The MSI Wind U135 takes the basic premise of the hugely successful MSI Wind U100, and brings it up to date with an updated specification in the form of the Intel Atom N450 processor and stylish Chiclet keyboard for a better typing experience with a larger touchpad giving fingers more freedom of movement.
MSI has not only bolstered the interior, but also the exterior. It has an exquisite patterns design on its lid as-well-as on its touchpad to hide finger prints. That pattern is missing on the palm rest area though.
The MSI Wind U135 comes with 10-inch screen with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The big difference here is that the panel has a glossy coating, rather than the matte finish of the MSI Wind U100, which helps make images that little bit brighter and crisper.
The specs itself 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.
The MSI Wind U135 supports 3.5G WiMAX communication technologies (optional) and have received International WiMAX Forum Certification.
The built quality is pretty solid now and the MSI Wind U135 now comes with Windows 7 Starter Edition and while there is still only 1GB of memory, the hard drive has been boosted to a 250GB capacity.
As for battery life, MSI promises up to 7.5 hours with the 6-cell battery.
MSI Wind U135 Key Features
- Long Battery Life Perfect for 1-day Computing
- 802.11b/g/draft n Wireless Lan
- MSI Chiclet Keyboard and Wider Touch Pad
- Built-in 1.3M Webcam
- Built-in High-Performance 2 Channel Stereo Speakers, and Microphone
- Comprehensive Multi-Media Application Interface
- Dazzling Color Choices with Exquisite Patterns
MSI Wind U135 Specification
- Operating System : Windows 7 Starter 32-bit
- 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 : 250GB (5400RPM) 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)
- Keyboard: Chiclet Keyboard and Wider Touch Pad
- 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 : 6-cell, 5200mAh Lithium Ion battery pack
- Dimensions: 10.23″ x 7.08″ x 0.74″-1.24″
- Weight:2.4 pounds
Entry level models with 3 hours of battery has the following variation to the above specification,
- Storage : 160GB hard drive
- Battery : 3-cell battery (3hrs of battery life)
Upgrading MSI Wind U135 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 U135 netbook comes in red, black and blue colors with a film-printed shiny coating.
- Red – MSI Wind U135-210US
- Black – MSI U135-204US and MSI Wind U135-205US
- Blue – MSI Wind U135-411US
Software Included with MSI Wind U135 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 U135 is a good entry-level netbook and it’s reasonably fully featured in terms of specifications, provides good battery life and, best of all, is priced at a reasonable price point. It’s not the roomiest keyboard around, but the Chicklet-style keys are comfortable to the touch and generally silent during typing.
Pros
- Compact and portable
- Good build quality
- Great battery life
Cons
- Keys quite small, so typing mistakes can happen.
- Six-cell battery protrudes from the back
- 1 memory slot instead of two
Where to Buy MSI Wind U135 Netbook
We found Amazon.com to have the best prices on all netbook computers including the MSI Wind U135. 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.
Models with 250GB HD, 6-cell Battery
MSI U135-205US 10-Inch Black Netbook
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MSI U135-415US 10-Inch Silver Netbook
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MSI U135-411US 10-Inch Blue Netbook
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MSI U135-413US 10-Inch Red Netbook
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Models with 160GB HD, 3-cell Battery
MSI U135-204US 10-Inch Black Netbook
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MSI U135-206US 10-Inch Silver Netbook
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MSI U135-208US 10-Inch Blue Netbook
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MSI U135-210US 10-Inch Red 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 U135 Netbook Video Review
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