MSI announces its latest notebook, the X-Slim X350

The 13.4” notebook has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and up to 9 hours of battery life

MSI have announced the release of its latest notebook, the X-Slim X350, which is an ultra-slim machine weighing just 1.5 kg and measuring less than 1” thick. MSI have given the X350 a glittering, diamond motif finish. The machine is powered by an Intel Core 2 Due processor (although MSI do not specify which chip exactly), and Intel's GMA 4500MHD.

MSI claims that the X350 can run for up to 9 hours on battery power, and it has a key to alter the power usage of the machine, which changes screen brightness, CPU performance and other functions. A HDMI port is a valuable addition to any notebook, and the X350 has one built-in, enabling HD playback on external, HDMI enabled displays. 

Fudzilla.com suggests that the X350 is nothing more than a slightly modified X340, here are the specifications of both the X350, as listed in MSI's press release, and the X340, taken from our review :-

The X340 scored 80% in our review, and we thought highly of the notebook's elegant, slim design, its lightness, the brightness of its LED and the inclusion of an HDMI port. However, its touchpad, keyboard, glossy display and short battery life were a disappointment to us. A notable omission from the X340 and the X350 is an optical drive, which is certainly a feasible addition to machines of this size.

On comparing both machines, it becomes apparent that Fudzilla.com could be right: the X350 offers a better processor and operating system than the X340 and a different appearance and size, but is quite similar to its predecessor. However, there are a sufficient number of differences between the X340 and X350 to warrant calling the X350 an entirely new notebook.

There is no news regarding the availability of this machine or its price, but Amazon.com do sell the X340 for $579.14 including shipping, therefore I expect the X350 to have a much higher retail price than this. The absence of an optical drive and its potentially high price is likely to deter a lot of notebook buyers, but consumers who prize ultra-thinness over all other features may be happy with MSI's latest offering.