MSI may only be releasing a 10 inch model of the Wind laptop in the US, but the company plans to release an 8.9 inch model in selected countries. No, I don’t know which countries yet, but Engadget did manage to snap a photo of the elusive MSI Wind U90 at Computex, so at least we know it’s real.
It looks like the U90 is pretty much identical to the U100, except it has a smaller display. Surprisingly, MSI doesn’t seem to have put the U90 in a smaller case, but instead just packed an Eee PC 701-style bezel around the smaller screen. On the one hand, that means you get the same excellent near-full-sized keyboard whether you buy the MSI Wind U90 or U100. On the other hand, are you kidding me? This thing had better be significantly cheaper. I’m willing to bet it is — for MSI, but not necessarily for consumers. My guess is that the U90 will only be offered in countries where MSI does not sell the U100.
I’m with you Brad. Surprised and disappointed that the 8.9″ model is not physically smaller.
I would say you’re correct in your assumption that this decision is the cheapest option for MSI and that maybe the 8.9″ will only be available in countries where the 10″ is not available.