MSI Wind U130 10in Mini Laptop Argos €249.99 (Atom N450 processor)

elmicko

MSI Wind U130 10in Mini Laptop Argos €249.99
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* Intel Atom N450 processor.
* 1.66GHz processor speed.
* Windows 7 Starter operating system installed
* Bluetooth.
* 1GB DDR2 RAM.
* 10in screen size.
* Resolution 1024 x 600 pixels.
* 160GB SATA hard drive.
* Intel NM10 graphics.
* Multi card reader.
* 3 USB ports.
* 1.3MP webcam.
* 802.11 b/g/n wireless enabled.
* Up to 4 hours battery life.
* Weight 1.2kg.

Rsaeire

I don't see this as a bargain, due to the poor OS and lacklustre battery life. I'm aware that the new Intel Atom is present, but it's not as if they're anything to shout about in the first place.

elmicko

Rsaeire wrote: »

I don't see this as a bargain, due to the poor OS and lacklustre battery life. I'm aware that the new Intel Atom is present, but it's not as if they're anything to shout about in the first place.

You're probably right that it's not an out and out bargain, it's more a 'good price' alert. I have to disagree on the OS though, the netbook that I got for my GF has Windows 7 starter and it is very good.

slave1

Argos in PC bargain shocker

Rsaeire

elmicko wrote: »

You're probably right that it's not an out and out bargain, it's more a 'good price' alert. I have to disagree on the OS though, the netbook that I got for my GF has Windows 7 starter and it is very good.

While you think that Windows 7 Starter is very good, it has a lot of limitations in comparison to the other available editions; see below for a few notable examples:

• Multiple monitors = No
• Desktop Wallpaper Changeable = No
• Windows Aero = No
• Multi-Touch = No
• Windows Media Center = No
• 64-bit version = No
• Home Group (create and join) = Join only

melekalikimaka

Rsaeire wrote: »

While you think that Windows 7 Starter is very good, it has a lot of limitations in comparison to the other available editions; see below for a few notable examples:

• Multiple monitors = No
• Desktop Wallpaper Changeable = No
• Windows Aero = No
• Multi-Touch = No
• Windows Media Center = No
• 64-bit version = No
• Home Group (create and join) = Join only

its a netbook... it wont support over 4 gb anyway, multiple monitors???netbook?, aero, would slow it down too much

Basq

Is it true what I read about Starter Edition that you can only run 3 applications at one time?! :eek:

Rsaeire

melekalikimaka wrote: »

its a netbook... it wont support over 4 gb anyway, multiple monitors???netbook?, aero, would slow it down too much

Multiple monitors is a valid option that would be of use to netbook users; there are lots of users who connect their netbooks to their TV/monitor to extend their desktop or to watch video, or other media related content, on a bigger screen.

basquille wrote: »

Is it true what I read about Starter Edition that you can only run 3 applications at one time?! :eek:

That was initially true, and is still true for past Windows versions, but thankfully the restriction was lifted with Windows 7 and more than 3 applications can be run at the same time.

EasyBoy1974

basquille wrote: »

Is it true what I read about Starter Edition that you can only run 3 applications at one time?! :eek:

They dropped that particular "feature"

Also to previous posters - Aero is not a performance hindrance - Windows GDI most definitely IS .. with supporting hardware Aero performs much better than GDI ever could due to architectural inefficiencies and other issues

fl4pj4ck

^^yes they did.

I think for a brick and mortar shop it's a excellent value, although there's been some pretty good deals in PCWorld lately too

Richard Dower

Bugger!...i paid €279 not a month ago!!....machine is excellent, well worth it. W7 Starter...it does everything nesscary, sve for Aero etc.

On a Netbook you don't need it, you can void warranty and pop in a 1GB module + upgrade wireless or HDD.

