| High-end netbook runs XP on Atom |
Jul. 11, 2008
 While U.S. consumers are still waiting for MSI's back-ordered Wind netbook, a U.K. retailer is now shipping its own private-label version. PC World's "Advent 4211" includes an Atom N270 processor, 10-inch display, 80GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, webcam, 802.11b/g, and Bluetooth, according to the company.
(Click here for a larger view of the Advent 4211)
MSI's Wind
(Click image for further information) |
Not to be confused with the U.S. computer magazine of the same name, PC World is a retailer with more than 100 stores in Great Britain and North Ireland. Its new Advent 4211 is based on a private-label OEM (original equipment manufacturer) version of the MSI Wind (right). PC World does not advertise this fact, but it has been confirmed by a variety of third-party tests and "teardowns" in the U.K.
With a silver-and-black chassis, as pictured above, the Advent 4211 is otherwise identical to the solid white Wind. It uses Intel's new 22mm x 22mm Atom N270 processor, along with the chipmaker's 945GMS northbridge and ICH7M southbridge. The Windows XP-based device also includes an 80GB SATA hard disk drive and 1GB of RAM, expandable to 2GB via an available second DIMM slot.
The Advent 4211 and MSI Wind (pictured) have ventilation holes and USB ports on their left sides
The Advent 4211 includes a 10-inch display with LED backlighting and 1024 x 600 resolution. It measures 10.23 inches wide, 7.1 inches deep, and has a maximum thickness of 1.25 inches.
PC World quotes a weight of 2.46 pounds for its netbook -- a bit heavier than the 2.3 pounds originally cited by MSI for its Wind variant. And, rather than the six-cell battery promised for the Wind, the Advent version has a three-cell battery.
Like other N270-based devices, the Advent 4211 normally runs at 1.6GHz. For the Wind, however, MSI touts a "TurboDrive" function that allows overclocking the CPU to 1.9GHz via a keyboard shortcut. The overclocking feature is likely retained on the Advent product, though PC World makes no promises to that regard. The Advent does appear to use the same BIOS as the Wind, according to a third-party review.
The Advent 4211 and MSI Wind (pictured) have a gigabit Ethernet port, VGA output, and 4-in-1 card reader
The Advent 4211 has a 1.3 megapixel webcam, two internal speakers, a gigabit Ethernet port, 802.11b/g wireless networking, and Bluetooth 2.0. Other features include three USB ports, a VGA port, microphone input, headphone output, plus a reader that accepts SD, MMC, Memory Stick, and Memory Stick Pro media.
Features and specifications listed by PC World for the Advent 4211 include:- Processor -- Intel Atom N270 clocked at 1.6GHz
- Memory -- 1GB of RAM, expandable to 2GB
- Storage -- 80GB SATA hard disk drive
- Display -- 10-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution
- Networking -- gigabit Ethernet
- Wireless interfaces:
- WLAN -- 802.11b/g
- WPAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
- Other I/O:
- 3 x USB 2.0
- 1 x VGA
- headphone output
- microphone input
- Expansion -- card reader for SD, MMC, Memory Stick, and Memory Stick Pro media
- Battery type -- three-cell lithium-ion
- Dimensions -- 10.23 x 7.1 x 1.25 inches
- Weight -- 2.46 pounds
Background
Why should colonials be feeling any envy for U.K. availability of the Advent 4211? Because the MSI Wind version of the sought-after machine is "back ordered" or "sold out" at resellers such as Amazon and Buy.com, and we have yet to hear of any U.S. customers obtaining the netbooks. (If you have been able to buy one, let us know.)
Meantime, Laptop magazine has written, "This system's solid performance, stellar 5-plus hours of battery life, and $499 price make it the best all-around mini-notebook to date." The British site TechRadar.com, meanwhile, wrote that the Wind "won't suit anyone looking for a powerhouse portable, but for basic needs, this is as good as it currently gets." Also in the UK, Mobile Computer magazine said, "We reckon that it's the first low-cost ultraportable to deliver on all counts."
Further information
Given current exchange rates, those who fly to Britain to pick up an Advent 4211 won't be receiving any price break. MSI has quoted a $499 price for its Windows XP-based version of the Wind, but the Advent is 280 U.K. pounds, or approximately $560.
To see a review of the Advent 4211, see the Geekanoids blog, here. To see the Laptop magazine review of MSI's Wind, go here.
Unlike the MSI Wind, the Advent 4211 ships only with Windows XP, not with Linux.
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