Customer Reviews

MSI U123-003US 10.2 Blue Netbook - 9.5 Hour Battery Life

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

ADDITIONAL UPDATES: Oct. 2009, Jul. 2009

First off, I would like to raise my rating to 5 STARS, however that does not seem possible when updating a review? Rather than write a whole new review, I will just update as I believe it represents a more complete overview of the process of using the item being reviewed.

Recv'd my MSI U123-003US, three days earlier than expected, nice surprise. Unpacked it, plugged it in and left it alone for the day. Later in the day, fired it up (the first time turning it on, it takes some time to set itself up), so far impressive.

I ordered the additional 2 gig of ram, after emailing MSI regarding the potential warranty issue. They were very responsive and assured me that upgrading the ram would not void the warranty. Getting the back off and on takes some time, is a little bit of a trick, but not bad. After turning the unit back on it was all recognized.

Downloaded itunes, safari, quicktime and skype, no issues all went well and fairly quick. Will add other programs in the near future. Have added OpenOffice ([...]), looking forward to see how this works. Have added other open source programs from SUN Microsystems, web-browser and email.

There is an issue I addressed w/my question about the RAM. The sleeve that comes w/this unit (9 cell battery) does not fit. i.e. the netbook slides in just fine, but the bulk of the battery prohibits the abbility to close the sleeve/pouch. UPDATE: the person that responded to the ram questions asked for pictures of the problem, they have been sent. FURTHER UPDATE: there was a little up and back, bottom line, with some force you can get the netbook to fit in the sleeve. MSI suggests putting the battery end in first, this does not solve the problem, however it does seem to streach out the sleeve if you leave it in over-nite and then slide the netbook in up-side-down (battery facing up and toward the opening) the space created by the thickness of the battery allows for the charger and cords in the pocket. It does work, w/effort, suggestion, when not using the netbook leave it in the sleeve for a while to allow it to streach.

Keyboards seem to be an issue in netbook reviews, this one seems fine and the additional bulk of the battery sets the unit at a comfortable angle. Typing/keying is very quite, track pad is responsive, some have written about possible issue w/the trackpad buttons, I can see their concern, something you may have to be mindful of. UPDATE: trackpad buttons do not seem to be an issue. UPDATE: I suppose if you have a heavy hand this may be an issue, remember this netbook has Bluetooth allowing the use of a Bluetooth mouse.

All in all, so fare, impressive unit. Have provided one update so far and I am increasing the satisfaction. When I have some more info and time I will try to update this review. Hope this is helpful.

FURTHER UPDATES: I have provided some above, again, this has earned a 5 STAR product rating. The unit travels well, boots quickly, and is comfortable to work with. Family members liked it and requested information about the company and it's link to the Amazon sale page. This was a worthy investment, good for traveling and utilizing around the house when you just want to sit down in an easy chair and do some work, (wireless) surf the net, email, etc. Personal issue; the casing attracks finger prints. The extra thickness of the battery kind of creates a sort of handle for carrying around when not in the sleeve. I am curious about the Apple OS being installed, I have seen some writings on the internet but nothing absolute. Again an impressive unit to date, 12 July 2009 and I have not utilized all it's features yet. Just as I shared w/the family members that were interested in the unit, the value and quality is worth the asking price that Amazon was charging ([...]), pretty good deal for a netbook w/some life to it. Another thing, a charge seems to last a lot longer than 9 hours under regular use, I only have to charge it every couple days or so.

ADDITIONAL UPDATES: Oct. 2009: About 4 months have gone by since the purchase and this netbook still continues to impress, no questions, 5 STAR product rating, it is a trooper. Has handled all our needs and then some, it has integrated very well into our home network that includes both pc and MAC. ITUNES 9 has been a great addition w/sharing. Having the ability to place a small hardcover book on your lap and the netbook on top (the book is not necessary) while sitting in a comfortable chair or anywhere for that matter is a bonus. The portability is great whether in our home or out on the road, it travels extremely well. The wireless is strong and does well w/the internet. We still have not utilized all of it's capabilities but w/the addition of the MAC in our network, the on-board bluetooth along w/iSync should prove to be a handy enhancement as well as it's ability to sync with the Siemens TEK via bluetooth. Very good buy, w/recent price drops and rebates from the manufacturer, this is well worth the money, an even better deal. Additional ram, very much worth it and should be considered/done at purchase time, not worth the bother of second guessing. Hope the update(s) are useful.

Well worth the money, and I am sure the price will eventually drop and/or there will be a better version in the future!

I received the MSI U123-003 Wind Netbook one day ahead of time. The packaging was in excellent condition. Checked all accessories included and they were complete. Turned ON the netbook and everything loaded in two hours. Configured my WIFI and I am able to surf the internet and load the current updates. Tried the keyboard, mouse pad, sound, display brightness, Web Cam, and Blutooth. Everything works fine. The display was really nice. The keypads are just fine for people with average size of hands. The battery was excellent, with more than six hoours or power. The only add thing is when you insert the netbook inside the carrying case, the thing has a little bump shape because of the battery. For the price and all its feature, I would say it is a great deal. Drivers can be downloaded on line, support is pretty easy on MSI web site. This is a must see and must have for high schoolers. I owned a Clevo D901C, a gaming beast, and I would say the MSI is a GREAT PRODUCT to own. If you replace the wireless card with a half mini card MC8792, you're all set for the 3G connection with AT&T or Verizon.

