If you’re one of the unlucky few, hit the link to grab the update. [Gigabyte via PC World]

The thread is only five pages long, but multiple users are claiming the exact same “0xE8000065″ error message when trying to sync their data. The issue appears on P55-based motherboards from Asus, MSI and Gigabyte, and it seems like Windows 7 64-bit is more prone to the problem than its 32-bit brother.

Keep in mind the P55 is a new chipset, and unless you’re computer is brand-spankin’ new or you’re the DIY type, chances are you have a setup that works perfectly fine.

If you do have a new P55-based motherboard, Microsoft is looking into the issue. Hopefully a fix for you unlucky few will come soon enough. [The Register via Engadget]

Aside from a few from MSI, all of these ultraportables are from ODMs, meaning they’re waiting for a larger company to snap them up and rebrand them (they’re ready to go to market now, so you could start seeing them very soon). But they’re all working prototypes and all very svelte and usable, with a focus on affordability. Sure, my 2009 MacBook Pro is very nearly as thin as a lot of these laptops, but it also cost twice as much. My favourite has to be the little white 10-incher with the blue flower design.

Basically, this is the same netbook as the older U110—same 1.6GHz Atom, same lack of dedicated graphics (it’s got an integrated chip rather than the newer ATI Radeon HD3200 card), same 1GB memory and same 160GB hard drive. It’s also offered with either Windows XP or Vista. The only difference here is that giant 9-cell battery which supposedly gives a 15-hour run, and I guess the “Eco” name, which doesn’t seem to refer to any particular environmental update. List price is $US430, though Newegg has it right now for $US400. [MSI]

Asus’ Eee range is far from premium, so I’ll be curious to see if it ends up having 3G like the new Sony Reader Daily Edition, Kindle 2 and DX, or Plastic Logic’s eReader.

And you tell me, where does an ebook reader fall on your Christmas wish list? Have you even seen that many people actually using them out and about? [DigiTimes]

That’s not crazy high-def by any means, but all up, the AE2010 looks pretty good for $US649. Compared to other all-in-ones that is. I mean, you can get pretty good laptops for that much, and cheap desktops are more upgradeable. Still, those options may not have same touchy-feely good looks. [MSI]

Intel’s next generation Centrino platform, codenamed Calpella, will be launched at the end of September, says MSI. That means speedy new notebooks with Nehelam based mobile CPUs and chipsets will be arriving just in time to put Windows 7 on the hard drive.

MSI will ship 15.4 and 17-inch notebooks powered by Intel’s new Core i7 7200M, Core i7 8200M, and Core i7 920XM with Windows 7. The Clarksfield CPU of the mobile Core i7 platform is expected to be a downscaled version of the desktop version we like so much, but will be one of the biggest jumps in laptop power that we have seen in a few years. Intel’s mobile Core i5 and i3 (codenamed Arrandale) are not planned until the first quarter of 2010.

Also coming from Intel around the same time (our guess this is all coming at September’s Intel Developers Conference) are new dual core ULV processors. Intel’s ULV (once called CULV) is aimed at ultra thin laptops (those right in between netbooks and mainstreamers, like the Acer Timeline). MSI plans to use the new Core 2 Duo SU4100 and SU7300 chips in its X420 (update to X400) and X620 (an update to the X600) which will ship with Windows 7.

Why do we care? Tung tells us the price of these seriously slim notebooks will stay in the same ballpark (around $US600 to $US900), but the chips provide better performance than the Celerons that they were formerly using.

What this all really means is that not only is MSI hitting the market with a crap load of notebooks that have brand spankin’ new chips and a fresh Microsoft OS, but the other notebook vendors (yes, Apple) will most likely do the same. You may just want to wait to snatch up a new PC; the notebooks are a coming this fall.

However, Intel tells us that it has not nailed down the launch of Pine Trail yet, though maintains it will ship products to its customers before the end of the year. MSI hopes to be first to market with Pine Trail netbooks, including its 10-inch convertible U150 with Windows 7.

Either way, the sooner we get a newer Atom the better (also keep in mind the next version of the all-popular Atom also differs by blending the CPU and GPU on the same chip). According to MSI’s Andy Tung, Pine Trail is showing improved graphics performance and at least 20 percent better power consumption.

Either way, here is hoping the netvertible with its planned resistive touchscreen performs better than ASUS’ Eee PC T91. However its lack of a capacitive screen and multitouch support means it won’t support any of Windows 7’s cool Touch Pack apps.

But before going touch, MSI will release the 12-inch Wind U210, which like the recently released Gateway LT3100, has AMD’s Yukon platform rather than Intel’s Atom. MSI will offer it in two different skus, including one with Windows XP, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive for $US379 and another with Vista Premium for $US429. The U210 will be available in the U.S. during the first weeks of September.

Following handwritten correspondence and a voicemail, I’m fairly certain that “Macwind” is just one industrious high school kid with a nice website.

But Macwind has requested this review, and how could I possibly pass it up?

So Apple, I plead that you go easy on “Craig,” the owner of Macwind, even if his practice of preloading OS X onto netbooks for resale (using publicly available tutorials, I’m sure) is pretty unquestionably a breach of one or more laws.

His site shares your aesthetics, and the MSI Wind he’s selling, loaded with a 1.6GHz atom, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive and of course, OS 10.5.8, is really a pretty good product even for the $US100 premium over a stock U100.

You guys should sell these things!

Because the build is solid with all the necessary drivers preloaded (some of which MSI has actually “leaked” themselves). The 1024×600 screen displays your desktop beautifully, while most of they keyboard’s function keys are operational (like brightness, volume and sleep).

You can even pop in an SD card to expand the storage, just like your latest Macbooks!

But alas, we know that you know that you must shut Craig down. We won’t frown upon your actions. After all, just because the kid is young doesn’t excuse him from your trademarks and copyrights.

We just ask that you go easy on him. Make him cry, sure, but pity him, too. Don’t crush him with a lifetime of legal debt. A kind call from Steve Jobs, a middle manager or one of those attractive ladies in Apple will probably clear up any legal misunderstandings. (His number is on the site, otherwise I’ll be happy to provide it.)

And maybe, while Craig’s first garage-based computer business has failed him, his next one will not. [Macwind (currently down)]

No installs needed.

Reasonable price for the laziest among us.

Oh right, this operation can’t be legal.

A kid might go to jail or something.