MSI Brings X-Slim 340 With Core 2 Solo CPU to U.S.

MSI's new X-Slim 340 takes on the MacBook Air, slimming down to just 6 mm and packing an Intel Core 2 Solo CPU instead of a netbook's Atom processor.

MSI has officially unveiled its X-Slim X340 ultraportable notebook computer, taking a step up from its recent netbook offerings to offer a bigger screen and a little more processing power in a case that takes on Apple’s super-slim MacBook Air. The X340 measures 20mm at its thickest and slims down to just 6mm at its thinnest, figures that make it just a hair pudgier than its Cupertino competition. The X340 is also one of the first systems to use Intel’s low-power CULV platform, packing an Intel Core 2 Solo processor instead of the Intel Atom processor more commonly seen in netbooks—and it runs Windows Vista rather than Windows XP.

The X340 also beats the MacBook Air for port options: the unit sports two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and D-Sub video output, gigabit Ethernet, and an integrated card reader. The X340 also offers a 1.3 megapixel Web cam, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi wireless networking (Bluetooth is available as an option), and users can get at optical media with optional external Blu-ray or DVD SuperMulti drives. The X340 will also be available with an optional WiMax module for high speed mobile broadband (in areas where WiMax is available).The system offers a 13.3-inch 16:9 screen, but MSI hasn’t published the display’s native resolution; the computer uses Intel integrated graphics.

The X340s will ship with a standard 4-cell battery MSI says is good for up to 7 hours of usage; an 8-cell battery will also be available.

MSI hasn’t released pricing information for the X340, but says it should be available in the United States in April…and there aren’t many days remaining in the month.