Gets the job done, low powered, (What's this?) I needed something that could run 24/7 as a file server that could be occasionally used as a Desktop. While I would not recommend this as an everyday desktop, it gets the job done.
Pros:
Size
Solid Build - High quality contruction, feels like a mini business class desktop.
Low Power Usage
Took only 10 minutes to install ram, hard drive and dvd burner.
External power supply reduces heat (laptop type ac adapter).
For much less than $300 I was able to build a 1tb file server that will outperform just about any NAS in that price range.
Cons:
No WDDM 1.1 support for the 945 chipset. This cripples Aero performance when using Windows 7. No linux drivers for this chipset, forcing VESA drivers.
Loud - The single fan is louder than I expected. I'm looking into replacing the fan.
You can not run 2 hard drives at the same time due to power limitations. Not an issue for most people, but worth a mention if somebody is planning on using the ODD sata port for a 2nd hard drive...
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Other thoughts:
After reading rave reviews of Windows 7's performance on netbooks I thought this would be a no brainer. I did not take into consideration the low netbook resolution which is much easier on the graphic chip than my 19" monitor is. Disabling some visual effects like transparent windows and animations helps, but Windows XP may be a better option for everday use.
Edit: After trying everything from Ubuntu to Windows 7, I've found that Windows XP runs better than anything else on this. Everything works the way you would expect it to in XP, while everything else either suffered from less than full hardware support or inconsistent performance. (end edit)
Built in CF slot is perfect for a permanent ready boost solution.
Performance is exactly what I expected.
HAS A DUAL CORE PROCESSOR !!, The Wind PC is ***NOT*** intended to play videos or games. How foolish can anyone be to assume so when it has a 1.6GHz dual core processor ? This CPU *typically* uses less than 1.0 watt of power. It is intended to be used as either a basic web-surfing/email/basic tasks utility PC appliance or else a perfect platform for creating a home file server (can stream videos, but *not* play them). Look into FreeNAS. Its *really* easy to set up. Did I mention that FreeNAS is free ? No knowledge of *any* Unix/Linux/BSD is required.
If you are really into green machines then choose a green HDD for slightly less total system power consumption. For use as a server, temporarily hook up a USB external or SATA internal optical drive and any old monitor. For less than 250 bucks TOTAL for adding a hard drive (+50 to 75 bucks) and less than 30 bucks for a single 2GB memory stick you will have a great and complete home server with a 100Mbit or 1Gbit wired LAN connection. Or, add a good USB wireless-N or -G adapter to eliminate the LAN cable. There are *very* many bad ones out there, so do your homework and thoroughly research to find a good one.
There is no cheaper complete solution using brand new (waranteed) hardware.
Unlike the Wind PC 100 model, this one does *not* have a PCI expansion card slot. There will never be a Compact Flash G or N wireless adapter.
Using a USB FLASH drive to hold the OS and boot from is definitely a bad idea. The FLASH technology used has a limited write-cycle lifetime and it is *guaranteed to wear out*. However, solid state disk (SSD) drives (also known as MLC FLASH) use a better technology and will never wear out (in your lifetime).
SSDs are still new technology and the performance differences between early models that are still being sold and the newest ones are great. The newest large capacity SSD drives add a big RAM cache buffer to speed up the overall operation (just like HDDs and CPUs). Shop carefully, read the user reviews and look for the best performing models.
Almost all SSDs come in the 2.5 inch hard drive form factor that is intended for laptop PCs. However, they all have the standard SATA power and data connectors. To install in a non-laptop PC a 2.5"-to-3.5" adapter bracket is needed.
Not bad for a small box., (What's this?) This MSI computer seems to be a good machine. I couldn't get the built in Wi-Fi to work though. Fortunately I have a Linksys /Cisco router, and I don't need the Wi-Fi on this box. It's a bit slow to boot up, but for the price it does a good job. I wish they would put a Firewire port on these little machines, because I would want to load stuff from a video camera or a good DSLR in the future. They should have put a DVD+RW drive on it. I had to buy an external DVD+RW drive. So far, no breakdowns, knock on wood. I don't trust the hard drive they installed, so I bought a Seagate Replica backup drive, and it works well. If something goes wrong, I should be able to get it running again myself.
