MSI Wind U115 Hybrid

Product: MSI Wind U115 Hybrid
Website: www.msi.com/WindU115Hybrid
System Requirements: Intel Z530 Atom processor; 8GB SSD; 160GB HDD; 10-in screen; webcam; 802.11b/g/n wireless & Bluetooth
Price: £449

NETBOOOKS HAVE TO strike a balance between decent battery life and adequate storage capacity. The result, as can be seen across many models from different manufacturers, is that too often battery performance is sacrificed to a good-sized hard disc drive.

MSI's latest netbook boasts not only respectable battery performance but also good storage capacity too. How the Wind U115 Hybrid achieves this feat is certainly a new approach and also somewhat intriguing.

An 8GB SSD holds the Windows XP OS and applications software, which makes the machine fast and is less of a demand on the battery life than a hard drive. But there's also a 160GB HDD for user generated files and downloaded content. A power saving option permits disabling the HHD, prolonging battery life.

When this option is selected, the hard disk drive is shut down and disconnected logically, so it is no longer accessible and does not draw power.

MSI stated this mode will yield 12 hours of battery life, but we found it managed only around eight. With the HDD powered up we found the battery bottomed out at around six hours of continuous use, which we expected given the power requirements of an HDD compared to a solid-state disk.

We discovered one annoying eccentricity, however: whenever the netbook reboots or goes into standby, the powered-down HDD setting is completely forgotten and has to be set up again each time. That will make it difficult to extract maximum battery life from this design, but perhaps we're being too much of a perfectionist by noticing it.

The netbook is powered by an Intel 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor, which everyone from Dell to Sony seems to be using these days for this type of machine.

Graphics are handled by the Intel US15W chipset, which MSI says is capable of HD playback. Youtube HD videos seemed OK, but the machine struggled with MKV containers and threw a hissy fit at Iplayer HD content.

The Wind U115 Hybrid's screen is a 10-inch LCD, which is a fairly standard size by now for netbooks.

An unusually wide black keyboard takes up the entire width of the device, to the point where it almost curls over the edges. This gives a feel that approaches that of a full-sized laptop keyboard, offering a better typing experience than most netbooks.

The overall dimensions are fairly close to the average netbooks size and shape. It weighs in at around 1kg, similar to its competitors.

In Short
As a netbook the U115 performs as expected with the added benefit of a 160GB HDD that can be switched off to save power, which seems like a winner depending on one's individual netbook use requirements.

However, there is bound to be a time when a file is desperately needed and the only place it resides is on the hard drive. We worry about what happens if there is not enough power left to switch on the HDD. µ

The Good
Dual storage capacity of both a large hard disk drive and much smaller solid-state disk with potentially long battery life.

The Bad
First of it's kind, but otherwise ordinary netbook specs; HDD power-save mode must be reset on reboot.

The Ugly
Some might see the dual power modes as a novelty rather than useful.

Barman's Verdict
8/10