MSI has officially released what is being claimed as the world's first hybrid storage netbook today; the U115 Hybrid. The way it works is there is both an SSD and a larger capacity HDD inside; the SSD (choice of 8 or 16GB) holds the operating system (Windows XP Home) and the 120 or 160GB hard disk can be used for regular content (music, documents, movies etc.). The netbook will power down the standard hard disk when not in use so as to prolong battery life.

Other features of the U115 include a 10" LCD with a resolution of up to 1024x600, 3 or 6 cell battery, WiFi and Ethernet connectivity, 4-in-1 card reader, optional Bluetooth and 1.3 or 2.0MP webcam, whilst keeping to a weight of no more than 1Kg with dimensions of 260x180x31.5mm

As far as the base platform goes, it's powered by Intel's 1.6GHz Z530 Atom processor on the Poulsbo US15W chipset.

The netbook is being expected to hit stores sometime in January. No mention of pricing yet. You can read more about the U115 and view its spec sheet within the official announcement here folks.

-Taipei-MSI today announces U115 Hybrid. The very first notebook computer in the world that is capable of operating both SSD and HDD hard drives simultaneously, combining all the features of SSD and HDD in the U115 Hybrid for your enjoyment.

With MSI Exclusive Hybrid Storage Technology, in the "ECO on" mode, the battery life of U115 Hybrid is super long *. This amazing battery life can escalate the mobility and the productiveness of the U115 Hybrid, which can also make your daily lives much more convenient.