Great Little Computer for Runnig Ubuntu Server, (What's this?) I came across this little computer when looking for a web server for a church of a little under a 1000 members. Having a dedicated server rather then renting hosting allows for a much richer set of capabilities. Since this setup only draws about 30 watts it is cheaper too.
This is the setup.
*2 gig ram
*2 - 500 gig green hard drives (the second drive is installed with an adapter kit in the DVD drive bay.)
*Ubuntu server hosting Durpal
Daily backups are automatic using Rdiff-backup backing up everyday to the second hard drive. Rdiff just backs up changes while compressing and saving the previous changes. This allows daily changes to the web page to be saved for years with out having to delete any.
After installing the operating system and setting up the network everything else can be done remotely. This leaves the Wind connected to just power and an Ethernet cable so it can be put in a closet or basement. The bios is set to reboot automatically after a power failure which it has done without problems. It runs cool and quite when set in the provided cradle with the cooling vents down.
A little bigger than expected, but otherwise perfect, (What's this?) This case turned out to be a little bit bigger than I expected, but it still fit in the space I had allotted for it, so no worries. Other than that, putting the front face back on after installing the components was a bit of a challenge, but I think I was just having a slow moment (note: I didn't read directions until after I had finished getting it together. If I had, it would have clearly pointed out what I should have been doing).
Good product, didn't really need it., Well, I should start out by saying that I didn't really need the computer, it was actually just a project to occupy some time.
Pros:
External power supply was a great idea, greatly reduce the over all bulk of the machine.
Liked the cable routing.
Easy to install all needed parts, the ram was a tight fit, but it went in.
Recognizes my 4Gb CF card.
Cons:
No wifi card, I just got a USB card and use that instead.
Have to remove the mother board to install the CF card.
Really I have nothing else to say about it, I haven't used it much.
Received "Server" Setup CD, (What's this?) These comments refer to the Model 100 "Bare Bones" version.
Contrary to the printed instructions, the setup CD does not have the RealTek HD Audio Driver. In fact, the setup CD is titled "Server Drivers". A search on the MSI website was no help.
Audio doesn't work, so the 7.1 audio with it's 8 connectors is useless.
The front panel CF Card Slot is also non-functional.
The internal CF card is unreachable, unless you take the motherboard out.
A slot on the side of the case would have been nice.
This unit runs hot so you will want to stand it on it's end, with the vent on the bottom and the fan on top.
Good Ubuntu desktop or server - low graphic performance, (What's this?) Purchased this last year, running it with Ubuntu 9.10 desktop as home network server. Hard drive is a full size WD 1TB Green model. All hardware detected and working well. System has been reliable. Graphic performance is below today's standards so I wouldn't recommend this computer for any video or home theater use. Office applications and even photo editing are fine.
The case is attractive and well made. It's compact but will house a full size 3.5" hard drive and full size 5.25" optical drive. With a 5.25" to 3.5" adapter two 3.5" hard drives would fit. The stock fan can get a little loud at times, it ramps up and down depending on the load. I modded the heat sink for a closer fit to the CPU, replaced the thermal pads with silver paste, and keep the optical bay empty. It's located away from my desk so I can leave on 24/7 if needed. It has boot on LAN so I generally leave it off until needed.
If MSI would update the design with better graphics, DVI and HDMI video output, better cooling, and more memory expansion I would consider purchasing another one.
It's my Linux router-on-a-stick, (What's this?) Good: Small form factor, reasonably fast, lower power consumption than the micro-ATX PC that it replaced, compatible with Debian and boots from a SDHC card.
Bad: Could still be smaller (the drive bays are unnecessary for my purposes). It could draw even less power if the chipset were so optimized (none of its competitors are, either). The blue LED on the front blinds me with the light of a thousand suns.
Overall, this is the best choice I could have made.
USB 2.0 x 6 (Front 2/ Rear 4); 7.1ch HD Audio, VGA x 1; 10/100/1000Mb Ethernet x 1; CF Card Slot (on board) x 1; Mic-in x1; Headphone-out x1.Intel Dual Core Atom 330 1.6Ghz CPU on board; Intel 945GC ICH7; Intel GMA 950 Graphics.. Intel atom330 (dual core) 1.6g intel gma950, 7 x usb 2.0 ports drive bays: 1 x 3.5 & 1 x 5.
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