MSI has unveiled a portable computer that blends netbook dimensions with upgraded internals. The Wind12 U230 includes an AMD Athlon Neo MV-30 processor, a 12.1-inch display with 1366 x 768 resolution, up to 4GB of RAM, and hard disk drives from 160GB to 320GB, the company says.

We've been suggesting recently that the netbook -- generally defined as being a mini-notebook with a 11.6-inch display or less, and a low-power Intel Atom processor -- may be set to fade away, in spite (or even because) of its popularity. In our view, the product category is being nibbled away as follows:

• from left field, by mini-notebooks that are netbook-sized, but include faster processors and larger hard drives
• from right field, by products that retain low-power "netbook" components, but are physically as large as a traditional notebook

As an example of the first type of product, we cite Acer's recently introduced AS1410, which is netbook-sized, but comes with a dual-core Celeron SU2300 and up to 320GB of hard disk storage. As an example of the second type, there's Asus's EeePC 1201HA, which has a netbook-style Atom processor but sports an unprecedented, 12.1-inch display.

Netbooks used to be further set apart by their use of Windows ULCPC, a loss-leader edition of Windows XP Home. Now, while OEMs can apparently ship this venerable OS until October of next year (see Microsoft's product roadmap, here), machines like the two mentioned above ship with Windows 7, eliminating a key differentiator.

Now, MSI, too, has released a "tweener" device, sized like a relatively large netbook but incorporating more RAM and a faster CPU. The company's new Wind12 U230 (right) measures 11.7 x 7.5 x 1.22 inches, incorporating a 12.1-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

Like the Acer device already mentioned, the Wind12 U230 sports up to 4GB of memory -- most un-netbook-like! -- via two SODIMM slots, and is offered with 160GB, 250GB, or 320GB hard disk drives. The Wind12 also includes an AMD processor, described by MSI as the 1.6GHz Athon Neo MV-40 that first made its debut last year with the HP Pavilion dv2 mini-notebook. (Though AMD was late to arrive at the netbook party, Gateway's LT3013u was subsequently released with an Athlon L110 CPU, while Acer's Ferrari One features an Athlon X2 L310.)

If you're confused by this plethora of Athlons, which AMD does a poor job of explaining on its website, you're not alone. A recent blog posting by Pat Moorhead, vice president of advanced marketing for AMD, previewed a MSI notebook that looks and sounds like the Wind12 U230, but which was described as having an "Athlon Neo X2 dual-core processor L335." On its data sheet, meanwhile, MSI says the Wind12 U230 has a "Yukon CPU MV40/L335 processor," muddling processor generations.

MSI says the Wind12 U230 employs AMD's RS780 northbridge and SB710 southbridge, and includes ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics. As a result, the system is DirectX 10-compatible, and can play back even "difficult 1080i content," according to information previously released by ATI.

The Wind12 U230 includes both HDMI and VGA ports, three USB 2.0 ports, a gigabit Ethernet port, plus a microphone input and headphone output, says MSI. Also specified are a 1.3 megapixel webcam, an SD/xD/MMC/Memory Stick card reader, 802.11b/g/n wireless networking, and optional Bluetooth 2.0.

MSI says the Wind12 U230 is offered with either three-cell or six-cell batteries, and weighs 2.86 pounds when equipped with the former. Battery life is said to be approximately four hours, though the company didn't say if the optional six-cell pack is necessary to achieve this.

Features and specifications cited by MSI for the Wind12 U230 include the following:

• Processor -- AMD "Yukon MV40/L355"
• Chipset -- AMD RS780MN northbridge and SB710 southbridge
• Memory -- Expandable to 4GB via two slots (standard complement not stated)
• Display -- 12.1-inch display with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution
• Camera -- 1.3 megapixel
• Keyboard -- "Ergonomic de-stress," 87-keys
• Storage -- 160GB, 250GB, or 320GB SATA hard disk drive
• Expansion -- 4-in-1 (SD/xD/MMC/Memory Stick) card reader
• Networking:
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g/n
  • LAN -- RJ45 port for gigabit Ethernet
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0 (optional)
• Other I/O:
  1 x HDMI
  • 1 x VGA
  • 3 x USB 2.0
  • 1 x microphone input
  • 1 x headphone output
• Battery type/life -- 3-cell or 6-cell battery; up to four hours of operation
• Dimensions -- 11.7 x 7.5 x 1.22 inches
• Weight -- 2.86 pounds

Availability

MSI did not release pricing or availability for the Wind12 U230. More information on the device may be found on the company's website, here.

To read the blog entry by AMD's Patrick Moorhead alluded to above, see here

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Related stories:

• Netbooks fading away into the sunset?
• Lightest notebook sports 2.0GHz Atom
• Fujitsu UMPC is first with 2.0GHz Atom
• Intel launches more Atoms
• Sony joins the netbook fray
• Dell netbook uses MID-sized Atom
• 1.5-pound mini-laptop runs Vista
• 11.6-inch netbook has AMD processor
• AMD" Out of the netbook closet at last
• Mini-notebook chip headed for embedded Windows devices?
  
• Dual-core AMD netbook gets rave review
  
• AMD preps low-powered Atom killer
  
• Acer launches cross-brand netbook flotilla
  
• Windows software architect picks a netbook
  
• Acer spins "second generation" netbook
  
• Windows Netbook showcase
  
• Second-generation netbook wave begins
  
• 35 million netbooks to ship this year?
  
• Intel spins new Atom for netbooks
  
• Acer leads hot netbook market
  
• ARM tipped for netbooks
  
• Windows 7 is "netbook-friendly"

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