MSI Wind U200

Since the original MSI Wind U100 was released two years ago it has been copied by almost every other netbook manufacturer.

It was the first computer to combine a 10in screen, 160GB hard disk, 1GB of memory and a low-power Intel Atom processor - almost every netbook sold today has an identical specification. However, the MSI Wind U200 has little in common with its predecessor.

Netbooks are popular because they are cheap and portable, but while they are good for word processing and web surfing, after regular use their shortcomings become apparent. The small screen size and keyboard can be uncomfortable and they perform poorly when used for much more than the simplest of tasks. Until recently, the only alternative was a full-sized laptop, more expensive and not as portable.

The U200 addresses these problems: it is more powerful than a netbook and has a larger keyboard and a bigger screen. There is also more storage, the battery lasts longer and it can play high-definition video.

The clear difference is the wide 12in screen, which is noticeably brighter than before. The computer has three USB ports, a microphone and headphone socket, a memory card reader and an HDMI socket so the U200 can be plugged into a flat-panel television. The chassis is made of strong plastic, which is sturdy but feels chunky as the screen and body are quite thick.

The move to a widescreen display has another advantage. Although the larger than most netbooks, the computer’s dimensions have mainly increased horizontally, so it can still fit in hand luggage. The extra space means more room for the keyboard, with dedicated Page Up and Page Down keys (on most netbooks this requires a combination of keys). Unfortunately, the keyboard bent noticeably when pressure is applied, which can make typing more difficult.

It comes with a 320GB hard disk and the Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (rather than the Starter Edition common on netbooks). It also has 2GB of memory, so both Windows and other programs run faster. Opening dialogue boxes, browsing for files and even clicking on the Start menu felt more responsive than on other netbooks.

Another reason for the laptop's extra performance is its new Intel CULV SU3500 processor, which is a lot more capable than the older Atom used in nearly every netbook. It’s designed to sustain the battery longer than a standard processor.

Similar technology is found in the Acer Aspire Timeline 1810TZ, a laptop that impressed us recently for both its performance and long battery life.

The 1810TZ has a dual-core processor, though, which is more powerful than the single-core processor in the U200. This difference is most noticeable when running multiple programs simultaneously. The Wind’s battery did not last as long, either: when running our intensive tests, it lasted less than four hours. MSI quotes six hours under less-taxing conditions but this is still less than the battery life we measured on the 1810TZ.

The U200 is more expensive than most netbooks, but the screen size and performance are worth the extra money.

A netbook may still be better value if you only plan on running simple tasks, but for users who require even a little more power the U200 is unlikely to disappoint.