Intel announced its 1.66GHz Atom N450 processor last December, newly featuring on-chip graphics. The chipmaker touted the "Pineview" CPU and accompanying NM10 I/O controller as saving 60 percent in circuit board space, compared to previous equivalents. While that is a benefit for manufacturers, not consumers, power consumption is also said to be 20 percent lower.

We've already encountered Pineview-based netbooks with claimed battery lives of up to 12 hours (the Samsung N210 and N220, for example), but MSI's new entry (right) appears to be the first for which 15-hour duration is claimed. MSI says credit is due partly to its in-house "Eco" energy-saving technology, which offers gaming, film viewing, presentation, word processing, and "turbo battery" modes, and partly to the U160's (optional) six-cell battery.

MSI also touts the U160's "high fashion" design, which includes a two-tone black and gold color scheme, an illuminated logo, and an LED-equipped power switch located on the end of the system's central hinge. The netbook's palm rest is coated with a scratch-resistant color film, while the touchpad is dimpled and wider than normal, the company says.

OUR VERDICT: Vendors' claims about battery life are usually inflated, but the Wind U160 still sounds like a winner for those with long workdays

Apart from all this, the U160 offers typical netbook specifications, including up to 2GB of RAM via a single DIMM slot, a 160GB hard disk drive, and a 10.1-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution. Wireless connectivity includes 802.11b/g local area networking, Bluetooth 2.0, and (in some markets) an optional 3.5G modem; wired ports, meanwhile, consist of a VGA output, an Ethernet connector, three uSB 2.0 ports, plus audio I/O, according to MSI.

Like most netbooks, the U160 also includes a webcam (1.3 megapixel in this case) and stereo speakers. The system weighs 2.2 pounds with a three-cell battery, and measures 10.43 x 6.49 x 1 inches (265 x 165 x 25.4mm), according to the company.

Specifications provided by MSI for the Wind U160 include the following:

• Processor -- 1.66GHz Intel Atom N470
• Chipset -- NM10 I/O controller
• Memory -- 1GB of DDR2 RAM, expandable to 2GB
• Display -- 10.1-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution
• Camera -- 1.3 megapixel
• Storage -- 160GB, 5400rpm hard disk drive
• Expansion -- 1 x SD/MMC slot
• Networking:
  • LAN -- 10/100 Ethernet
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
  • WAN -- "3.5G" (optional)
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x VGA
  • 3 x USB 2.0
  • Audio I/O
• Battery -- Three-cell or six-cell, with up to 15 hours of operation for the latter
• Dimensions -- 10.43 x 6.49 x 1 inches (265 x 165 x 25.4mm)
• Weight -- 2.2 pounds (1kg) with three-cell battery

Further information

MSI said the Wind U160 has "launched onto the market," but specified neither pricing nor availability details. The system runs Windows 7 Starter Edition, according to the company.

---

Related stories:

• HP's netbook triplets step up to Atom N450
• Toshiba netbook has 11-hour battery life
• Samsung spins four Atom N450 netbooks
• Lenovo netbook converts to capacitive tablet
• MSI launches Atom N450 netbooks
• Asus' Pineview netbook is revealed
• Intel launches Pineview Atoms
• Fujitsu netbook gets a Pineview Atom