MSI X-Slim X340 Ultraportable Review

Very nice. Pity about the keyboard.

If this had been available a couple of months ago, I might have picked this up instead of the Dell I ended up with.

matt screen, matt cover and better keyboard and MSi would of had my business BUT.

Keyboard looks fine to me, it's got the nice american return key.

Originally Posted by Jamie
Keyboard looks fine to me, it's got the nice american return key.

It's much smaller than a typical American return key. The last laptop I had had a US keyboard layout and I was using that for three years and I didn't find the half-heightedness a problem... however, when you combine that with the keys down the side, you've got a button that's not much bigger than a standard key, which can be a cause for frustration.

Dammit, glossy screen and a single-core CPU. Looks sweet otherwise though.


Are all Intel CULV processors going to be single core?


EDIT: Answered my own question:

- Core 2 Solo SU3500
- Core 2 Duo SU9600

Link: http://www.tweaktown.com/news/11513/intel_plans_two_new_culv_processors/index.html

Shame about the keyboard, screen [give me matte, goddamnit!] and yeah, maybe the CPU. Dual-core would've been nice but actually, it's meh.

Next generation of all those ultra-thin laptops should be awesome... hopefully. ;)

I think I will stick to a MacBook Air, looks better, works better, better battery life and best of all doesnt have all the problems of a vista based machine. The biggest plus is the total lack of virus's that are the phage of windows based systems.

I'm a PC that actualy does work, I'm a MAC PC.

Originally Posted by Vittorio
I think I will stick to a MacBook Air, looks better, works better, better battery life and best of all doesnt have all the problems of a vista based machine. The biggest plus is the total lack of virus's that are the phage of windows based systems.

I'm a PC that actualy does work, I'm a MAC PC.

lol whatever you have to say to convince yourself to justify the purchase... personally I dont care to spend around 1800.00 on sub 600.00 worth of hardware that extra ~1200.00 all so I can say hey guy check out how thin this laptop is, arnt I cool, please like me....
no thank you I will make a smarter purchasing decision then that ~_~

Originally Posted by Vittorio
I think I will stick to a MacBook Air, looks better, works better, better battery life and best of all doesnt have all the problems of a vista based machine. The biggest plus is the total lack of virus's that are the phage of windows based systems.

I'm a PC that actualy does work, I'm a MAC PC.

Err, Macs can get viruses and just because most don't affect you, it doesn't mean you won't unknowingly send them out to Windows users. We had a situation like this in the office the other week, where a Mac had been attacked (but remained unaffected) and then sent a number of Windows machines' AV software into overtime when a USB key used to transfer some data was plugged into the Windows machines. Therefore, I'd say anti-virus is just as necessary on a Mac as it is on a Windows machine.

All that comparison to Air but no benchmarks with the Air? what gives?

Originally Posted by woodshop
All that comparison to Air but no benchmarks with the Air? what gives?

Different OS's and more mature drivers would skew any comparison between the two.

My biggest question is will it still fit in an envelope?:D

Originally Posted by Furymouse
Different OS's and more mature drivers would skew any comparison between the two.

My biggest question is will it still fit in an envelope?:D

ah beat me to it, ya difference OSes and besides it was more of a size comparison to show that people dont have to be suckered in getting an over priced useless thin laptop and can go for something half the price, thats almost as thin and has a lot more functionality and more usefulness.

Samusung NC20 for me over MSI X-Slim or Mac air anyday

Originally Posted by Denis_iii
Samusung NC20 for me over MSI X-Slim or Mac air anyday

ah but this is for the most part a laptop versus a netbook so the comaparrison to the NC20 isnt really all that valid as its an oversized netbook. Where as this has much more functionality then that.

Originally Posted by Furymouse

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodshop
All that comparison to Air but no benchmarks with the Air? what gives?

Different OS's and more mature drivers would skew any comparison between the two.

My biggest question is will it still fit in an envelope?:D

It does fit in an envelope, yes.

