LP, I returned the AAO because I wanted the flexbility to effectively run Windows XP if I wanted to. The 8 GB SSD module was too slow for me when I installed XP. Had I intended to only run Linux on this device, I would have kept it as it was fantastic for that.

I don’t recall saying it wasn’t powerful enough for everything I wanted to do, but having the flexibility to run my OS of choice (and change that OS based on my desires and needs) was important to me. I could have easily done what you outlined with the device: e-mail, FF3. However, the additional $20 for the version with a hard-drive, additional memory and XP license is well worth the incremental investment.

When I returned the AAO, there were no XP/hard drive models in stock so I decided to try the MSI Wind. That device should be here in 48 hours and I’m looking forward to using it!

Kevin, why did you return the Acer Aspire One again? I’ve been looking at a netbook purely for travel email/internet. Best Buy was selling the blue Aspire One with 1gb ram/120gb HDD with XP for $350.

I remember you saying it wasn’t powerful enough for everything you wanted to do, but do you think it would be good just for checking email and browsing the internet (via FF3)?

TIA!

@kevin
a newer revision will include sentelic toucpad instead of synaptics tough, i’m quite lucky to get the synaptics edition :)

http://msiwind.net/msi-wind-touchpad-no-longer-synaptic/

I received my Wind last week from Amazon for $549. It was not a disappointing device. It has few great advantages over Lenovo S series, Acer One and other:

1- Yes it does run over 5 hours with the 6 cell battery even playing videos.

2-It has awesome back-lit display like the ones in MacBook Pro which put extra sharpness and brightness to the screen ans saving battery power.

3- Keyboards are well placed and build.

Few issues:

1- as it may have already been circulated on the Internet, the touchpad is below standard. It does not have snaptics’ page scroll function. Instead, a corner-click type of scrolling function which occasionally makes URLs on the path of scrolling active.

2-It has built in 1 GB RAM, and an extra slot to insert another 1 GB. However, user will need to open the back case to insert the extra RAM. This becomes issue since MSI put a sticker on one of the screws to be unscrewed to take of the case. Damage of this clearly marked screw VOIDS the manufacturers warranty. So, if you want to keep you warranty, you may want to wait a year before expanding your RAM. Nonsense.

Overall, this is a great travel laptop for now. If you like to wait,however, few other manufacturers are coming up with similar products. Besides, you will need to wait at least few weeks after ordering this from Amazon anyways.

Later in the day, newegg.com is now stocking the regular black 3-cell MSI Wind (U100-016US)for $499.99, so I ordered one. Would have preferred the 6-cell, but hopefully I’ll be able to pick one up separately at some point.

Woo-hoo! It should be in my hands on Tuesday.

Interestingly, newegg.com is showing that they have the MSI Wind in stock, at $499.99 plus shipping. It appears they have only the “Love Edition” (3-cell battery, white case with hearts etched on the outside). I’d rather get the 6-cell battery than the 3-cell, but I think the hearts on the case are the real deal-breaker for me. I’m waiting to pull the trigger on something, and am looking forward to the deluge in supply chain that everyone is predicting will come before the end of the year. Right now I’m thinking either MSI Wind or Lenovo (we’ll see if I can put up with the small right shift key).

Kevin is kidding all of you. He bought it simply to put OS X on it for a while so he could torment me. Kendrick has told him he must bear down on the pedal to maintain his Frequent Fiend Points.

Kevin Tofel, you really should try the Aspire One models with the HDD vs SSD, big difference in performance, might make you reconsider getting a Wind, it doesn’t have things like Bluetooth, but you save a lot of money.

The Aspire One $399 config with 160gb HDD and 6 cell battery is coming soon. $200 cheaper than the Wind and you can always add Bluetooth externally or internally.

Thanks for the link Johan. Bear in mind that Notebooks Review disabled many services in Vista to achieve the results. I prefer to compare items “out of the box” as that’s how most consumers their use devices.

Brian, I’m sure you’ll see a head-to-head of the Eee PC 1000H and the Wind. Stay tuned… As far as battery life, LAPTOP Magazine got around 4.5 hours of use with the 1000H using WiFi. I’m not sure the Asus will get longer run time, even though it’s rated at 6600 mAh… the voltages might be different, but I’ll take a look.