OnLine Computer has been chosen as the exclusive seller for the first shipment of 100 units of the MSI Wind in Australia, due to launch on July 3. And as can be expected, pre-orders are being taken at full retail price of $699. Online stores selling a product at full RRP are rare, especially with competition so fierce, so we’d suggest that you hold on until they become more readily available and market forces work their magic. For example, the Windows XP version of the EeePC 900 with its current RRP of $599, has online pricing that varies between $589 right down to $519. Sure the MSI Wind almost certainly won’t be that cheap, but it’ll probably be cheaper than $699 if you’re prepared to play the waiting game.

According to our discussion with MSI Australia, the short supply currently being experienced by our American friends will also be felt locally, with quantities very tight and limited to, "only a few hundred units per month for the next couple of months". In saying that, they’re hoping that stock should be readily available by September. According to MSI Australia, the cause for all these delays is a shortage on Intel Atom processors, which was obviously due to occur with the explosion of Atom-based netbooks.

But what of the six cell battery shortage currently being experienced the world over, as a result of the fire at the LG Chemical factory? Well MSI Australia expects stock of these to also arrive in September with the possibility of special pricing to be announced as compensation for the delay. Whether this will come at the same price as the 3-cell version, or slightly more expensive pricing remains to be seen and should be something to watch out for. But the MSI Wind U100 will probably be discounted by that time regardless.