Originally Posted by HourBeforeDawn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denis_iii
Samusung NC20 for me over MSI X-Slim or Mac air anyday

ah but this is for the most part a laptop versus a netbook so the comaparrison to the NC20 isnt really all that valid as its an oversized netbook. Where as this has much more functionality then that.

We'll have a review of the NC20 very soon

Originally Posted by Vittorio
I think I will stick to a MacBook Air, looks better, works better, better battery life and best of all doesnt have all the problems of a vista based machine. The biggest plus is the total lack of virus's that are the phage of windows based systems.

I'm a PC that actualy does work, I'm a MAC PC.

Looks better, yes. Works better, debatable (lack of connectivity springs to mind). Battery life, if you believe Apple's 5 hour figure you are a loon, more like 3 hours even under light use. The problem I find with the air is that for its form factor I want long battery life and 3G connectivity, but its tiny non-removable battery and awkwardly placed USB port dash those hopes. Netbooks make a better go of it and are the cheapest laptops you can get and all you have to do is sacrifice screen size.

I like macs when I'm not using them for work but the air is terrible. The best thing it did was pave the way for the new mac books (which are awesome by the way :D).

Also you should still get AV with a mac. OSX may not have as many vulnerabilities as Windows but Apple will take an age to fix even major security issues.

Not going to get drawn in to the Mac vs PC debate, because I've been there many, many times over the last 10/12 years...

A little while ago, I was all for laptops over a desktop. Then my laptops started to get a little long in the tooth and started to chug along; when I finally bought a modestly-spec'd PC after nearly 5 years of laptop use, the difference was staggering. Now a laptop means sheer portability to me; small, easy to carry, unobtrusive and connectivity (peripherals and networking) is pretty much the top of my list. Netbooks fill this gap very neatly.

Personally, this MSi machine would be too large for me; I've got used to lugging around a 9-inch netbook. The spec looks quite decent, but I'm not really interested in having a high-spec ultra portable - I want something I can quickly check my mails on, browse the web, and maybe play the odd video now & then. If anything could convince me to go to a slightly larger form factor, I think the Dell Adamo just might.

Originally Posted by BLC
A little while ago, I was all for laptops over a desktop. Then my laptops started to get a little long in the tooth and started to chug along; when I finally bought a modestly-spec'd PC after nearly 5 years of laptop use, the difference was staggering. Now a laptop means sheer portability to me; small, easy to carry, unobtrusive and connectivity (peripherals and networking) is pretty much the top of my list. Netbooks fill this gap very neatly.

Personally, this MSi machine would be too large for me; I've got used to lugging around a 9-inch netbook. The spec looks quite decent, but I'm not really interested in having a high-spec ultra portable - I want something I can quickly check my mails on, browse the web, and maybe play the odd video now & then. If anything could convince me to go to a slightly larger form factor, I think the Dell Adamo just might.

Yep, laptops are all about portability for me too - it's not about high specs or even gaming. If I want to game, I'll use my desktop PC or play iPhone games when I'm travelling (if I have time to game). I've got an NC10 and a ThinkPad X301 - both weigh less than 1.45kg and deliver decent battery life (>5 1/2 hours) with wireless/3G enabled.

The X301 is not small at 13.4in - it's the same size as the X-Slim - but it's a brilliant machine (although there's one annoyance with battery usage priority, as I swapped the DVD drive for a bay battery) and fits in the same fairly small laptop bag I've been using for the NC10. My previous full-fat laptop was a 12.1in ThinkPad and I find the X301 is easier to carry because it's slightly thinner and weighs less(!) :)

Originally Posted by Tim S
The X301 is not small at 13.4in - it's the same size as the X-Slim - but it's a brilliant machine (although there's one annoyance with battery usage priority, as I swapped the DVD drive for a bay battery) and fits in the same fairly small laptop bag I've been using for the NC10. My previous full-fat laptop was a 12.1in ThinkPad and I find the X301 is easier to carry because it's slightly thinner and weighs less(!) :)

