MSI prepares solid-state notebook for launch

[HEXUS]

MSI looks set to give the Asus eeeeeeePc a swift kick in the tech-z with this great looking, Diamondville-powered ultra mobile PC. Richard Stewart takes Nick through the key details - we can't wait to see how the final production version performs...

Watch the show.

[Silent Shark]

Cool. If this is priced around the eeePC sort of range, then it'll definatly be worth looking at.

Any ideas as to release date?

[Funkstar]

Why was that MSI guy so reluctant to speak about the processor in this?

Back in January,an executive from MSI told PCWorld.com "when Diamondville is ready, our project will be ready".

PC World - MSI Readying Diamondville Low-Cost Laptop

Also reported on Engadget.

[Andaho]

I was going to ask the question what's diamondville? but I decided to look it up instead, for anyone else who is wondering, I'd heard of it under it's other name the Intel Atom - Intel Atom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So is it going to be called Atom or Diamondville? Or am I even correct in thinking they are the same thing? - Because that wiki page also calls it Silverthorne.

[Funkstar]

Both

Silverhorn and Diamondwille areboth coming under the Atom branding

I've been trying to find out the differences between them, but I can't find anything concrete right now.

[Mblaster]

I thought Diamondville was the codename, and Atom was a brand name along the lines of Centrino? Could be wrong there though.

[Funkstar]

Thats right. But Silverhorn was also another code name for what hasnow become Atom

[MSIC]

Looks good it's true, but i prefer the more plain speaky.

"It's 1 Gig of memory, but this is the kind of thing we can spec up to suit different markets." "Or maybe we go for a really low-end spec, we can do that aswell. So it's flexible".

So, you mean, it's got SO-DIMMs in sockets?
Not ragging on you MSI, but it's not really a 'feature' now is it?

Still, the more the merrier if it's good build quality and a fair price.

Edit: Nick can you find out what OS it's going to come with, please?

[Andrzej]

Hi All,

Good to see you're all so keen about this one - having seen it up close (and as a solid PDA-user) I am too

MSI were OK about us filming the products in this display, but were clear up front that they could not discuss specifics until closer to launch

I'll give Richard a nudge this week - just to see if he is prepared to be a little forthcoming (or at least to give us a timescale by which he will be happy discussing some specifics )

[Cov]

Interesting Hexus video clip ... but what did the moderator say at the end ?
I din't quite get that (despite playing 5 times) ...

By the way, I hate this holding-back-strategy and making a big, big secret out of it.
Have you seen the way the laptop was displayed ... it's typical: with the back showing / hiding the front part.

Meaning: I have something what you desperately want, but you have to run after me - not the other way around.

You know what MSI ? ... keep it for yourself ! ... in one year, SSD will be standard in laptops anyway. No doubt about it.

[Funkstar]

Nick said "Diamondville" hence the discussion further up the thread about Silverhorn and Diamondville, now known as Intel Atom

[Nick]

OS wise it'll be a heavily modified version of Linux, just like the EeePC.

Richard didn't want to go to heavy on specs as they're looking at different specs and price points... as he says, you should be able to buy an up-specced version as well as a basic version... but seeing as that's not definite, he didn't want to go on record with anything more concrete than what you see in the vid.

Cov, they had the back on display because the spec and feature list still isn't finalised... better to say they have something coming than announce something that doesn't turn up as promised, no?

Overall, having seen the EeePC out in the wild and had a go on one for about an hour, I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed. This is something MSI are tackling with their version making it less plastic and more like a standard lappy.

How successful they are at doing that is another matter though... until we get 'hands on' who can say?

Price wise, Richard wouldn't be drawn on it, but it's safe bet to say this will be not a million miles from EeePC pricing.

[Andrzej]

E-e-e-e-e-pc to one side, I can't wait to see the productivity level of this new wave of UMPC products up against the new wave of PDA/Smartphones from HTC/Glofiish etc

Moving OS arguments etc to one side - which product actually allows you to be more productive - with more software/data - with more of your colleagues...

...while at the same time balancing out the cost of entry and speed/frustration of use

The 'cost of entry' part is important, because every year I get a brand new - uprated Smartphone on contract for nothing - i.e. no payment required

Will this new generation of UMPCs have SIM capabilities etc ?

Will be interesting to see this all pan out before Symbian Smartphone Show

[Funkstar]

As long as I can use the Internet Connection Sharing from my Windows Mobile to one of these when running linux then I don't see that they need to have built in radios. I'd rather they added an ExpressCard slot, you could always just use a USB modem like Three provide for their mobile broadband package.

[MSIC]

Thanks Nick, i Know you are doing your best and it was good to get the video.
I suppose it's a testament to, well ... something, that we are all interested in this product to want to know more.
We'd all love a quad core, high res, 64GB SSD portable cheap laptop, but as long as they keep stretching the envelope a bit then i'll take what i can.

[dangel]

Overall, having seen the EeePC out in the wild and had a go on one for about an hour, I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed. This is something MSI are tackling with their version making it less plastic and more like a standard lappy.

Interesting - in all honesty i'd say the eee was extremely solidly built.. certainly no worse than the Dell's here anyway (speaking as someone who's dropped his from 6ft onto a hard floor). Thanks for the article anyway - it's interesting to see how Asus have effectively created a new market and now everybody's bringing their own version to the table. That's a really good thing - more choice for us!