The MSI Wind is the first sub-notebook to hit the Australian market with Intel's Atom processor inside, but sometimes being first is not a guarantee for success.
The MSI Wind is the first in a new wave of sub-notebooks that feature Intel’s eagerly anticipated Atom processor as well as a 10-inch LCD TFT screen. Pearl white is becoming the fashionable colour for sub-notebooks and the Wind continues this trend while also adding black and pink to the mix.
After firing up the Wind for a test run we noticed that the screen would wobble while being used and only got worse when used on public transport. MSI has also gone a little overboard with its status indicators, with a grand total of eight positioned all in one neat row to the right of the trackpad. These lights indicate everything from wireless connectivity to caps lock, and do take a little time to get the hang of.
Typing on the Wind was a breeze as we were able to touch type on the keyboard thanks to the generous keys. MSI has found the right balance between keeping the keys a respectable size while not making the Wind itself larger than it should be. One little niggle is that the ‘Fn’ button has been placed where the left ‘Ctrl‘ button would normally sit, with the ‘Ctrl’ shifted one spot to the right. Because of this, we constantly found ourselves pressing ‘Fn’ instead of ‘Ctrl’.
Unfortunately the good design of the keyboard does not continue onto the trackpad and button combo. The square shaped trackpad is too small considering the 10-inches of screen real estate that you have to cover with the cursor. The mouse button takes the form of a single button with a rocking design for left and right buttons. The problem is that it's way too thin, and as a result, makes it hard to use the buttons quickly while typing.