MSI has officially launched its first Pine Trail-touting netbook today in the form of the Wind U135. Described as a special edition to "commemorate" millions of MSI netbooks already sold, the U135 swaps out the previous Atom N270 for a next-generation N450 clocked at 1.66GHz, and comes equipped with 1GB of DDR2 memory, Windows 7 Starter Edition, and Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics.

This new system features a 10-inch screen with a standard 1,024x600-pixel resolution and looks very similar to earlier members of the Wind family in the same size category. MSI has made a few tweaks here and there, however. First and foremost, it is using a new chiclet-style keyboard with 20% larger keys that should offer better typing feel. A new, larger touch pad has also been added, as well as a "color film printed case" that produces a glossy look without collecting smudges.


The base $309.99 model packs 160GB of HDD storage and a three-cell battery, while an upcoming pricier variant has a 250GB drive and a six-cell battery rated for 7.5 hours of use. Three USB ports, an integrated 4 in 1 card reader, 1.3 megapixel webcam, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and MSI's ECO Engine technology round out the features.

The new MSI Wind U135 is available right now at Newegg, Amazon and other electronics retailers in silver, charcoal, ruby and sapphire colors – or silver, black, red and blue.