Everything seems to work well..my first experience with a notebook/laptop. I’m reading all the reviews as I seem to derive more knowledge. ..

Speed, sound and graphics are fine BUT this damn cursor while I’m trying to type this is bouncing all over the place…very annoying. Maybe just Amazon? I don’t know.

All in all, I’m very satisfied…I think

With these machines, you do need to know what specs you want and therefore navigate the myriad of model numbers past U100. The 451′s have no Bluetooth (I haven’t missed it), and the 3 cell battery (which is fine if you only need a couple hours at a meeting or presentation). The VGA out gives a fantastic picture during presentations and on my 22″ monitor!

U100 v. U123?

I also own a blue U123 and prefer the white U100′s for several reasons: There are more aftermarket battery options for U100′s (even a 9 cell battery good for about 11 hours is only $65 on Amazon), the white finish is matte and not the fingerprint attractor that the blue is, the U123 has chrome buttons which I dislike immensely, installing an extra 1 GB stick of RAM is fairly easy (just take your time), and you can over-clock the U100′s processor by 24% without knowing any nerdy stuff and it is absolutely stable! [someone previously posted a great list of modifications that I will not attempt to rival if you might like to try that.]

If I had it to do over again, I would buy another U100-451, an inexpensive external DVD-RW, and at least a 6 cell battery – doing it this way can actually save you money over the models that come with a 6 cell battery depending on what these are selling for at the time and you end up with an extra battery.

I was pleased with the lightweight netbook and its ability to run nearly all applications I needed including Office 2003 (not crazy about the 2007 version) as well as Photoshop and PS Elements, Lightroom, Quicken, etc. And with the 160 GB drive, there is plenty of room for photos from my Nikon D700 as well as our point-and-shoot cameras.

One small issue is the lack of a right-click button on the keyboard. One must hold the Ctrl key down, then press the button below the finger pad to obtain the right-click menu. The best way to address this is to simply purchase a wireless mouse — however, you now need more space for the mouse. It seems such a simple fix to provide both left and right buttons, but for some reason MSI decided on only one button.

Another issue is the fact the wireless signal changes while in the same location in my house — and the data rate varies from 54 Mbps to under 10. My other laptops seem to be less susceptible to this issue. I was transferring data from my main desktop and noticed the rate had dropped to near zero. I rebooted the computer and the high data exchange rate improved, but it’s something I haven’t encountered previously.

The keyboard is slightly smaller (80%) of a standard keyboard, so typing can be a learning experience. I find myself occasionally off by a key which then appears as if I am writing in code when I glance at the screen.

The screen resolution is good, but I did find some applications simply won’t adapt (or even install) without a minimum of XGA resolution. I was unable to find a work around for these apps. This is a restriction that would apply to all netbooks. In fact, there is barely any difference between all the models I researched.

I recommend the netbook as an excellent computer for what it is designed for — to provide a portable computer for e-mail and Internet browsing. The Intel Atom processor is adequately fast for most applications. I do recommend purchasing the additional 1 GB of RAM.

Another minor challenge is installing the additional RAM; it requires removal of a screw that is covered with a warranty warning implying if the sticker is tampered with your warranty is voided. Why MSI decided to require the entire back cover to be removed to access a small memory socket is not quite obvious, save economics. Almost all the other netbooks have a small panel to add memory. This disassembly is probably not for the novice as it requires a bit more finesse than it should. I think they should simply offer the netbook with 2 GB standard, the cost for memory is so inexpensive anyway so consumers are not challenged by this poor design feature.

I took the netbook on a trip to my hometown and it worked flawlessly. I was able to download photos using one of the three USB ports as well as plugging in an SD memory card directly into the provided card slot. The slot works with 2 GB standard SD cards, but was unable to recognize newer, 4 GB cards, so I just used the USB cable.

I did purchase a portable DVD writer, but could have gotten most applications installed using a 2 GB USB thumb drive and simply copying install CDs onto it. MSI thoughtfully placed two USB ports adjacent, in case one port has insufficient power for the DVD.

All in all, I would recommend buying a netbook for travel, certainly not for writing the great American novel. It’s excellent for airplanes, even if the 300-pounder reclines the seat in front of you. The greatest benefit is its lightweight, small size and the ability to run your favorite PC applications, generally without any problems.

The ONLY con I found was that it does not have a CD/DVD drive which made it hard for installing some programs…but everything is loadable via USB drive.