MSi Wind U123

The MSi Wind U123 is an upgrade of the U120 and its very successful parent - the U100. This netbook distinguishes itself with a significantly improved battery life and the novel addition of facial recognition software. The battery life of netbooks has always been a serious source of complaint, generated mostly by the slightly unfair but inevitable comparisons to larger format laptops. This netbook goes a long way toward dampening these criticisms with an extra three hours of battery life on top of its predecessor's five hour life span. Facial recognition software adds a level of security generally not expected in an ultralight mini-laptop, but MSI makes a compelling case that mobile professionals often travel with delicate data that warrants the additional protection. Once you have registered your image through the netbook's webcam, it generally takes less than ten seconds for recognition. For most, the extra battery life alone makes the U123 a good purchase.