MSI Laptops Review: Does MSI Make Good Netbooks?

MSI’s Wind netbook, a direct competitor to the original netbook, the Eee PC by Asus, has consistently been a high-ranking ultra-portable since its release. The newest model has a rating of 4.5/5 stars on the most popular tech stores online, and almost every review of it has been positive. Slightly smaller than the Eee PC, and with a hinge that is flush with the keyboard as opposed to jutting out, the Wind sports a bit more of a minimalistic-design with round edges as opposed to the flashier look you may find in other models.

• As far as the technology inside is concerned, almost every netbook has the same basic hardware. With little exception, they will also have the same basic number of ports, webcams, and other peripherals. Reviews have shown that MSI Wind keyboard is nearly full-size, and is generally known to be more comfortable than the Eee PC’s keyboard. This can be a big factor for netbooks, since the compactness is both useful and frustrating when it feels too small to be useful.
• The track pad on the Wind, however, is slightly smaller than that on the Eee PC and other similar models, but not enough to make it a deal-breaker. The MSI Wind also takes a bit of a hit in the screen and sound department. Compared to comparable models, the screen suffers from slightly smaller viewing angles, and the sound is of lower quality than other netbooks.
• Another factor that the Wind wins on is battery life, which is a big deal for something that is supposed to be brought everywhere with no hassles. The Wind features a great battery life (although a 6-cell battery is recommended for extended time away from power, reaching upward of 5 hours), and continues to impress with faster boot times than the average.

Ultimately, most netbooks are so similar that it’s hard to discern a clear winner; but, if one had to be chosen, this MSI laptops review would conclude that the MSI Wind is the clear winner. It beats the Eee PC through its attention for detail and its price, which is surprising since the Eee PC is the netbook that started it all. MSI has proven that they can make great netbooks with a competitive price.