Ever since Apple released its MacBook Air, no 13-inch notebook has come as close to being as slim while also being affordable for the average consumer. MSI’s X340 changes that.

The X-Slim X340 measures just 19.8mm at its thickest point, meaning it’s marginally thicker than the MacBook Air, but the Mac’s design means that it gets progressively thinner as you get closer to the leading edge. If it weren’t for the glowing white MSI logo on the lid, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a newer, slightly fatter MacBook Air.

The X-Slim X340 is a new 13.4" ultraportable notebook from MSI, offering a super thin chassis and powered by the new Intel Ultra Low Voltage SU3500 processor. At the current price of $899 it is priced between the HP dv2 and Apple MacBook Pro, but can this notebook compete on its looks alone?

MSI X-Slim X340 Features:

Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor: Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 CULV (1.4GHz, 800MHz FSB, 3MB cache)
Memory: 2GB DDR2 SDRAM (800MHz)
Internal Storage: 320GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
Display: 13.4-inch diagonal WXGA (glossy, 1366x768)
Graphics: Intel X4500M Integrated
Wireless: Intel 5100AGN, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Ports and connectors: (2) USB 2.0 ports, VGA, HDMI, 2-in-1 SD-Card reader, RJ-45/Ethernet (Gigabit), stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, 1.3 megapixel webcam
Dimensions: (LxWxH) 13" x 8.82 " x 0.24"-0.78"
Weight: 2lb 14oz (not including weight of AC adapter).
Power: 4-cell 32Wh battery
Warranty: Three-year standard warranty
MSRP: $899

Pros

* Super thin and lightweight, attractive design
* Snappier performance than netbooks
* Comfortable keyboard
* More than 3 hours of battery life

Cons

* Flexing keyboard
* Weak graphics performance
* Not as fast as MacBook Air or HP dv2z

Ultra Slim Design

It certainly looks dashing enough to be one of Apple's own: measuring a svelte 20mm at its thickest point, the X340 find itself in a slimming race with the Air's dangerously skinny 19.4mm frame. But it's when both laptops step onto the scales that the X340 has the last laugh, weighing 1.3kg to the Air's 1.38kg. MSI's predictable marketing tag-line for the X340? You guessed it, "Lighter than Air."



At 13 x 8.8 inches, the X340 takes up the same desk space as the MacBook Air, but the X340 is slightly thicker, measuring 0.24 inches at its thinnest point, and 0.78 inches at its thickest. (The MacBook Air, by contrast, is 0.16 to 0.76 inches.) At 2.9 pounds (and 3.6 pounds with the charger), the X340 is 1.6 ounces lighter than the Air, and its rounded corners give it a stylish aesthetic.



Unlike Apple, MSI uses plastic instead of aluminum for the shell of the X340. While plastic might weigh less and be easy to shape, it doesn't give the notebook a high-end appearance.

Build quality is nice when compared to low-cost netbooks, but doesn't measure up to high-end ultraportable notebooks. The plastic construction shows a good amount of flex in areas like the screen bezel, on the palmrest around the touchpad, and areas underneath the keyboard.

Screen And Display

The X340’s glossy 13.4-inch LED-backlit screen features a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, and it looked crisp and bright. The 13.4" glossy display on the MSI X340 is of average quality with decent color saturation and good contrast levels thanks to the glossy screen surface.

Backlight levels are good for viewing in bright viewing conditions, such as a bright office or classroom, but the screen gets washed out quickly when using it outdoors.



The 1.3-megapixel webcam above the display provided clear images in a video call. The other caller could make out our new hair cut and hear our voice clearly with the built-in microphone located to the left of the cam.
While only slightly thicker, the X340 uses its extra girth to store plenty of port. The left side houses VGA, Ethernet, HDMI, and a 2-in-1 card reader. Two USB ports and headphone and mic jacks line the right side of the machine. On a machine this small, it’s nice to see this much connectivity.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The MSI X340 offers a full-size keyboard that is comfortable to type on, but lacks proper support to prevent flex. The keyboard on the MSI X340 is plenty large for touch typists, but the keys feel cheaper than the rest of the system. While the keyboard had a little flex, the keys didn't feel too soft under our fingers.



The touchpad appears to be an ALPS or similar model, but doesn't use any special driver, only the native Windows touchpad control. The 3.4 x 2.1-inch touchpad is plenty large and allowed us to navigate the desktop smoothly. The touchpad has a noticeable amount of lag as you change pointer direction or initially start moving.
he touchpad buttons are loud when clicked, and they take a significant amount of pressure to activate. The button throw is shallow with a solid click when pressed.

Battery

MSI has clearly been listening to the outcries hurled in Apple’s direction over the MacBook Air’s non-removable battery and has kitted the X340 out with a removable four-cell Litium-Ion battery. It’s a slim little number rated at 2,150mAh which is a small capacity.
The X340 comes with an eight-cell lithium ion battery, which lasted for 8 hours and 48 minutes on the LAPTOP Battery Test (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi). Consumers who purchased the X340 with a 4-cell battery (which lasted 3 hours and 38 minutes) can buy an 8-cell battery for $99.99.

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