PC World is reporting that MSI are preparing a low cost ASUS Eee PC notebook competitor.

 

After contacting a representative from MSI in Taiwan, we were told that the low cost notebook will be displayed at CeBIT trade show in March. We'll get a preview before then, though.

 

The low cost PC is said to be based on the upcoming Intel Diamondville platform which is designed for emerging markets, such as the Classmate PC and the XO laptop from the One Laptop Per Child Project.

 

As for a launch date, the PC World article claims that Intel will unveil the Diamondville platform at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai this April.

 

MSI said that once Diamondville is ready, the low cost notebook will be ready - probably in the July or August timeframe.