MSI Launches 12.1" Value Notebooks

If netbooks are not your cup of tea, but you still desire an inexpensive ultra-portable, MSI’s new VR220 YA Edition value notebook may be the right solution for you. The VR220 YA Edition features an Intel Pentium dual-core processor, a 12.1-inch display and weighs less than 4-pounds.

Available in four colors (blue, pink, green and black), the new MSI VW220 YA Edition notebook hopes to tap into casual consumer fashion sense. Unlike netbooks that often use an Intel Atom single-core processor, the MSI VW220 YA Edition uses the more powerful Intel Pentium dual-core processor, which should actually be able to handle Windows Vista properly.

Although the Intel Pentium dual-core processor may not be as powerful as the Intel Core 2 processors, nor as energy-efficient as the Intel Atom processors, it is rather affordable. With the MSI VW220 YA Edition priced at $699.99, it only slightly more expensive than the new Dell Inspiron Mini 12 netbook, which also features a 12-inch display. There is an 8-cell battery available for the MSI VW220 YA Edition as well, which should put aside concerns of poor battery life.

As for system specifications, the MSI VW220 YA Edition features a 12.1-inch 1280 x 800 LCD display, Intel GMA 4500M graphics, a full-sized keyboard and up to 2 GB of 667 MHz DDR2 memory. Also included is an optional TV tuner, a DVD burner, a 250 GB hard drive, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, a card reader, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth and gigabit Ethernet. There is no mention of which specific Intel Pentium dual-core processor the MSI VW220 YA Edition comes with. The system comes loaded with Windows Vista Home Premium, weighs 3.96-pounds and has a thickness of 1.18-inches, which is just a tad thicker than the Dell Inspiron Mini 12.