Updated/08-28-09. Installed vista business. I was surprise that my drivers were not updated with vista install disc. At first I got worried because almost all my drivers were not functioning. The bad part, the drivers on the MSI web site is only for XP. It was good that my wireless was working and I updated my windows, and windows updated my drivers automatically. Everything is working now except for the easy face. I guess not all can be updated. I tried the other versions in MSI, but it didn't work. I bought an extra battery (6 cell) for light usage and it is giving me four hours of operation. I am upgrading my wifi card to include a wimax (intel 5350 half mini card). I'll update this review once I get the chance to play with it. Great toy. Got another one for my relative and she is enjoying it. Installed a plain transparency sheet on the display and it gives that glossy look (note: if you try putting one, be careful not to press the display too hard. Also, there's no need to disassemble the frame. Just slide the transparncy sheet on the sides and it will do the trick).

Updated/09-01-09. Intel 5350 half mini card worked fine. Wimax has very few coverage, make sure to check with the service provider to avoid misunderstandings. So far, the netbook is great with 2 giga bytes ram. Windows index is at 2.7.

Seems to be a great laptop
When upgrading the ram you have to remove all the screws from the bottom, there is one that is hidden under a white ("you will void the warranty") warning sticker that is the only screw that is hidden, but once the screws are removed the bottom comes off pretty easily and replacing the ram is a 5 minute job.

Runs the included Windows XP very well - I also installed the Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix in a dual boot with the Windows XP and have to say that the Ubuntu works really well.

keyboard is comfortable and overall the machine seems sturdy and quiet.
Screen is really bright and nice.
Battery life is very extended.

I would recommend this to others.

This is my first review on Amazon, but one I personally wanted to write for those teetering on the edge of buying a netbook (and specifically this netbook).

After months (literally) of reviewing every netbook under the sun from the Asus, to the Samsung, I finally decided on this computer. Let me tell you the reasons why, as I am sure they are the same ones mulling over in your mind.

* Need the 9+ hours of battery life. I looked at Asus and Samsung, both which get great battery life, but they didn't have the 9 cell battery. This MSI computer does have that "bump" at the back, but it is a GREAT thing to have. I can't imagine not having my keyboard slanted, it makes typing SO much easier. I have been getting 10+ hours on the battery, when optimized.

* Need a computer with 92%+ keyboard size. I have decently big hands, and I didn't want to not be able to type on my new netbook, otherwise the point of having one is lost. This keyboard is great. One criticism is that the period key (as mentioned by another reviewer) is a bit smaller than the rest. Not a big deal, but one worth mentioning, although I couldn't say it was a deal breaker.

* Screen: You need the biggest screen you can get. This MSI offers one of the biggest and best screens available. It uses low power and displays great video.

* Build: The Samsung almost got my vote on this one, but I decided to try MSI, and I am happy I did. I don't' have both sitting in front of me at the same time but the build of the MSI is great in my opinion. No creaky keyboards, or cheap items on the MSI that I can tell.

* Mousepad: No issues with the mousepad, it is pretty much regular size, maybe a bit smaller. Downloaded new syp. drivers and it works perfect with scrolling.

Overall this is a great computer, long battery life, solid build and very stylish! I would definitely recommend this computer to anyone, without hesitation.

Purchased the MSI 123 blue. Had some trouble inserting the upgrade ram. Poor instructions. I purchased the $49.99 cd/dvd playing to go with my unit. Instructions were worse but got it running. Everything works great. I heard you have to be careful how many programs you put on this little guy. This is what I need to find out now. Yes the case that came with it is too small because of the battery. MSI or Amazon should make good on this and replace it with one that fits. All in all I think it is a great little computer.

I buy this computer to go in my Eurotrip in august, this net book have a very good performance about battery, and the next investment for this netbook are a 2G of RAM, now runs Windows 7 and runs nice, but I think if install another 1G of RAM runs very very quickly!!!

I recommend this net book for long travel!!!

POSITIVES:
- Battery actually does last 9 hours, 6 with full brightness
- Good keyboard
- Not too loud
- VERY bright LED screen
- Comes with a nice zipper case
- Matt screen
- Excellent WiFi reception
- Sturdy design
- Runs XP great, starts up faster than my Core 2 Duo Vista Notebook
- Good Audio Control Panel

NEGATIVES
- The case is a white that clashes with the blue
- The CPU is too slow to handle flash video without being a little jerky (Hulu, Youtube etc) but its still watchable and I do watch video on it every day
- The GPU is clocked down to 100mhz but should be 400mhz, this is the case with all netbook but a program called GMAbooster can fix this
- The netbook doesnt contain the official drivers for the trackpad, you'll probably need to track down the real drivers which are available on [...]- The two mouse buttons are really crappy feeling
- Finger prints like crazy
- Doesn't have easy access panels for Ram upgrades. I still upgraded my ram, but some users might be more afraid to do it now; I didnt think it was that hard
- USB ports continue to power devices even after shutdown


Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase, and very pleased with MSI. Its a great netbook and I have a lot of fun with it. The power adapter is larger than I would like, but the battery last so long it doesn't even matter. I have tried to play older games like Counter-Strike 1.6 (15 FPS) and anything 3D just really suffers. Also Adobe flash (most online video) is really taxing on a cpu and it can get a little jerky but its still watchable, I wathc the News Hour with Jim Leher (American Politics Assignment) every day on it, as well as my favorite shows on Hulu.

