MSI has announced that it is now shipping its first AMD Neo-based notebook, the Wind U210. You might argue it’s a netbook, but it features a 12.1-inch screen and the slightly more serious 1.6GHz Athlon MV-40 processor.

More importantly, the U210 is just a sign of things to come. MSI has already shed some light on two X-Slim notebooks powered by the same platform, the 14-inch X410 and 15.6-inch X610. The U210 is shipping stateside for $429 (€291), which sounds reasonable. The Intel CULV based version, powered by a Core 2 Duo SU2700 at 1.3GHz is not listed in the US, but in Europe it is selling for €550 ($811).

So, getting an Athlon Neo version will probably save you some 100 to 150 dollars or euros depending on where you live. You will also get inferior battery life compared to Intel-based models, but the price difference is immense. Obviously, you can expect a similar price difference on X-Slim models based on AMD chips, once they appear on the market.