MSI launches Wind mini desktop, mini laptop

Micro-Star International on Tuesday officially launched two products at the Computex electronics show: its low-power Wind mini-desktop PC and the Wind mini-laptop, which runs on an Intel Atom microprocessor.

The Wind mini-desktop takes a page out of rival Asustek Computer's book. Asustek last week revealed the Eee Box, a mini-desktop PC that has an Atom microprocessor, will come with either a Linux or Windows XP OS, and will begin selling in July for around $300. The machine takes its name from the popular mini-laptop, Eee PC, by Asustek.

MSI's Wind desktop takes the same name as its Wind mini-laptop. The desktop is three times smaller than a traditional PC chassis, measuring just 300 by 260 by 65 millimeters. MSI bills the desktop as an energy saver, running at full speed at only 35 watts, compared to 250 watts for a traditional PC.

The Wind desktop carries no fan for cooling, a sign it uses a low-power microprocessor -- but MSI did not release much in the way of specs on the device. Aside from the size and energy savings, MSI says the Wind desktop has Wi-Fi 802.11b/g wireless Internet connectivity built in and a 160GB hard disk drive (HDD).

The Wind mini-desktop won't be sold in the United States, an MSI representative said. But people in the United States interested in the Wind mini-laptop will be able to buy the device online starting June 16 at www.msimobile.com. The laptop with Microsoft Windows XP will sell for around $499, while the Linux OS version will be available later in the summer for $399.

The Wind mini-laptop is different in that MSI has revealed most of the specs on the device already.

The first MSI Wind laptop has been named the U100, and it comes with a 10-inch LCD screen and an LED (light emitting diode) backlight, which saves power and provides a better picture.

The Atom microprocessor on board also helps save power. MSI says Wind can run for six hours on the six-cell battery, which is optional on the device. It comes with a three-cell battery standard.

Like most of its rivals, Wind will be sold in two versions: one with Microsoft Windows XP and a less expensive model carrying a Linux OS. Wind can hold 80GB of data on its HDD and up to 2GB of DRAM, and it connects wirelessly to the Internet via Wi-Fi 802.11b/g.

Wind, like the Eee PC, belongs to a new style of computing product called mini-laptops, which have 7- to 10-inch screens, weigh less than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds), and connect wirelessly to the Internet. Several companies have launched mini-laptops recently.

Pricing and availability for regions outside the United States were not immediately available.