Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Review
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21:01 
1.6GHz Intel Atom Processor
10" WSVGA (1024 x 600) LCD
Windows XP Home Operating System
Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics
1GB 667MHz DDR2 Memory
80GB 2.5" SATA Hard Drive
Wireless: 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.0
3-Cell 11.1v 2200mAh Battery
Size: WxDxH 10.2" x 7" x 1.3"
Weight: 2lbs 8.6oz
Build and Design
The MSI Wind really has a great look and feel to it. The soft rounded edges coupled with the glossy texture make it easy and comfortable to grip onto, while also giving the mini notebook a very professional look. Another great aspect of the Wind is nothing appears "look at me" flashy, making it very appealing to business professionals, as well as children and teenagers alike. No chrome is found anywhere, and all the labeling and branding is a light grey which really goes well with the pearl white finish.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The MSI Wind really shines with its keyboard, and taking up almost every inch of space side to side to have the largest possible keys on such a small device. The keyboard takes all but 2-3mm of space going side to side, and is really great to type on even with large hands. The only big flaw I can find with the keyboard is the super narrow ",", ".", and "/" keys which are 2/3 the width of standard letter keys. This threw me off at first trying to type in websites, and hitting the "/" key instead of a period. Once you got used to the layout it wasn't as much of a problem, but come on, why ruin such a good thing? The shift keys on both sides should have been reduced in size by half and still been perfectly fine, and you wouldn't have to have 2/3 size symbol keys.
Missing Features
After my hands on with the ASUS Eee PC 901 and the Hybrid Engine that allowed you to overclock the Intel Atom processor for about a boost in power, I really wanted to see what the MSI Turbo feature could do. Those who managed to get pre-release models of the MSI Wind saw gains using it, but as luck would have it MSI pulled this feature out before they started shipping to consumers. The FN+F10 overclocking feature is no more, and replaced with a simple "ECO feature" that switches between battery saver mode at 800MHz and normal mode which dynamically switches between 800MHz and 1600MHz depending on processor load.
Audio
Speaker quality on the Wind makes most full-size notebooks sound like full surround sound systems. They work well enough if you have to watch a YouTube clip or listen to system sounds, but it doesn't have any purpose beyond that. Volume levels can't get high enough, and you are missing all midrange without even a hint of bass. The headphone jack provides a great alternative though and comes highly recommended.
Conclusion
The MSI Wind is one of the best subnotebooks I have seen come out of the mini notebook storm that has hit us the past few months. It offers a 10" widescreen, 2.5" SATA hard drive, Intel Atom processor, and WIFI with Bluetooth for well under what some of the other mainstream competition charge. All all of this seems to come with a small caveat right now: horrible battery life. MSI is only selling the 3-cell version of the Wind, which averages just a hair over 2 hours of mobile use. This is unacceptable for a travel companion device. Good news is sometime in the future a configuration will be sold with the extended battery, and early adopters will need to wait for a 6-cell accessory battery.
For the $500 price you really can't ask for much more beyond the 6-cell battery. The screen is great, the keyboard is great, build quality is top notch, and above all the thing doesn't light your pants on fire ... at least not due to heat.
