How Many MSI Wind Clones Can You Count?

There is no doubt that the MSI Wind is one of the best netbooks around. Besides being the LAPTOP Editor’s Choice in the 10-inch netbook category the company has sold thousands of the little laptops. (MSI would not release the number of Winds sold as they  “do not release sales data for individual products or product lines.”)

After announcing the netbook in June, MSI had problems keeping up with demand,  but these days you can get a Wind (though it may not be called that) from lots of OEMS. Rebranded Winds have popped up across the world; The UK has got the Advent 4211, and Germany and other European countries the Medion Akoya Mini. And it doesn’t stop there; according to Wikipedia there are 13 OEM versions of the Wind.

That list doesn’t include the two more rebranded Winds that have been announced to come Stateside. Sylvania’s g netbook MANGI and Averatec’s Buddy will both will hit U.S. retailers by holiday time but will sport the same chassis as the MSI Wind that’s been available for months. But will Americans, who can purchase a Wind on Amazon.com be interested in the knock offs when they can get the real thing?

Maybe if consumers are interested in saving a bit of cash, they’ll want a rebranded Wind. Averatec will sell its Buddy with a 3-cell battery for $449.99. The almost identical MSI Wind (though it has Bluetooth) is currently avilable on Amazon.com for $479.99.  The 6-cell version of the Wind is available now for the same price with a rebate.

Either way, the emergence of all these rebrands doesn’t mean that MSI is pulling out of the retail game .  The company will be  announcing a significant distribution change in the coming weeks and new retail partners.