NbC: MSI Wind U135 Review
March 29, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Build & Design
The MSI Wind U135 netbook is available in four colours including Sterling Silver, Brilliant Black, Midnight Blue and Cherry Red. We tested the Brilliant Black version that comes with a glossy lid along with glossy bezel and palm rest. However, fear not, it was not nearly as bad a fingerprint magnet as I first thought. The shape of the chassis is similar to past Wind netbooks but the U135 has a striped pattern embossed into the lid and touchpad that adds subtle styling.
The 6-cell battery adds bulk to the bottom of the netbook that adds a slight tilt making it more comfortable to type.
Despite the Wind U135 coming with a glossy lid, it is not too much of a fingerprint magnet as first feared. It comes with a subtle white line pattern effect.
The Wind U135 has solid build quality, something that has carried over from earlier Wind netbooks. We noticed no creaking when applying pressure to the lid and palm rest areas and the hinge had just the right amount of resistance.
The chassis sits flush together with the indicator lights easily visible on the bottom of the chassis.
The MSI logo is embossed into the glossy lid.
The Wind U135’s display could be pushed back farther than some of the recent models tested such as the Toshiba NB200 and Samsung N510.
Even at full stretch, the netbook was balanced enough in terms of weight that the display does not tip over.
The power button is made out of a faux-chrome material and illuminates blue when powered up.
As this is a MSI Wind netbook, you’ll get plenty of status lights on the front. The eight indicators represent (from left to right) Bluetooth, Wireless, Sleep, Battery power, Caps lock, Num lock, Scroll Lock and HDD activity.
Whilst the Wind U135 may not sit in the same class as the Asus Eee Seashell or Toshiba netbooks in terms of design, it is still an improvement over older models. The chiclet keyboard, chrome buttons, patterned lid/touchpad design all adds a certain elegance to the netbook.
The bezel and palm rest are also glossy in nature, but just like the lid, it’s not as bad a fingerprint magnet compared to other glossy netbooks.
May 9th, 2010 1:16 PM
I think it needs to be pointed out that the touchpad DOES in fact support multi-touch, scrolling, etc. You just need to grab the Sentelic Multi Touchpad driver from http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=nbdriver&maincat_no=135&prod_no=1973
May 26th, 2010 8:14 PM
Please include a close-up of the two MSI labels on the right underside. These labels show the wireless chipset used in the laptop. I would not touch the U135 if the chipset was Atheros ! too many problems with this chipset. Realtek is the best.
July 8th, 2010 2:43 PM
i have just bought one and the only thing i dnt know how to turn on is the bluetooth dse any one know how to
July 9th, 2010 10:15 PM
I am trying to find the user manual for my MSI wind U100. Not in the box and searched online to no avail. There are many things I do not know about my Netbook, so just do without!! I found a lot of manuals for the Asus Netbooks online, but shame on MSI/Proline for the lack of customer services.
My problem is — I do not know where to set the Webcam, it is not working, can anyone assist please. Thx E
August 3rd, 2010 2:43 PM
Hi,
I also don’t know how to make bluetooth work or my webcam…
can anyone tell me how?
August 4th, 2010 11:08 AM
My problem is — I do not know where to set the Webcam, it is not working, can anyone assist please. Thx E
For U100, Fn+F6 can turn on the webcam.
August 6th, 2010 7:01 PM
hi to turn the webcam on you need to press the fn button and the f6 button at the same time dose anyone know how to switch bluetooth on
October 19th, 2010 4:55 PM
Eli,
The english user manual for the Wind U100 can be found at the address below.
Copy and paste it into your browser.
Josh
http://download1.msi.com/files/downloads/mnu_exe/01_MS_N011+N811_v1.0_English.zip
January 6th, 2011 11:25 PM
hi, i was wondering if anyone could help because i got the netbook for christmas so i can stay in contact with family etc on skype but cant seem to figure out how to make the webcam work
January 17th, 2011 1:33 PM
Hi Guys,
I have bought the Wind U135 just today and the sales guy explained that the netbook doesnt have a built-in Bluetooth. You need to use a bluetooth plug-in/ device.
May 7th, 2011 11:00 AM
hiya i just bort the msi u135 netbook the webcam works an it sayss i have a built bluetooth i dont know ow ta switch it on it says to press fn +f11 togeva that only switches on the wireless can anyone tell me pleasee thanks
May 23rd, 2011 2:39 PM
Please can somebody advice me on how to turn my webcam on and is a built on webcam U135 laptop. it seem when i press the fn and f6 key it comes up but says error or bad signal so please advice