RE: Model cross-over list:
"Good idea".
I can't count the number of posts I've read from posters asking if anyone knew anything about MSI Laptops or the A5000-025US while I was researching that model.
Searching for info on the A5000-025US, and A6000 series units bought up next to nothing. Finding hardly anything besides ad copy at one or two sites did not inspire confidence in purchasing a MSI laptop, as MSI itself so far as being a laptop manufacturer is frankly a Second tier, Off-Brand in most peoples minds. (Not a First tier/brand-name like Dell,Hp,etc) Due to such lack of info I almost returned the MSI. A smart person at MSI would have posted here and there that the A5000, A6000 units being introduced were based on the CR500, CR600, MSI 1683 series.
The thing that inspired confidence with me was realizing that MSI has been manufacturing Motherboard/video cards for various OEM's such as HP/Comapq, plus selling under the MSI Brand Name motherboards, video cards and whitebooks for many years.
It was sort of a tough purchase for me as the vendor (Office Depot USA) did not have any display units I could inspect. After I associated the MSI on the sealed plain brown cardboard box- with the MSI I've know for years thru their motherboards, and several HP/Compaq machines that have a MSI manufactured motherboard that's still working after many years I felt better about the purchase, but was still hesitant to open that brown box without getting some feedback on the unit. Besides "support" and "warranty issues. (How MSI handles such. EG: Do they work with you, or do they give you the run-around.)
The feel one gets from a laptop from one brand to another is a very subjective thing (Weight, balance of unit, amount of flexing, key spacing, etc)
For those of you with wives you do not want to be opening boxes-that carry a restocking fee!
The fact I got the LAST A5000-025US and there were NONE if a exchange was needed didn't help either.
(Note: The unit I received has s slight scratch on the LCD screen protector, it was UNDER the shipping insert that protects the screen so this damage was done by MSI.)
Such crossover lists are VERY handy for those looking for info or parts such as batteries, etc. Inspires customer confidence to see for example the same battery fits (10) models, or the previous units being made for a while show a good service record.
(The only time you would not want post a such a list is if the previous models were problematic.)
A potential customer searching for info on for example a A5000-025US (Office Depot USA), or A5000-26US (CompUSA/TigerDirect.com) that's thinking about a purchase is going to find allot more info on that unit and be more likely to buy a MSI by searching under alternative ID strings if the unit it was based off of got decent reviews. EG: CR500, CR600 MSI 1683.
Next thing MSI, Inc needs to address is on BIOS /driver archives (*.Rar/Zip) is adding a README.txt file that states what models the update pertains to, a Changelog listing all bios revisions, and instructions. The (2) bios archives I downloaded contained NO README file, nor instructions.
PS: To the above cross-over listing a manufacturing date range would be nice.
EG: When was the MSI 1683, CR500, CR600 introduced? Vista being installed on those machines indicates the design is 2 years old? What year was each introduced?
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. Everything else matches. BIOS info screen shows EC is N014EMS4 ver 4.54 (N014).