[Argos] MSI Wind U135 Windows XP 7Hour Netbook [Was: €299.99] [Now: €179.99]

ims

White:
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5084306/Trail/searchtext%3EMSI+WIND+U135.htm

Black:
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5084289/Trail/searchtext%3EMSI+WIND+U135.htm

Pink:
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5084296/Trail/searchtext%3EMSI+WIND+U135.htm

NeVeR

does any stores have them in stock ?

Tinie

Yeah I cant find any stock... seems to be like this for most of argos clearance products.

alastair_doom

Over 5 left of the pink in Mahon Point Cork, so they are around the place.

Dec4

There's a better chance of picking the 7 winning Lotto numbers than finding these in stock...

Tinie

Well that is the pink one though ...

Shifty

I have a white one on reserve for collection by close of business tomorrow in city centre, I've changed my mind and won't be collecting it, if anyone wants it send me a PM. While I was reserving it was possible to order the pink one from several stores (I tried Blanchardstown and both stores are letting me order for collection from Wednesday onwards)




The reservation is gone now: Twilightning sent me a PM and I sent it!

Dman001

Great price for one, but after using a Netbook for about a year and a half you get sick of the small screen and the low performance. But cant beat them for portability.

walshki

Nice - managed to reserve last white one in Mahon Point. Thanks OP.

Twilightning

I managed to get a reservation for a pink one in Swords before I sent that PM since I was afraid someone would PM faster than me! If anyone wants it I'll PM it too.

Lyra Fangs

There are 4 pink ones left in Argos Extra in Limerick and 1 pink one left in the Crescent in Limerick.

obliviousgrudge

1 left in Letterkenny too

witnessmenow

Guys I have a reserve code for a white one in Galway today im not going to use.

First to reply to this on thread will get it. I will ignore all PMs!

Canonfan

witnessmenow wrote: »

Guys I have a reserve code for a white one in Galway today im not going to use.

First to reply to this on thread will get it. I will ignore all PMs!

Me please, you're great!

Kefa

Just four pink ones left in Castlebar.

Amalgam

Just to note.. a few quirks.

Some models have soldered RAM. Check your upgrade options before buying.

This has no hatches for RAM or HD access, you more or less have to dismantle\remove the entire bottom, it is messy.

No mention of battery capacity, this particular model has high and low capacity batteries shipped with it, typically, the low capacity battery is lumped on users on the UK market. (typical!)

I mooched on the forums, hard to tell if you can boot from the SD card slot or not.. very odd if you can't. Important if you want to launch image recovery\Linux\misc. software from an SD card slot.

NewHillel

Amalgam wrote: »

Just to note.. a few quirks.

Some models have soldered RAM. Check your upgrade options before buying.

This has no hatches for RAM or HD access, you more or less have to dismantle\remove the entire bottom, it is messy.

No mention of battery capacity, this particular model has high and low capacity batteries shipped with it, typically, the low capacity battery is lumped on users on the UK market. (typical!)

I mooched on the forums, hard to tell if you can boot from the SD card slot or not.. very odd if you can't. Important if you want to launch image recovery\Linux\misc. software from an SD card slot.

This is an upgraded version of the original MSI Wind. Its pretty good for a Netbook. The model in Argos has the high capacity battery. You can boot from USB or from an external DVD Drive. A full set of Windows 7, x32 bit, drivers are available. (It runs better on W7 than on XP.) A full image recovery is included on the hardisk.

According to the specs there is a free slot for an extra 1Gbyte of RAM.

tfitzgerald

I know this is a bit off topic but does anyone know how to set up a wireless connection on this netbook I cannot connect to my wireless network please help

NewHillel

tfitzgerald wrote: »

I know this is a bit off topic but does anyone know how to set up a wireless connection on this netbook I cannot connect to my wireless network please help

It should connect automatically. If not click on the connection bars on the taskbar. (Looks like 5 steps.) That should show you the networks in range. If there aren't any, check that wireless is turned off. Fn key + F11 toggles wireless on and off.

tfitzgerald

Thanks a million newhillel you were on the ball that is a big weight off my mind

NewHillel

No problem.

Amalgam

NewHillel wrote: »

This is an upgraded version of the original MSI Wind. Its pretty good for a Netbook. The model in Argos has the high capacity battery. You can boot from USB or from an external DVD Drive. A full set of Windows 7, x32 bit, drivers are available. (It runs better on W7 than on XP.) A full image recovery is included on the hardisk.