Richard Dower

melekalikimaka wrote: »

its a netbook... it wont support over 4 gb anyway, multiple monitors???netbook?, aero, would slow it down too much

Media Center on a Netbook would be useless....the Atom is just not powerful enough. The U130 supports 2GB, one pre-installed on the PCB and one 1GB DIMM socket.

AlmightyCushion

melekalikimaka wrote: »

its a netbook... it wont support over 4 gb anyway, multiple monitors???netbook?, aero, would slow it down too much

I had the windows 7 RC on my netbook and aero was perfectly fine on it.

muggyog

Price-wise this appears to be a bargain. Complaining about the OS is akin to objecting to the apps style OS on the iPad ( pointless ). You probably wont be video editing on this machine.

The_Conductor

basquille wrote: »

Is it true what I read about Starter Edition that you can only run 3 applications at one time?! :eek:

Try running more than 3 applications simultaneously on an Atom powered laptop/PC- totally aside from the the o/s- your computer will not be a happy puppy at all......

Basq

smccarrick wrote: »

Try running more than 3 applications simultaneously on an Atom powered laptop/PC- totally aside from the the o/s- your computer will not be a happy puppy at all......

As long as you're not running a "heavy" application like Photoshop or AutoCAD, I've had no problems running more than 3 applications simultaneously on my NC10 (I practically always have Firefox, Outlook and VLC running at once).

The_Conductor

basquille wrote: »

As long as you're not running a "heavy" application like Photoshop or AutoCAD, I've had no problems running more than 3 applications simultaneously on my NC10 (I practically always have Firefox, Outlook and VLC running at once).

Thats under XP- I guess, I put Windows 7 Ultimate on an Aspire One for Aoife- its fine with VLC/Firefox etc- but try running a few things together- and refreshing etc, takes ages..... Shutting down, which would normally force quit apps- can take almost 4 minutes- as it meanders through them.

Basq

smccarrick wrote: »

Thats under XP- I guess, I put Windows 7 Ultimate on an Aspire One for Aoife- its fine with VLC/Firefox etc- but try running a few things together- and refreshing etc, takes ages..... Shutting down, which would normally force quit apps- can take almost 4 minutes- as it meanders through them.

Yeah, I ran the Windows 7 beta on my NC10 for a while. And while it was certainly better than Vista, it's definitely not "the" netbook OS it was once pitched as.

The_Conductor

basquille wrote: »

Yeah, I ran the Windows 7 beta on my NC10 for a while. And while it was certainly better than Vista, it's definitely not "the" netbook OS it was once pitched as.

Its not a bad o/s- I actually really like it to be honest- and while its not nearly as resource intensive as Vista- and in particular has very very good memory management features- whacking it on a netbook, while it will work, is not going to be anything like the experience you'll get by putting it on a fully featured PC/Laptop.

For a Microsoft product- its impressive, but if they were really pitching it at netbooks/nettops- they really need something with a smaller footprint and a lot less resource intensive. When you've come from the likes of Linux Mint- to this o/s- its incredibly bloated and slow- but it is feature rich in a way that is quite compelling.......

Basq

smccarrick wrote: »

Its not a bad o/s- I actually really like it to be honest- and while its not nearly as resource intensive as Vista- and in particular has very very good memory management features- whacking it on a netbook, while it will work, is not going to be anything like the experience you'll get by putting it on a fully featured PC/Laptop.

For a Microsoft product- its impressive, but if they were really pitching it at netbooks/nettops- they really need something with a smaller footprint and a lot less resource intensive. When you've come from the likes of Linux Mint- to this o/s- its incredibly bloated and slow- but it is feature rich in a way that is quite compelling.......

Don't get me wrong!

It's a damn fine OS - especially when compared with Vista. I'm running Home Premium on my Dell Hybrid and it's running extremely well.

But what I mean is that I remember them pitching it as a OS "primarily for netbooks" at it's inception. And that's just not the case at all!

billyhead

Bump.

I was thinking of investing in this on sale in Argos. Do people here still rate it as a bargain?

godtabh

Its a tenner cheaper now