NetBookMag.com

Press Announcement:
Novell Extends Desktop Linux Leadership Through Pre-Load Agreement With Micro-Star International
–==Press Release==–

Micro-Star International will deliver low-cost, mini-notebooks netbooks pre-loaded with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop

Waltham, Mass- In order to meet increasing global customer demand for Linux* on client systems, Novell® today announced that Micro-Star International (MSI), a leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions based in Taiwan, is pre-installing SUSE® Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 on MSI’s low-cost mini-notebooks netbooks. The initial pre-loaded model, the Wind netbook, is one of the first in the rapidly growing segment of low-cost mini-notebooks, termed “netbooks” by Intel Corporation. Powered by the new Intel® Atom™ processor, the Wind netbook will be available worldwide and comes pre-loaded with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop as well as the OpenOffice.org productivity suite and a host of wireless, security and multimedia capabilities.

According to IDC’s latest Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker from June 2008, worldwide shipments of portable PCs are projected to reach 145.3 million units in 2008, with the emergence of ultra low-cost notebook PCs cited as a significant influence on the overall netbook market.**

With SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell, MSI customers get a user friendly interface coupled with a rich set of applications, as well as unmatched technical and driver support. Since 2006, MSI and Novell have collaborated to provide SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop for MSI desktops and notebooks, but this is the first pre-load agreement between the two companies.

“Novell is excited to partner with MSI to pre-install SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop on its low-cost netbooks powered by Intel’s Atom processor,” said Roger Levy, senior vice president and general manager of Open Platform Solutions at Novell. “The market is primed for desktop Linux, and by combining MSI’s highly-mobile, full-featured notebooks with Novell’s enterprise-ready desktop operating system, customers now have the best of both worlds – a comprehensive and easy-to-use solution at a very affordable price.”
Availability

The lightweight Wind netbook featuring Intel’s energy-saving Atom processor will be available worldwide later this summer. More information can be found at www.msimobile.com.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop provides market-leading usability, seamless interoperability and essential productivity applications. It is deployable as a general-purpose desktop or easily tailored for use in thin- or thick-client configurations. With SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, businesses can dramatically reduce costs, improve security and increase workforce productivity. For more information on SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell, visit www.novell.com/linux/desktop.

Novell

Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers the best engineered, most interoperable Linux* platform and a portfolio of integrated IT management software that helps customers around the world reduce cost, complexity and risk. With our infrastructure software and ecosystem of partnerships, Novell harmoniously integrates mixed IT environments, allowing people and technology to work as one. For more information, visit www.novell.com.

Novell and SUSE are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Press Contact

Charlotte Betterley
Novell, Inc.
Telephone: +1 781 464-8253
Email: cbetterley@novell.com

written by admin \\ tags: Atom, MSI Wind, netbook, SUSE

But Be Quick

MSI Europe has managed to ship the first batch of their Wind Netbook to many European countries, demand is so high that they will most likely end up sold out as soon as they arrive.

MSI has managed to create good hype with this small but powerful netbook and it hit’s the sweet spot in the price department as well as having some advantages over Asus Eee PC 1000, its main rival.

10inch screens and batteries are two things that are extremely hard to come by these days. The first batch of Wind Notebooks will come with a rather 3-cell battery, but there are rumours that a version with a 6 cell battery might be available soon.

At present the 6 cell batteries are very hard to come by due to a huge fire in one of the largest China battery factories. 10 inch displays are also in short supply as the manufacturers of 10 inch displays prefer to sell these to much higher profitable car PCs and make more money from it.

So then, The MSI Wind netbook is shipping, but just how long it will be available remains to be seen.

We can’t wait to get our hands on one but the way things are going this might not be for a while yet.

written by admin \\ tags: Atom, MSI Wind, Wind Netbook

MSI Wind
Oh Yeah Baby.. we’ve fallen in love with the MSI Wind since it’s announcement and for good reason.

Whats Hot:
The MSI Wind has a 10.2 inch display which knocks out a pleasing 1,024×600 pixels. Like most of its competition it’s available with either Linux or Win XP. Both versions use a 1.6GHz N270 Intel Atom CPU which can be safely overclocked at the touch of a the F8 button. You also get an whopping 80GB hard drive, 802.11b/g wireless, and a 1.3 mega-pixel web-cam. The Linux version only gets 512MB of RAM, while the Win-XP model costing slightly more gets 1GB.

Whats Not Hot:
There’s very little wrong with the Wind. It’s reported that its only flaws are its mouse track-pad which is rather small and that it has no integrated 3G but we can live with that. Don’t expect to play 3D games on it. Other than that it’s the business.

When can I get it?
Around June-July 08. Pre-orders are available at many retailers now.

written by admin \\ tags: Atom, MSI Wind, Wind Netbook