Great Netbook, I get lots of questions from curious people.

Keep in mind it doesnt have a CD drive. You could however share a cd drive on your network from another computer using Map drives (built into windows) and I think that would work for most uses if you do not have an external.

What can I say about this netbook???
I LOVE IT!!!!
I bought this Baby on June 15th 2009 and I love it.
I charge this thing once every 3 to 4 Days..
I took it on a trip a few days ago and it worked like a charm...
I watched a whole movie during the flight and still had extra battery life to check my e-mails at the airport after the flight..
most of my coworkers want to buy one .
this is the second one that I purchased, the first one I bought was for my Daughter on her birthday and I fell in love with it so I had to buy this one.
Happy to report that both of our netbooks are working fine and my Son and Wife both want one...
wireless internet works great and the webcam is cool.
I added extra Ram ( 2 gigs total )and that was easy to install, bought the external DVD/CD burner and that too is easy to connect and use...

You will not be sorry if you buy this little Baby ;-)

The netbook was a great buy, not only it is very lightweight but powerful enough to most activities including running Windows 7. Mind that I didn't upgrade memory or disk yet.

PROS:
- Very light
- Confortable keyboard for a 10" netbook, it takes a while to get used, don't try typing in the dark ;)
- Fast
- Can run on batteries for a very long time
- Runs Ubuntu 9.04 and Windows 7 well
- Silent

CONS:
- Could come with a larger hard drive (can be replaced, not a big con)
- Could come with more RAM (also can be replaced, most people do)
- 9-cell battery won't fit in the case shipped with the netbook

I love my MSI U123 netbook. I am an IT professional and have loaded SQL server 2008 and Visual studio for some light development, and Unreal Tournament 2004 for some light gaming. There are times that I realize that this is just an Atom cpu, like the time when a friend handed me a VPC image and realized that the CPU could not do the Virtual PC thing. But that was really the first and last time in the 3 months is that I have owned it, that the cpu has stopped me from doing something that I needed to do. I cannot count how often I have been sitting in a café watching everyone else scramble for the power outlets, knowing that I have over 4 hours of batter left and I have not charged it in days. Secretly I love nothing more than to see a mac run out of power as "I am a PC" and in spite of the commercials that you see, mac computers are really not that different. I have even gotten a double take or two from mac users, when they see the size of this netbook. But enough of the mac bash. I guess you get what you pay for.

I say light gaming but really I have been playing UT since about version 1999 and had to turn down the display settings to increase the performance but really did not have any problem raging some chaos on some bots, 3 on one I think that was fair. They never had a chance. When playing this same game on line, I found that I need my normal keyboard and mouse to be affective. Kind of like an Olympic skier needs his favorite pair of boots. But from a CPU and graphical perspective, this computer seems to be capable. Of working when game night falls on a night when I am out of town or when a buddy stops by and wants to join in the carnage.

The biggest problems that I have had with it were the mouse buttons built into the mouse pad next to the keyboard. They were not designed very well and are sloppy to say the least. You can even press one down all the way and think that you have clicked but because you pressed in the wrong location the switch did not close enough to actually make a click. Some other netbooks also have dedicated page up and down buttons, that would be nice on a screen that only has 600 pixels in height.

I did upgrade the ram to two gig of ram. In spite of what you may have read about the Wind, you do not have to patch the BIOS of the U123 in order to upgrade the ram, that was the U100. It came with 1 gig of DDR2 800Mhz ram and I replaced it with 2 gig of the same. I emailed pre sales and they stated that the computer is in fact a 533 memory bus and the 800 Mhz memory is compatible but not beneficial. I found the cost difference between the 800 and 533 to be about 5 cents. My bet that MSI took advantage of some bulk rates and that is why it shipped with the 800 Mhz ram. I really did not notice much change in performance of after the ram upgrade. But I did not tax it much either. MSI should have put in a removable panel for the ram and the drive but instead, you must remove the whole bottom panel.

They say that they come in several colors, but when I placed my order, the only one that had built in blue tooth was the computer that came in Blue. I asked pre sale about the ship dates of the Gray and they led me to believe that if I wanted my computer in by August then I should order a blue or red one. I would have preferred a flat black or gray. But I did not buy it for its looks. Just its portability performance and battery life and for that this is a 94 out of 100. MSI has a little work to do on the access panals and mouse buttons to get a perfect score.