MSI Wind U160

Discontinued
Reviewed
November 2010
MSI Wind U160

Pros
  • Thinner and lighter than most netbooks
  • Good performance
  • Long battery life
Cons
  • Not suitable for intensive tasks
  • Small keyboard
  • Battery extends awkwardly from the back
Where to Buy
 

Reviewers say you'll pay a premium for the thin and stylish MSI Wind U160 netbook, but it's also one of the lightest you can get -- weighing in at a mere 2.4 pounds. The MSI Wind U160 is also thinner than most netbooks, at 0.74 inches thick. While reviewers appreciate the sleek design, they say the Wind netbook is an ample performer as well. Battery life is excellent, lasting more than seven hours in most tests, and the netbook can handle basic computing with ease. Reviewers say they have no problems while surfing the Internet or typing up a Microsoft Word document, but the MSI Wind U160 isn't recommended for more demanding tasks like streaming video or gaming. The netbook attracts one complaint about the smallish keyboard, and most acknowledge that the battery, which sticks awkwardly out of the back, detracts from the netbook's overall appearance. The MSI Wind U160 comes with an Intel Atom N450 processor, 250 GB hard drive and 1 GB of memory. If you need even better battery life, reviewers recommend the Asus Eee PC 1015PEM (*Est. $250), which has eight hours of battery life.

Most of the major computer reviewers have weighed in on the MSI Wind U160 netbook, including Laptop Magazine, ComputerShopper.com, PCMag.com and CNET. Additional information is available from sites like NotebookReview.com and Wired. A number of British sites also review the netbook, including Pocket-Lint.com.

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ASUS Eee PC 1015PEM-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Black)
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from Amazon.com
New: $299.99   
Average Customer Review:  
Where To Buy
Hipower Laptop Battery For MSI Wind U160-006US, U160-007US, U160-412US, U160DX-472US, MS-N051, MS-N05111, MS-N05112, BTY-S17, BTY-S16, 925T2008F Laptop Notebook Computers (Silver)

 (1 reviews)
1 New from $74.95

In Stock.

 

Our Sources

1. Laptop Magazine

Laptop Magazine gives the MSI Wind U160 a 3.5-star rating (out of 5). Dana Wollman says the netbook's battery life and overall performance are high points, but she thinks the keyboard is too small for comfortable typing.

Review: MSI Wind U160, Dana Wollman, March 21, 2010

2. Computer Shopper

The MSI Wind U160 earns an Editors' Choice award from ComputerShopper.com. "The Wind U160 is a fashionable 10-inch PC that performs slightly better than some of its peers," Catharine Smith writes. Battery life is a plus, but the U160 is slightly pricey, she says.

Review: MSI Wind U160, Catharine Smith, April 2010

3. PCMag.com

Cisco Cheng at PCMag.com says the MSI Wind U160 stands out due to its battery life and reasonable price. However, otherwise it resembles nearly every other Atom-based netbook on the market.

Review: MSI Wind U160-007US, Cisco Cheng, May 17, 2010

4. CNET

The MSI Wind U160 gets a very good rating from CNET. Like most reviewers, Dan Ackerman praises the netbook's battery life and says it's a very capable performer. However, he thinks the price tag is a little too high.

Review: MSI Wind U160-007US, Dan Ackerman, May 18, 2010

5. NotebookReview.com

The MSI Wind U160 gets high marks for performance and features, but NotebookReview.com gives it a lower score for value. Kevin O'Brien likes the netbook's keyboard and the thin exterior, but he notes that it doesn't hit MSI's claim of 15 hours of battery life.

Review: MSI Wind U160 Review, Kevin O'Brien, April 26, 2010

6. Wired

Terrence Russell at Wired likes the MSI Wind's design and calls it "the perfect companion for travelers" due to its lengthy battery life. He records more than 11 hours between charges using the netbook's Eco-mode -- short of MSI's estimate, but still impressive and worth the small loss in processing power and screen brightness that the Eco-mode exacts.

Review: Power-Sipping Netbook Is a Traveler's BFF, Terrence Russell, April 16, 2010

7. Pocket-lint.com

The MSI Wind U160 gets a positive review at British site Pocket-Lint.com, where Chris Hall gives it a rating of 8 out of 10. Performance is on par with other netbooks, but the Wind's battery life and sleek design set it apart.

Review: MSI Wind U160 Review, Chris Hall, Aug. 13, 2010

8. The Inquirer

TheInquirer.net, also based in the U.K., gives the MSI Wind U160 an overall score of 7 out of 10. Rob Kerr appreciates the unique design, which he says looks better than previous MSI netbooks. However, he notes that you'll pay more for the style.

Review: MSI Wind U160, Rob Kerr, April 22, 2010

Netbooks Runners Up:

Acer Aspire One 722 *Est. $330 and up

6 picks including: About.com, Laptop Magazine…

Lenovo ThinkPad X120e *Est. $400 and up

4 picks including: Engadget.com, Laptop Magazine…

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Acer Aspire One 722-BZ197 Netbook - Black
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Lenovo ThinkPad X120e Laptop Notebook
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