MSI is preparing a version of its Wind Small, Cheap Computer that uses solid-state storage instead of a hard drive. And it'll incorporate HSDPA 3G connectivity.

Dubbed the Wind U120, details of the machine were provided by Andy Tung, MSI US' sales chief, interviewed by Laptop Magazine. Like the today's Wind U100, the new model will be centred on a 10in display.

That means it'll be much the same size as the current model. That said, Tung indicated it will sport a new, more angular look.

"The U120 looks more like a business type of solution," Tung said. "It doesn’t include the round corners but more a square-like look. We were thinking more of a ThinkPad type of a design... totally different [from] the original Wind."

That suggests MSI will be pitching the U120 at the notebook-not-netbook end of the market that rival Asus is pursuing with its N10. The Asus machine runs Windows Vista, though Tung didn't say what operating systems the U120 will come with.

The SCC will come with a hard drive, however, at least initially, with "a solid-state option at a later date".

Could all this be a reference to the mystery "luxury" Wind which popped up on German reseller's website the other week?

Tung indicated that the U120 will debut in late November/early December for under $600 (£342/€443) in the US.

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