I do have one complaint about my Dell Mini 9: try finding a bag/carrying case for a 9-inch netbook (not a slip case) which doesn't end up looking like a silly little "man bag"... I like rucksacks, not bags that make me look like I call myself Nancy at the weekend! ;)

Originally Posted by BLC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S
The X301 is not small at 13.4in - it's the same size as the X-Slim - but it's a brilliant machine (although there's one annoyance with battery usage priority, as I swapped the DVD drive for a bay battery) and fits in the same fairly small laptop bag I've been using for the NC10. My previous full-fat laptop was a 12.1in ThinkPad and I find the X301 is easier to carry because it's slightly thinner and weighs less(!) :)

I do have one complaint about my Dell Mini 9: try finding a bag/carrying case for a 9-inch netbook (not a slip case) which doesn't end up looking like a silly little "man bag"... I like rucksacks, not bags that make me look like I call myself Nancy at the weekend! ;)

just go for a 10-11inch messenger bag, they have them on new egg, and well since Im posting on the article I cant see where your from and if its anywhere but USA or Canada well Im sure you could google it, case logic has some decent small messenger bags that would.

Originally Posted by BLC
I do have one complaint about my Dell Mini 9: try finding a bag/carrying case for a 9-inch netbook (not a slip case) which doesn't end up looking like a silly little "man bag"... I like rucksacks, not bags that make me look like I call myself Nancy at the weekend! ;)

My netbook is a Fujitsu u810, and yea, a case is a problem. I've been trying to think of something like a bad I can clip to my belt (but still release quickly).

Originally Posted by Tim S
Yep, laptops are all about portability for me too - it's not about high specs or even gaming. If I want to game, I'll use my desktop PC or play iPhone games when I'm travelling (if I have time to game). I've got an NC10 and a ThinkPad X301 - both weigh less than 1.45kg and deliver decent battery life (>5 1/2 hours) with wireless/3G enabled.

The X301 is not small at 13.4in - it's the same size as the X-Slim - but it's a brilliant machine (although there's one annoyance with battery usage priority, as I swapped the DVD drive for a bay battery) and fits in the same fairly small laptop bag I've been using for the NC10. My previous full-fat laptop was a 12.1in ThinkPad and I find the X301 is easier to carry because it's slightly thinner and weighs less(!) :)

Getting sent from one side of the US to the other on a fairly regular basis, and being a PC gamer meant I was after something that could play games. This is where being a pretty big guy actually worked in my favor for once, I ended up getting a Dell Inspiron 9400.

It is good for carrying from place to place, but I would not recommend using it on the go unless you can stake out a table, and a power outlet.

I got the u810 later so I could watch video, modify music and play lists on my MP3 player and surf the net on the go. Very few of the airports I uswally fly in to, out of, or through have free internet, but I have a smart phone with Windows Mobile. So I use a program named PDAnet to let me use the phone as a bluetooth modem and I can make snarky comments on Bit anyplace I get reception :)



No, two laptops are not idea, but until the industry come up with some sort of 'mobile toolkit' and let you reconfigure and upgrade your laptop, this is the way it is. At least it is for me anyway.

Originally Posted by Furymouse
Different OS's and more mature drivers would skew any comparison between the two.

My biggest question is will it still fit in an envelope?:D

As far as I'm concerned that also part of the product though. It rather useless if the drivers and OS are crap no mater how small and efficient it is.

Or is it that you don't what to know how well Hand break works on the original OS and not the 2nd level OS port.

Again another fail laptop/netbook hybrid. Too expensive. No GPU. Poor battery life... I would be looking for a least a Nvidia 9500M or ATI equivalent for that price & dimensions (I don't care about the ultra-slim 'sex-appeal' factor :-). Also not a big fan of single core processors (without hyperthreading a minimum). Certainly they can't run any Windows OS (due to the lack of 'real' multitasking in the windows kernel) - too much 'freezing' up situations present themselves...

Bob

Ehh... you say you don't care about the ultra-slim but then you want a 9500M "for that price & dimensions". You don't make sense, mate. :p