According to the specs there is a free slot for an extra 1Gbyte of RAM.

I'm aware of what it is, nothing that I stated is incorrect. This model has at least 3 variants and a user should be aware of that. It is worth stating that there is no hatch access.

MSI have a history of shipping low capacity batteries to the UK, as U100 users would know..

Lyra Fangs

Just bought the netbook yesterday and I must say it's working beautiful. Screen quality is very good, set-up was simple, batteries lasting very well, it's nice and light on your lap so no complaints yet.

I love a true bargain .

Twilightning

Been using mine all night and it really was a great bargain for the price. I wasn't expecting it to ship with Realtek HD Audio and since I already have that on my desktop I was pleasantly surprised at the audio quality too. Battery life's also great. I take the bus to Cork regularly from Dublin and it's 4 hours so this'll make the trip a lot more bearable to say the least!

Great find!

Barr

Very tempted but theres only pink left in Cork

Dinkie

I bought this yesterday in Wexford.

I quite like it except for I only have a 60 trial for Microsoft office 7. I had assumed that it would have been installed already.

Does this mean that I am now going to have to shell out E100 for MS office? :mad:

gooch2k9

not if you know a student or secondary school student. I got office 2007 for €50, every package of it.

www.software4students.ie

okidoki987

I quite like it except for I only have a 60 trial for Microsoft office 7

.

At that price you weren't really expecting it to come with Office, were you?

Dinkie

okidoki987 wrote: »

.

At that price you weren't really expecting it to come with Office, were you?

It truthfully never occurred to me. Ive never bought a laptop/desktop or netbook before. I've always had a work computer. I only bought one now as I am going to Australia for 4 weeks on holidays and wanted something light to bring with me.

The Sparrow

Just use Openoffice

It is just as good as MS Office and it is completely free. You can save everything in doc files so it opens in MS Office just fine.

I just picked up one of these for my mum. It is VERY pink but that is fine for her. Seems pretty good so far. Connected to wireless in our house pretty easily and the screen is nice and clear. Keyboard is good too and there are lots of conecction ports (USBx3, VGA, headphone etc) and a built in webcam which is handy.

NewHillel wrote: »

A full set of Windows 7, x32 bit, drivers are available. (It runs better on W7 than on XP.) A full image recovery is included on the hardisk.

How do you update it to Windows 7?

shuyin1

The Sparrow wrote: »

How do you update it to Windows 7?

You'd need an external usb dvd drive. Might be worth holding out for amd's fusion laptops. Gpu performance will help video playback tremendously.

NewHillel

The Sparrow wrote: »

Just use Openoffice

It is just as good as MS Office and it is completely free. You can save everything in doc files so it opens in MS Office just fine.

LibreOffice is a new branch of OpenOffice that supposedly has better import filters (i.e. greater compatibility) for new later versions of MSOffice. (Haven't tried it myself.)

The Sparrow wrote: »

How do you update it to Windows 7?

I just copied the Windows 7 setup files onto the hard-drive and ran it from there. (You could also use an external DVD drive.) My daughter had a free academic license, and I used that.
It really is worth the effort and is very straightforward.
With W7 you get about 6-7 hours of mixed use.

If you do decide to go with W7, I suggest:

Wait until Windows 7 SP1 is available, it is due this Tuesday.
Install in the "C Drive" which is tagged as OSInstall.
Do not overwrite the System Recovery Partition (i.e. the smaller partition) as it gives you a way back if something goes wrong.
Select the install option to allow windows to search for updates online - SP1 and most of the necessary drivers will install automatically.
When the install is complete, which will take a couple of hours, download and install the SCM Install file from MSI - otherwise some of the power-saving features don't work.

There you go, have fun.

Barr

Took the plunge today , great price - if only it wasn't pink

The Sparrow

NewHillel wrote: »

I just copied the Windows 7 setup files onto the hard-drive and ran it from there. (You could also use an external DVD drive.) My daughter had a free academic license, and I used that.
It really is worth the effort and is very straightforward.
With W7 you get about 6-7 hours of mixed use.

Where do you get the setup files? Are they on the CD that comes with the laptop?

Thanks for the advice.

