MSI today announced that it would start shipping the new Wind Top AE1900 in US. The nettop features an 18.5-inch touchscreen display with 16:9 aspect ratio and Intel Atom processor. Initially MSI will offer two models AE1900-01SUS and AE 1900-05SUS. The first model will come with 1.6GHz single core Intel Atom 230 processor, 1GB RAM and 160GB hard drive, whereas the second model will feature dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom 330 processor, 2GB RAM and 250GB hard drive. Both the systems will come with DVD burner, 4-in-1 memory card reader and 1.3-megapixel webcam.

The nettops will be based on Windows XP, but MSI will follow the example set by many cellphone makers and hide the Windows OS behind Wind Touch UI, which is more finger-friendly than Windows XP. MSI hasn’t given exact date for when the system will be available in store. However they have announced the starting price will be $529, which is way more than what I am willing to pay for an underpowered Intel Atom based system. When I can get a Dell Inspiron 530s with 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 3 GB RAM, 500GB hard drive and 17-inch LCD monitor for $599.