After pelting MSI with unlikely requests for OS X driver support, a number of users on the MSIWind.net forums have received responses from the company, written in the "Dear Sir/Madam" parlance of a Nigerian scammer but nevertheless containing an early version of working Wi-Fi drivers for the Wind's Realtek RTL8187SE Wi-Fi module. The driver doesn't allow the card to be used like a regular Airport adapter, but according to users connects just fine through Realtek client software.

Forum-goers are floating copies on a couple of ephemeral hosting sites, so head over to the thread and give it a shot. [MSIWind Forums via GottaBeMobile]

The components aren't just low end—a lot of them seem like they wouldn't even be available for purchase anymore. A 400MHz processor? A single, 128MB stick of RAM? A 802.11b wireless adapter? Those museum pieces accompany a 7 inch, 800x480 screen, 1GB of flash memory and a few token ports to round out the Alpha 400, which is admittedly intended for modest browsing and word processing purposes.

At this price, almost any corner-cutting is permissible. I say almost because the 802.11b Wi-Fi adapter will make this netbook, which could only really be useful as a portable browsing machine, useless as a portable browsing machine, as many public networks won't even allow for standard B connections anymore. If you're particularly budget-minded and spend a lot of time around old wireless access points, the Alpha 400 MIPS is available now for $170. [Geeks Store via jkOnTheRun]