Hardware Hands on with the MSI Wind Pad 100W

We check out the latest version of MSI's WindPad, complete with a video and photos.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/mobile/2010/12/29/msi-wind-pad-100w-getting-hands-on/1

 

Interface looks extremely poo compared to a custom designed UI that the iPad has.

 

The only tablet of this sort which looks remotely interesting is the Asus EP121, as it essentially turns into a full-fledged laptop.

 

As it's essentially a Netbook, recofigure Win7 for max. speed, as you would with a netbook, and it'l get a lot snappier.
There's some guides in the Forums here.

The buttons will be too small though, that won't change unless a Win7 Tablet Edition is created (I thought that existed...?)

Well that's at least preferable to softbuttons

 

Looks a bit thick.

 

The Experience Index is based on the spec with the lowest score, in this case being ofc the SSD with only 16 GB, this is nothing for Windows 7.

Maybe the OS should be tweaked with a patch so it knows its installed on a tablet and you dont need much space so the score in this device could be higher.

 

leaves me feeling "meh" compared to how it could be done.

 

I also feel that since this will be compared to a phone OS tablet, maybe we will see some Windows Phone 7 tablets in CES to make a proper comparison.

 

The Asus epad 121 so far is the only real alternative to the ipad.

 

IF it comes out. It would've been great if they could have released it within a couple of months of the ipad, but if it comes out in spring, just before the ipad2, it might not be such an attractive purchase, especially at twice the price.

 

Cue Nexxo to remind us what a excellent bit of kit the iPad really is and thank MSI for giving us an example of why.

 

Programming language used is absolutelly awesome compared to the extreme poo that the iPad uses tho

also, it's their own fault for using Aero on that thing, turn it off and it responds a lot better... still think that they should use the ubuntu netbook edition on one of these tho, muuuch better

 

mmmm a big remote control

 

maybe another pop star will have 2 in his pants pockets and a pink laptop

 

Speed and Usability is king, this is what the Linux heads never could get. Apple will rule this market until someone comes out with something 3 times better and a lower price.

 

As you say, speed and usability are king! That's what Linux heads love.

Big distros like Ubunto are easy to use and play nice with most modern components, it's really getting quite easy run Linux. APT makes installing and uninstalling programs a breeze and the Gnome interface is quite intuitive. Compared to Win7 on Atom, it's also much faster and that speed also makes it more usable. The only challenge in this situation is that manufacturers aren't thinking with Linux in mind (perhaps because of deals with MS, as per the article) so they don't ship with default support and drivers for the unique hardware have to be hand made.

 

Hi guys, may I remind you of-- ah, never mind.

And that makes a difference to the end user how?

 

but what about battery life? you will want at least a few day of usage (eg. 8 to 9 hours and hundreds of standby) before having to be tethered to the wall.

 

ah well, if its just a netbook with a touch interface I'll do to it what I do with netbooks.....Mod it by giving it 2gb ram and remove windows for linux. Should solve most problems

 

Have you tried running linux on a touch-only laptop?