MSI Notebooks, Netbooks Score With LA Dodgers

MSI Scores A Home Run

MSI on Thursday said it is working with the Los Angeles Dodgers to market limited edition, Dodgers-branded, notebook PCs and netbooks.

For MSI, which is better known as a producer of motherboards and other components for the system builder and do-it-yourself PC community, the new agreement is an opportunity to build a brand name for its notebook, netbook, and all-in-one PCs in the U.S.

For the Dodgers, the agreement means a complete refresh of its IT equipment.

Dodgers Pitch The Netbooks

At a press conference held at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, Henry Lu, MSI co-founder and senior vice president (center), was joined by Dodgers pitcher Hung-Chih Kuo and third baseman Casey Blake in presenting the limited edition Dodgers-branded Wind U135DX netbook.

MSI: The Last To Break Into The Branded PC Business?

After a 2005 reorganization under which MSI dropped four of its eight product lines in order to focus more on building its more profitable businesses, the Taiwan-based manufacturer made the portable PC market one of its primary focuses.

"Notebook PCs is a really bloody business," Lu said. "But in IT, it's the only business that is still growing with a high rate."

In addition to its OEM and system builder partners, MSI had a small consumer presence, but realized that growth depends in part on building a recognized brand name, Lu said. "We have some name brand in the IT field," he said. "But on the consumer side, we're peanuts."

Getting the Dodgers name on some of its systems is a start. MSI has already signed a retail sales agreement with La Curacao, a Los Angeles-based chain of retailers catering primarily to the Hispanic market.

The new Dodgers branding is MSI's best chance to build a name brand, something getting harder to do all the time thanks to low-cost competition from larger vendors, Lu said.

"Now everybody is saying MSI will be the last one to get into this business," he said.

Dodgers-branded Netbook

Under the Dodgers cover of MSI's Wind U135DX is a 1.66HHz Intel Atom processor, a 10-inch display, Windows 7 Starter Edition, 1 GB of RAM, and a 250-GB SATA Hard drive.

Also included is a 1.3-megapixel video camera and a six-cell battery that provides up to 7.5 hours of battery life.

The U135DX measures 10.2 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches, and with battery weighs 2.6 pounds.

Pitching The Dodgers All-In-One

Also in the Dodgers-series of MSI products is the MSI Wind Top AE2220, an all-in-one PC based on the Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor with the NVIDIA GeForce 9300 graphics board.

The AE2220 comes with 4 GBs of DDR2 memory, a 640-GB SATA hard drive, a DVD drive, and two speakers with SRS premium sound, all built into the back of the 21.5-inch high-definition LCD display with multi-touch touchscreen.

New Gaming Notebook

MSI took the opportunity to show off its GT660, a gaming notebook PC based on the Intel Core i7-740QM processor connected to 6 GB of DDR3 memory, a 500-GB or 1-TB SATA hard drive, and an optional Blu-Ray drive.

The GT660 includes a 16-inch LCD display, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M 3D graphic card, two high-definition speakers and a subwoofer, and a high-definition webcam.

Can't See The Action? Put On The Glasses

MSI also manufacturers a number of entertainment products, such as the Wind Top AE2420 3D all-in-one PC.

This PC is built around a 24-inch, 120Hz LED touchscreen with 3D imaging technology. The 3D images become clear when the company's Shutter Glass 3D glasses are worn.

The AE2420 also includes an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor, as well as Intel’s Turbo Boost technology, which automatically adjusts the processor frequency for extra performance when the application requires it or for energy saving when the performance is not needed.

Showing Off The New PCs And the Ol' Stadium

Steve Spartin, Dodgers vice president, said the Dodgers and MSI started talking about a partnership in March and April, and ended up signing a two-year agreement.

For the Dodgers, the agreement means a complete refresh of its IT equipment, including portable PCs for all the team's players and staff.

MSI, for it's part, will advertise in Dodgers Stadium, provide kiosks for trying out its products, and sponsor giveaways during the baseball season.

Spartin later took the MSI staff for a tour of Dodgers Stadium. He told his audience that, despite it's being the third-oldest pro baseball stadium in the U.S., there are no plans to tear it down. Instead, the team is in the midst of a renovation of the stadium, which is the nation's largest, in order to bring it up-to-date.

A Little Help From Some Friends

MSI called on technology partners to help with the launch of its Dodgers-branded systems.

Standing next to Lu during the presentation were Rick Wong, OEM general manager for Microsoft (center), and Mark Stevens, global account director for Microsoft (right).

Continued Support For System Builders

Daniel Wang, CEO and president of the North American branch of MSI, said that MSI works closely with the custom system channel, and works with such partners as Equus Computer Systems, Minneapolis; System Max, Port Washington, N.Y.; Seneca Data, Syracuse, N.Y.; and others.

"These company have a strong relationship with government, education, and SMB customers," Wang said.