Barr wrote: »

Took the plunge today , great price - if only it wasn't pink

On that note, can you get a cover for the back of a laptop in a different more (ahem) masculine colour?

Because the pink is just at the back of the screen.

long_b

One of the benefits to progressing through the stages of your life is that you no longer give a feck about appearances.
I'll be the 6' 4" guy on the Dublin train with the brand new *pink* netbook

walshki

For those who got one of these can you tell me how you find the sound from the onboard speakers - I find it very low. Is this typical of netbooks? I'm going to see if I can update the drivers but can others tell me if they also find this so I know it's not just an issue with the one I got?

Thanks

meolwan

long_b wrote: »

One of the benefits to progressing through the stages of your life is that you no longer give a feck about appearances.
I'll be the 6' 4" guy on the Dublin train with the brand new *pink* netbook

Here's your brother not 6'4'' but I collecting mine tomorrow in swords & I don't give a S*** about the colour Pink not a problem. I may look for some Flower designs to stick on it. wohooooooo :D:D

NewHillel

The Sparrow wrote: »

Where do you get the setup files? Are they on the CD that comes with the laptop?

You need a Windows 7 CD or you can download (quite legitimately) the files online. In theory, you then need to download a set of drivers from MSI.com. In practice, if you follow my approach, all you'll have to do is install the SCM, once the Windows 7 setup is complete.

Gadgetman496

Cheers OP

Just picked up a pink one for my daughter today (Sunday) & it's the U135DX model.

Has the onboard RAM soldered but has a spare slot for upgrading & removing the back to access it is no problem

Excellent little machine for the money.

-

mcgovern

If anyone has a pink one reserved in Dublin that they won't use, please let me know. Sister wants one from her confirmation money

jj73

mcgovern wrote: »

If anyone has a pink one reserved in Dublin that they won't use, please let me know. Sister wants one from her confirmation money

sent you a pm.

I was able to get a black one in Navan.

TheDoc

Woulda liken to grab one of these in white or black, seem to be all gone, pity

penev10

My mother was looking for one of these. Appear to be all gone now

Gadgetman496

4 Pink available in Castlebar

-

Inquitus

I have a pink one reserved in Swords til 7pm if anyone wants.

Gadgetman496

Anyone got a black or white reserved in Dublin that they are not taking?

penev10

Inquitus wrote: »

I have a pink one reserved in Swords til 7pm if anyone wants.

My mother would prob take it! PM'd you

throwingmusic

I would be grateful for a reservation for any colour in the Dublin area if anyone's got one................

throwingmusic

throwingmusic wrote: »

I would be grateful for a reservation for any colour in the Dublin area if anyone's got one................

Actually I just managed to reserve a pink one in Nutgrove can't believe it cheers

cal_chi

Hmmm...price leapt up overnight by €50 in the republic and by £30 in the North:mad:...thing is I have pink one reserved in Dundalk and a white one reserved in Newry (white one for me and pink one for an early birthday pressie for my mother). Got an email confirming reservation at the old price (€179.99 and £149.99 respectively). I know that the respective websites state that the price you pay is the price of the item on the day, but I have heard of Argos honouring the price of the item at the time of reservation. Has anyone had success with them up the North in this scenario? (If I had to get just the one, it'd be the white one in Newry as my own comp is on it's last legs :eek:). If it turns out that they won't be honour it, do ye reckon the prices are still good or not? Thanks.

cal_chi

cal_chi wrote: »

Hmmm...price leapt up overnight by €50 in the republic and by £30 in the North:mad:...thing is I have pink one reserved in Dundalk and a white one reserved in Newry (white one for me and pink one for an early birthday pressie for my mother). Got an email confirming reservation at the old price (€179.99 and £149.99 respectively). I know that the respective websites state that the price you pay is the price of the item on the day, but I have heard of Argos honouring the price of the item at the time of reservation. Has anyone had success with them up the North in this scenario? (If I had to get just the one, it'd be the white one in Newry as my own comp is on it's last legs :eek:). If it turns out that they won't be honour it, do ye reckon the prices are still good or not? Thanks.

Actually scrap the bit about it having gone up by €50, it's actually gone up by €70 to €249/99 in the south :mad::mad: - it's too early in the morning for my brain to do simple maths. So, if I do end up getting any of them, it'll definitely be the one in Newry for £179.99 which works out at about €212.