MSI X-Slim X620 keeps its ULV processor and ATI graphics, adds an optical drive
By Joanna Stern 
posted January 23rd 2010 8:02PM
posted January 23rd 2010 8:02PM
Just a few days after revealing its X-Slim X420, MSI is back at it again with another Intel ULV-powered laptop -- but this time the redesigned 15.6-inch version of its X series has made room for an optical drive. As one might expect the 1.4-inch thick / 5-pound lappie is a bit heftier than before, though oddly it has the same selection of ports, including HDMI, two USBs, e-SATA, an SD card reader, along with a mic and headphone jacks. Other than that the Windows 7 Home Premium portable packs an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5430 GPU, and will support up to 4GB of RAM and 500GB of storage. No details on pricing or availability, but we'll be keeping our ears to the ground.
Prediction: MSi will be big.
I'm diggin' the looks of this laptop.
msi is already big i think they make computers for the big oems. the reason why msi is so low key is because they only sell in bulk and do not sell to consumers directly.
@Kantanax Yep, this release along with their x420 is a yet another big thing for MSI. The MSI X-Slim X420 is based on the Intel CULV platform equipped with the Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, ATI Mobility Radeon HD5430 3D external display adapter -- Battery lasting up to 9 hours.. Not to mention that msi notebooks are affordable as well.... Details: http://bit.ly/MSI-X-Slim-X420-details
@cherryboom As opposed to a company who couldn't even be bothered to make a new OS for their 'magical' new product, and who's graphical style for their main OS has remained basically unchanged since they started out?
If only they would just design the optical drive to be external, and use the extra space for more battery or SSD Raid.
@pika2000 Or maybe leave some space and leave it lighter.
I haven't used an optical drive in at least 3 years.
Video games don't count.
@pika2000
Agree 100%. It seems silly to carry around an optical drive everywhere that is hardly ever used. I would absolutely prefer more battery life which I'll use almost all the time.
@JamesR
...being able to replace the optical drive with another battery was one of my favorite design features of Dell and IBM laptops.
nice to see the X-Slim series getting an identity rather than being an airbook knockoff with taped up internals
Why couldn't they make it slot loading? :(
@Teslanaut
Eh. I don't always trust slot loading.
If it ain't broke why fix it?
Plus, I like it how my drive "pops" out.
=]
@Teslanaut
slot loading, with its mechanics, would take more space, and anyway, as a mbp owner, I can tell you that sometimes you want the assurance that the DVD will come out, ran into a few close calls
@JeremyBenthem With macs, shut it down, and hold mouse button right after you press power. Your disk will come out.
@Teslanaut
Slot-loaders won't take my precious 3" CD singles from the '90s. ;(
/okay, that's admittedly a small market, but still
@Krantzstone
not if you consider mini-DVD camcorders, my friend had to take his mac to the store to get it out
ULV and it is 1.4in and 5lbs? That really does not sound that impressive. A 15in MBP is 1in and 5.5lbs with a regular processor, am I missing something? It's not like ULV chips are cheaper then regular chips.
I bet this will be around 1000-1500, the same price as a unibody MacBook Pro. The line between Mac and PC is just that Apple does not make a crappy 500 laptop. If you want a nice PC, you will be paying 1000+
@ckeboss
I can also get a PC for the price of a non pro Macbook that will be equivalent performance wise to the Pro.
Apple has nice hardware, but the "Apple tax" isn't fictional.
@BigJayDogg3 Really? With the super awesome, easiest-to-upgrade chassis out there, server quality parts, and Apple's OS and support?
don't think so.
@Cam
Apples to apples buddy. I'm talking notebooks.
How does a ATI Radeon HD 5430 compare to a Nvidia 8600M GT? This might be a nice replacement for an over sized Dell.
@Dafrety
http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-5430.23702.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-8600M-GT.3986.0.html
@Dafrety: How is that 8600M GT Nvidia card doing for you? Did you know that it's a ticking timebomb? It killed my ASUS G1S laptop. There's a hardware defect on it where it'll burn itself out. Asus eventually replaced my G1S with a GV50T...it's massive. But, at least now I know it won't burn itself out. Better check with Dell and see if they'll do something for you before it commits suicide.
reminds me of my ASUS Ul80vt, I bet the msi keyboard is better, but I bet it cant match the 11 hour battery life
Intel ULV? Is that a Core2Duo ULV or a Core i5/i7 ULV?
The graphics card could be VERY appealing. I'm not so sure about the processor though...
hey i know this is really irrelevant, but what are the wallpapers that engadget uses on the palm pre's/pixi reviews? the one that have the small cities and such. thanks
And it better be a Blu-ray, DVD, CD multi burner otherwise having an optical drive is just a waste~
Optical drive?
DO NOT WANT!
Bwarharhar.
The X600 had one of the most horrible keyboards ever made. Having a keyboard that acts like a sheet hung out to dry is just a massive fail. Reminds me of Acer year 2001 quality, only worse.
I just bought a netbook (sold my primary desktop) and found myself missing my optical drive. I don't need it, but I catch myself thinking, "I'm gonna install this game on hyah," and then "oh rite lol".
So why are they still calling this thing X-****SLIM**** at 1.4" thick? That's the radius of my penis for Christ's sake! And 5pounds? And such a crappy resolution? And an optical drive? I mean, who wants this damned-from-hell beast with lousy internals?
This is getting close to to the laptop I'm looking for. Just want a 1080p or WSXGA+ screen, USB3, SSD+HD (willing to make the DVD drive external), and a Core i5 ULV. But a ULV CPU with an 8-cell battery should provide epic battery life.
I'm not so sure what's so impressive about a 15 inch 5 pound ULV notebook.
This is a piece of crap.
Any specific reason why idiots are comparing this to their macbooks?