Contents
More on performance.
We’ve been using CrystalMark 2004 as a quick and easy benchmarking test for a while on UMPCPortal and continue to use it as we find it easy to interpret the results but it has to be said that raw comparison of CPU results when a device is simply being used in scenarios where the CPU isn’t taxed might give the wrong impression. Having said that, here are the results!
CPU performance results with ALU and FPU are healthy and a good 20% better than the old ‘Ghz class’ of processors used in UMPCs. Memory speed is also good. One of the highlights is the disk speed. At nearly 40MB/s R/W it’s fast enough for moving around large numbers of large files and helps a lot with application startup times. Internet Explorer 7 starts up in under 3 seconds for example.
3D performance isn’t anything to get excited about unless you’re into circa 2000-2003 games.
Boot-up time is a respectable 40 seconds, standby is also good at under 4 seconds resume time. Return from hibernation is about 25 seconds. Reliability has been 100% over the 10 weeks.
SD Card slot is fast making it perfect for transferring videos and images from digital cameras.
Summary
All in all, my impression of the device hasn’t changed since I did my first hands-on which is postitive and a very good indicator that there aren’t any show stoppers. Its near the top of the netbook class as a solid device that delivers solid value for money.
Contents
September 17th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Take a writing class. It will really help you. Your grammar is awful.
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September 18th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Mum. Is that you?
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January 13th, 2009 at 4:36 am
Shut up you grammar queen douche. The review is great.
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March 9th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
bob you are a nob!
the review is great, always some donkey trying to put someone down, how is this not of a help to anyone who wants to buy… thanks again, great review
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September 18th, 2008 at 3:23 am
I’ve had the 6-cell (with Bluetooth) Wind since it arrived in Australia July 28 and I have to say its the best netbook on the market at the moment. Appears that UMPC agrees! However I feel it is a very upgradeable machine – refer here for info http://www.electricvagabond.com/2008/09/running-out-of-space-upgrading-wind-and.html
However, Audio Quality is shocking and 3G/draft-n would be nice (hopefully in the Wind 2). One thing you could have added to your review is that those with a 6-cell are often subject to a sub-standard touchpad. I suspect your 3-cell machine has the superior Synaptics device whereas a lot of people with a 6-cell have the tap-to-scroll Sentelic touchpad. Refer rants on msiwind.net forums.
Nice overview though.
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September 18th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Bob,
Why is it that people such as yourself feel the need to degrade seemingly nice people over their slightly imperfect grammar? While it is important, I don’t think that you have the right to blatantly insult someone over such a trivial matter! Especially considering that he did something as amiable as review a device for us! Please refrain from this in the future, it’s simply uncalled for.
D.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 2:26 am
Dylan,
You also need a grammar class. Your comma between “future” and “it’s” should be a semicolon.
M.
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September 18th, 2008 at 10:27 am
The “What’s missing?” section explicits that other variants do not have the same configurations. For instance the Akoay Mini doesn’t have BT but have Wifi N.
You also say that the power brick could be much smaller. In that case, too, it depends on the variant. The Akoya Mini does have a pretty big power brick for a netbook. But the MSI Wind, for instance, does have a smaller power brick, kind of the same than for EEE PC and others.
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September 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I tried an Medion Akoya E1210 for a week or two and liked it. I would have kept it but I then saw the info on the Gigabyte M912M that I have now set my heart on. However, as Expansys won’t be stocking that model, it will make it harder to get it in the UK, so I may be tempted to look at the MSI Wind clones again, especially as there is an updated Medion model out soon , the E1211 which has 160Gb HD and bluetooth – see http://www.eeejournal.com/2008/09/medion-akoya-e1211-vs-e1210-vs-msi-wind.html
There are also two new Advent models from PC World/Dixons:
Advent 4212 which is a 4211 with 2Gb RAM
Advent 4213 with HSPDA support (may not be a MSI Wind clone) – see http://www.w00tw00t.co.uk/support/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4958&sid=a22ed834200e624bce5cd0ec10792eaf
Robert
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September 18th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Right Robert, the Advent 4213 with HSPDA support won’t be a MSI Wind clone but an ECS G10L clone.
