Laptop Magazine interviewed one of the top US executives for MSI about what is in store for the popular Wind netbook line.  According to Andy Tung, Director of US Sales for MSI, the Wind U100 should soon be available in a "major retailer" in the US.  The model will have a 3-cell battery and Windows XP and will be priced at $399.  Tung wouldn’t disclose which retailer will be carrying the Wind in the stores.

Less surprisingly, Tung also told Laptop that their experience shows that netbooks with Linux are returned four times more often than those with Windows XP.  This would indicate what others have already noted, many consumers pick up the cheaper systems and then realize that the Linux system is not what they are used to so they return it.  If you recall Walmart discontinued the sale of the Linux-based gPC in stores earlier this year, probably for the same reason.  We’ve said it here on jkOnTheRun that one of the reasons netbooks are gaining in popularity is the inclusion of Windows XP as that is what folks are familiar with using.

It’s great to see the Wind coming to retail, I expect sales will really explode when consumers can see these little jewels in the stores.  You can’t really appreciate the benefits of a netbook without seeing one in person.  Kevin loves his MSI Wind, I know that.