CPU.
MSI Wind U130 is the cheaper version of U135 and has similar chassis and hardware. It only comes with 160GB HD and standard keyboard instead of a chicklet.
The rest of the specs are pretty standard for a netbook — consisting of the typical array with three USB ports, VGA-out socket and 4-in-1 memory card reader onboard. You’ll also find 802.11n Wi-Fi has been added to the mix and there is also an Ethernet connection. Onboard graphics is handled by Intel GMA 3150, which is slightly better than the older Intel GMA 950.
MSI Wind U130 supports 3.5G WiMAX communication technologies (optional) and have received International WiMAX Forum Certification.
It comes preloaded with windows XP Home Edition SP3 operating system.
MSI Wind U130 Key Features
- Windows® XP Home
- 802.11b/g/n Wireless Lan
- Ergonomic wider-size keyboard and Touch Pad
- Built-in 1.3M Webcam
- Built-in High-Performance 2 Channel Stereo Speakers, and Microphone
- Powered by the all-new generation of Intel Atom N450 processor, which delivers additional graphics and system performance
- LED Power-saving backlight technology
MSI Wind U130 Specification
- Operating System : Windows XP Home Edition
- Display : 10″ WSVGA LED at 1024×600 pixels
- Processor : Intel Atom N450(1.66GHz, 512KB)
- Chipset : Mobile Intel NM10 Express chipset
- Graphics : Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics
- Memory : 1GB DDR2 667 MHz on 1 slot (easily self upgrade RAM to 2GB)
- Storage : 160GB 2.5-Inch SATA Hard Drive
- Wireless Data Network: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
- Optional mobile broadband connectivity
- Input/Output: Ethernet LAN (RJ-45), VGA, 3 x USB 2.0 Ports
- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
- Memory card reader:4-1 Card Read (XD/SD/MMC/ MS)
- Webcam : 1.3 MP Webcam with integrated microphone
- Optical Drive : No Optical Drive (optional external optical drive can be connected via one of the USB ports)
- Battery : 3 Cell Battery (3 Hours of Battery Life)
- Dimensions: 10.23″ x 7.08″ x 0.74″-1.24″
- Weight:2.4 pounds
Upgrading MSI Wind U130 Netbook Memory from 1GB to 2GB
Take note of the following;
- The netbook comes with only 1 slot and it is populated by a 1GB memory module
- That means you have to remove the 1GB RAM module to insert the new 2GB RAM module
- Make sure you purchase the right memory module – a 200 pin DDR2 SODIMM notebook memory module (667MHz or 800MHz)
- Installing the memory is a snap. You just need a tiny Philips screwdriver to remove one screw from back cover. Once unscrewed slide the door towards the screw and lift up gently. Pop out the old, pop in the new, replace the cover and boot it back up (Follow the steps outlined in easily self upgrade RAM)
Color Options
The MSI Wind U130 netbook comes in two colors with Color Film Print coating.
- Black – MSI U130-416US
- White – MSI U130-417US
Software Included with MSI Wind U130 Netbook
The following are included;
- MSI Recovery Manager- which guides you through creation of backup DVDs
- Microsoft Works suite
- A 60-day trial of Microsoft Office
- A 30-day trial of Norton Internet Security
- Kido’z – kid-friendly Web-browser to limit youngsters’ access to the Web
User Reviews
The MSI Wind U130 is a good entry-level netbook and isn’t very different from its rivals. It is priced at a reasonable price point and it should be a hit with users looking for a basic netbook.
Pros
- Compact and portable
- Good build quality
Cons
- Keys quite small, so typing mistakes can happen.
- 1 memory slot instead of two
Where to Buy MSI Wind U130 Netbook
We found Amazon.com to have the best prices on all netbook computers including the MSI Wind U130. Click on the links below to visit the product website for additional information and special offers. You can also compare prices from the numerous retailers by clicking on the More Prices link.
MSI U130-416US 10-Inch Black Netbook
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MSI U130-417US 10-Inch Netbook White Netbook
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Optional Upgrades
Crucial CT25664AC667 2GB 667MHz 200-pin SODIMM DDR2 Memory Module
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Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Starter to Home Premium]
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Microsoft Office Home & Student 2010 [Disc Version]
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MSI Wind U130 Netbook Video Review
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I bought an MSI U130 about a month ago and find it to be a very nice little machine with Windows 7 Starter making a big difference over a friends U130 which has XP Home. So far I have used it for word processing, spreadsheet and also some basic web development and find that it is quite credible. My only critisism is the ‘mouse’ buttons are too close to the edge of the case for my liking however since I use it with an external mouse, it doesnt cause too many problems.
I highly suggest this netbook pc to everyone one, I’ve been using the MSI Wind U130 for nearly 2 years now. its running a Windows 7 Ultimate. so far I’ve been comparing it to an older PC with better specs.
and I prominently think this netbook is way better than the PC I’ve been comparing!
with its integrated keyboard size, its weight , and screen resolution.
Even thou it is not known to be a gaming netbook but so far.
I’ve gone through many games with it.
I just needed to optimize the graphics and performance of the PC and the games to make it work!
Thanks Marc for sharing your experience. It will be beneficial to MSI Wind U130 owners.