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September 18th, 2008 at 11:34 am
HOW BAD IS THE AUDIO QUALITY?
I HATE WEARING HEADPHONES.
ALSO DOES IT HAVE A BUILT-IN-MIC? AND IS IT ANY GOOD?
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September 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Most commentators say the same thing. Sounds like AM radio to me.
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September 18th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Take it from an audiophile – its pretty terrible. all high-mids and highs nothing even resembling the hint of oomph! Headphones or speakers are a must apart from basic YouTube videos.
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September 19th, 2008 at 10:51 am
What netbook would you recommend with decent/good sounding speakers?
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September 20th, 2008 at 6:31 am
A quote from Laptop Mag’s review of the Asus 1000h –
“ASUS upped the ante by including Dolby Sound Room stereo speakers. The speakers, located on the bottom of the machine, delivered strong and solid sound. Streaming music from Pandora was loud enough to fill a small living room.”
You can get them cheap on Amazon at the moment and I think its a great netbook so if speakers are your thing then definitely go for a 1000h. Easy to upgrade RAM and HDD on them too. I use Logitech Z-10 USB speakers with my Wind but when I’m away from my desk the OEM speakers are agonizingly bad. They really are worse than even the speakers in the original Eee!!
September 18th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Hey Zippy, thanks for the heads-up to my “mini-review”.
I have to confess, though, that the more I investigate about the EEE 1000H, the more I think it´s an even more polished product than the Medion…
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September 18th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Sorry, but I have to disagree with you.
I had a MSI Wind (2 to be correct, black and white) and I think that design-wise it’s the best netbook on the market (= that you can actually buy) yet.
BUT (and for me this is a big BUT):
- Touchpad (Sentilec) ist useless – scrolling is not possible with this hardware, also its too small.
- battery life (3cell) is 1,5 hours or less – useless.
- ctrl and fn keys are switched – this is really annoying.
Right now I am quite happy with a eee 1000H instead, so for me this is the winner. But it’s louder and un-prettier but keyboard is on par, 6cell battery nice and the manufactoring quality seems fo be slightly better.
Lets all wait for the Ideapad S10 – maybe thats the best of both worlds.
Nomax
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September 20th, 2008 at 6:39 am
1000h vs Wind IMHO
- Keyboards (about even, Wind with the slight advantage)
- Build Quality (Wind definitely better)
- Design (Personal preference but most prefer the professional looking Wind)
- Speakers (1000h hands down)
- Touchpad (1000h kicks the Sentelic Touchpad and even trumps the Synaptics Touchpad found on older Winds)
- Battery (6-cell version of the Wind is about even with the 1000h – try to avoid the 3-cell Wind)
- Performance (Very similar but latest unoffical Wind bios 1.08 allows for up to 24% one-button touch overclocking – I have this set up on my Wind currently – will blog on it shortly – this gives Wind an edge although 1000h is overclockable too with some added difficulty)
- Wi-Fi (Similar but 1000h has N if you use it)
- Weight (Wind is lighter and therefore more portable)
- GFX (Even but again Unofficial Bios 1.07 and up for the Wind increases GFX memory to 128 for 1GB ram and 256 for 2GB of RAM)
The two machines are very close, with the 6-cell Wind just trumping the 1000h by a hair in my opinion. The 1000h clearly trumps the 3-Cell Wind in overall value and usability.
My 2 cents.
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September 20th, 2008 at 9:25 am
1.08 BIOS Update Guide
http://www.electricvagabond.com/2008/09/bios-factor-overclock-msi-wind-with-one.html
UMPC Portal – feel free to remove this post if unsuitable.
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September 19th, 2008 at 5:05 am
Thanks for the review! You say its near the top of the netbook class…. Which device in your opinion is currently at the top?
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September 25th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Is it possible to add a 3g mini-PCI module?
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:26 am
MSI Wind 6-cell is now available under $500 ($479.99 to be exact). Much better deal then Eee PC…
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October 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 am
does anybody have an idea where in singapore, US or Philippines a pink MSI wind is being sold? and if i happen to have a 3-cell wind, can i upgrade it to a 6-cell?
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December 28th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I hope medion releases overclock bios for akoya soon, for de rest I’am real happy with the mini labtop clone.
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