MSI Wind - Best solution for osx86 on a sub-notebook?, Priced at $399 & $499 Options

[stellarola]

Specs:


With the tried and true golden standard for a modern hackintosh, the MSI Wind packs a 945-based motherboard with an Intel Atom CPU clocked at 1.6ghz. The Intel Atom supports MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3 & SSSE3 instructions, similar to that of the Core based CPUs. This potentially means that this CPU can run a vanilla kernel.

The $399 Linux loaded Wind will ship without Bluetooth and with less battery power unlike the WinXP flavor.

Also noted that this sub-notebook packs a 1.3MP webcam along side a front mic for video chat. iChat support? I'd like to think so...

Here's a review thats been translated to Engrish...

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=ht...sl=es&tl=en

[FrankOS_Scripting]

Specs:


With the tried and true golden standard for a modern hackintosh, the MSI Wind packs a 945-based motherboard with an Intel Atom CPU clocked at 1.6ghz. The Intel Atom supports MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3 & SSSE3 instructions, similar to that of the Core based CPUs. This potentially means that this CPU can run a vanilla kernel.

The $399 Linux loaded Wind will ship without Bluetooth and with less battery power unlike the WinXP flavor.

Also noted that this sub-notebook packs a 1.3MP webcam along side a front mic for video chat. iChat support? I'd like to think so...

Hi

To be honnest with you, the specs look like very attractive but be aware of the fact that you may had some problems with the chipset ICH7.. Sound old and not very kindly for the OS X experience. ICH8 and 9 are better but also full of issues. Small screen, can you very enjoy the Leo experience with a 10 inches screen.

Don't forget that I'm not a party breaker but I give my personnal experience. I worked a long time for IBM and I know very clearly what is fine and what is crap.

Good luck!

[stellarola]

Actually ICH7 is far more compatible out-of-box than ICH8/9. I've used ICH7 and ICH9 and ICH7 is far less of a hassle to get up and running with Leopard and Tiger.

-Stell

Hi

To be honnest with you, the specs look like very attractive but be aware of the fact that you may had some problems with the chipset ICH7.. Sound old and not very kindly for the OS X experience. ICH8 and 9 are better but also full of issues. Small screen, can you very enjoy the Leo experience with a 10 inches screen.

Don't forget that I'm not a party breaker but I give my personnal experience. I worked a long time for IBM and I know very clearly what is fine and what is crap.

Good luck!

[SDRacer48]

It looks cool, definitely worth buying if their are reports of it running Tiger / Leopard correctly with a Vanilla Kernel...

[Synaesthesia]

I was checking out that notebook too...Either I will get one of those or an iPhone...

The processor is fully supported but not that powerful, good for calendar, email, surfing etc. though. I hope the wi-fi works too...There are many notebooks like this coming out soon though, based on Intel Atom...

[InorganicMatter]

What's with calling it "Linux Novell?" Linux is a kernel; that's like saying "NT Microsoft" or "Truck Chevy."

Any word on how the Atom CPU likes vanilla kernels?

[Synaesthesia]

Any word on how the Atom CPU likes vanilla kernels?

Nobody has installed OS X on one yet, as far as I know, but it supports SSE3 and SSSE3, so vanilla kernel OSX86 should work perfectly . I'm gonna just wait a while, from June there are gonna be tons of Atom based laptops...

[FrankOS_Scripting]

What's with calling it "Linux Novell?" Linux is a kernel; that's like saying "NT Microsoft" or "Truck Chevy."

Any word on how the Atom CPU likes vanilla kernels?

At all, Linux Novell is a distro made by Novell for networking. Like the big servers sold at 12 000 bucks, they made Windows third party client and also a Linux OS. Microsoft has a kernel integrated but it's not a OS based on kernel for working 100%.
Personnaly, that is what I think about..

BTW, I'm very eager to see the next generation of Intel CPU, Atom. So I'm still waiting for install OS X wih the exact Vanilla Kernel.. That would be so crazyyyy!!

[stokedonlife02]

i'm thinkin about it for traveling vs. my 17" mbp that has basically become my desktop

[Redliner]

I too am very excited about the ATOM processors, because every new processor means a newer chipset to better support it...and since apple is moving to them particularly in their iPhone (might just be a rumor idk) that means everything is going to integrate better and better. Which means writing apps is going to be a whole lot more powerful, profitable...and efficient...requiring little to no work to use on any device.

the HP mininote is definitely my fav choice for the sub-compact class, however, they are still using the Via chips/chipsets...so once they switch to the ATOM I will have to get one!!!

[Synaesthesia]

Well, on second thoughts, I'm thinking I rather want an iPhone first now. The Atom is obviously not a speed demon, and these laptops tend to top out at 1024x600 or so, so the tasks I want to use it for, an iPhone can do just as well! Plus it's a phone.
- Calendar
- iPod/iTunes
- Notes
Of course both still have their advantages/disadvantages. There are some things an iPhone just can't do.

[Redliner]

more on the atom can be found on intel's site with some digging...I found these pictures...the future looks good!

http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/events...2008/photos.htm

here's where you get your test platform guys!!!

if some people want to fund a project I'll run it

[MacChief]

There's some MoBo's coming out for the platform too, at around $100:

http://www.tranquilpc-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Motherboards.html

Pretty similar specs, might be worth checking out as well

This one's also a mini-ITX, so does anybody want to make a Hack Mini?

[Synaesthesia]

Nice. It's the successor to the Intel D201GLY, except that it can run OS X pretty damn well. Can you buy those already? If there's one in South Africa, I wanna get it.

[Redliner]

so wait you know for sure that that new board will run OS X86? Bcause I'll gladly get one...heck I can get it and send it around to the different developers to get them to test it to get it working if it doesen't...I mean if all the newer laptops run the Atom...it's that important!

[Synaesthesia]

I'm 99% sure it will work. It will be quite slow though, Atom is half the speed of a regular 1.8ghz single core celeron.

[stokedonlife02]

http://forums.msiwind.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=25

here are some pretty complete specs. does it look like it will work with osx?

[Synaesthesia]

Yes, OS X will work. The wireless card will not work, but that can be replaced. I'm not sure about sound and ethernet but there's a good chance it will.

There are many other Atom based laptops coming soon too, the MSI wind is not the only one. I'm sure some will work great in OS X...

[Fathur Rochman]

Hello, there is a great news from Netkas about Atom processor

[stokedonlife02]

for email, web surfing, uploading photos to iphoto, and occasional (hopefully) ichat video, i would love to get this computer or one like it running osx and use it for traveling