MSI Wind NetOn review

MSI is following Asus in expanding its netbook brand into the nettop market. The NetOn is its first all-in-one model. Unfortunately, where the Eee Top has a certain plasticky glamour, this is just ugly. The manufacturer trumpets its thinness, but we'd prefer a deeper case to the black panel below the screen.

Still, the NetOn ticks some boxes the Asus can't. The display isn't exactly a world-beater, but for the price it's sharp and bright. Thanks to the integrated optical drive, it's a pleasant way to watch a DVD. You'll have to turn up the volume to maximum, though; this isn't a loud machine, and the backward-facing speakers don't help matters.

It comes with a full-sized keyboard complete with function buttons, rather than the compact units that accompany other nettops. It creates a pleasing impression of using a "real" PC, although - as with the Advent - that's quickly put to rest when you start trying to use the NetOn like one. It's powered by a single-core Atom N270 supported by 1GB of RAM, giving just-usable desktop performance in Windows XP. The Intel GMA950 GPU won't run modern games, and stutters on more taxing video tasks.

Connectivity is limited too: the base unit has two PS/2 ports, but our review model was supplied with a USB keyboard and mouse, leaving just two USB ports free for peripherals; predictably, there's nothing snazzy such as FireWire or eSATA; and on the wireless side it's 802.11g only.

For the few quid extra, you do get a few benefits over the Advent, namely a two-year warranty and full-speed Gigabit Ethernet. But for everyday use we reckon those factors are outweighed by the Advent's higher resolution, adjustable screen, not to mention its significantly lower power drain. And that's before you get into aesthetics.

So while the fundamental differences between the Wind NetOn and other nettops are few, for now we're afraid MSI's first all-in-one nettop looks like a second choice.

Author: Darien Graham-Smith