LAPTOP REVIEW: MSI X340-021US Slim

Weighing just 2.8 pounds but loaded with storage space, memory and power-saving features, the MSI X340-021US laptop is one of the first notebooks to feature the new Intel CULV Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor, which uses 1/6th the power of a regular mobile CPU--significantly increasing performance-per-watt over previous single-core processors. It also offers a 13.4-inch HD 16:9 Theater Display LCD and an HDMI port for single-cable output of high-definition audio and video to an external HDTV or monitor.

The most unique feature of the X340 is its size--0.24 inches at its thinnest point, 0.79 inches at its thickest, combined with its 2.8-pound weight (with the battery)--making the X340 the world's lightest and slimmest 13-inch notebook. It also features customizable power settings with five different modes--office, gaming, movies, presentation, and turbo battery--for flexibility and increased productivity based on your needs.

This laptop does not include an optical drive, but optional CD/DVD read/write drives can be connected to the laptop via one of its USB ports, enabling you to create your music mixes, burn movies to DVD, and more.

The ultra-slim MSI X340-021US laptop with high-definition 13.4-inch LCD

Key Features

13-inch widescreen high-definition display with LED backlight technology, 16:9 aspect ratio, and 1366 x 768 resolution
Energy efficient 1.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor with ultra-low voltage for extended battery life
320 GB SATA hard drive
2 GB of RAM (maximizing capacity) with 667 MHz speed
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD video processing
1.3-megapixel webcam provides great image quality and rich colors so your viewers can see you clearly--whether taking a photo or broadcasting live
802.11b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi networking with expanded wireless features to get more done in more places
Ultra-fast Gigabit Ethernet wireed networking (10/100/1000)
Bluetooth 2.0+EDR connectivity lets you use wireless headsets for easy VoIP telephony and video chats as well as synchronize Bluetooth-enabled phones
HDMI high-definition audio/video output allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video to your digital TV or LCD
Built-in stereo speakers with high-definition audio support
Windows Home Vista Premium operating system
Battery: 4-cell lithium-ion with MSI's advanced power saving technology
Dimensions: 13 x 8.82 x 0.78 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.86 pounds
Warranty: 3-year hardware warranty

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated quad-mode Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots). This laptop comes with the following expansion ports:

2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 HDMI output for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable
Analog video output: 1 VGA
2-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC) media
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

What's in the box
This package contains the X340-021US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions

Learn More

The First 13-Inch Notebook with 16:9 Widescreen Display

The MSI X340 uses a 13-inch HD-Ready LCD display to provide added comfort when watching the latest movies, playing games, or just reading documents. The 16:9 theater ratio provides an additional 14 percent of visual area. When watching movies, the black bars on the top and bottom common to 16:10 aspect ratios can be avoided completely.

The X340 is also embedded with the LED power-saving backlight technology to provide better color fullness and brightness, elevating the total quality of imagery. Furthermore, the lowered power usage can offer a longer operating time when using battery power.

Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, which uses shared video memory. This graphics card is built with Intel Clear Video technology, which delivers clearer, more detailed images by eliminating many of the jagged edges and video artifacts seen when viewing interlaced content and features powerful color control to ensure videos are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out.

Energy Efficient Intel Core 2 Solo Processor

Offering the latest in ultra-low voltage processing power, the single-core Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor has a has a power consumption rating of just 5.5 watts and a 1.4 GHz speed that's paired with a fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and extra-large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) The Core 2 Solo processor delivers enhanced performance for today's demanding applications such as CAD tools, 3D and 2D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming. And Intel's Smart Cache technology enables smarter, more efficient cache and bus design for enhanced performance, responsiveness and power savings.

Windows Vista Home Premium Operating System

Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Product Description

MSI notebook has set out to make another monumental landmark in the industry with pure passion and the determination for fashion and quality, making its way toward the very finest in notebook computer designs with the X-Slim series.The X340 has ingeniously applied fashionable curves in its design which successfully abandoned the cold and lifeless vibe of the traditional notebook computers. The material is gentler to the touch compared the metal, and the paint finish is glazed and UV processed, added with the perfect ratio as a total package, creating the most simplistic yet modern styling, fitting for the most contemporary trend anywhere.With all these unique features, it proves that the X340 is not only a fashionable and appealing notebook computer; it also set very high marks for the entire industry.These great reasons are why the X340 should be highly recommended to all of the contemporary metropolitans anywhere.