Keepin' it real fake, part CCLIX: X-Slim X340 KIRFed, MacBook Air empathizes

The secret to a great KIRF is that it represents not just a knock-off but an homage to a beloved product (at least, that's what we tell ourselves when we sit in our workshop, trying to build the first ever shanzhai Grippity). Recently spotted in the stalls of Shenzhen, the above device is reminiscent of the MacBook Air, yes, but more tellingly, the MSI X-Slim X340. This 13-inch (1366 x 768) bad boy features a 1.2GHz Intel ULV processor, 1GB of RAM, up to 250GB of HDD, WiFi and Bluetooth, an SD card slot, three (count 'em!) USB ports, and HDMI out. You can expect to spend about $350 if you ever manage to track 'er down -- or you can just say the hell with it and go back to reading Garfield Minus Garfield. Either way, we support you. Get a closer look after the break.

[Needsahaircut Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:02PM]

Hmm not bad.

[Jefe30 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:34PM]

@Needsahaircut
definitely not Bad

[Wiggy Fuzz Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:44PM]

@Needsahaircut

especially when KIRFS stuff in more useful features than the original

[ThomasBags Posted Mar 3rd 2010 7:14PM]

@Needsahaircut
a super thin laptop shielded with plastic? good idea!

[Ducman69 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 7:51PM]

@ThomasBags You are expecting your nuts to get aradiated? Even tinfoil is sufficient, and the Macbook is all plastic construction and quite thin as well.

In any case, I'd have to see it in person but on paper it is quite attractive, even if it is made to look like the MSI.

[Val Posted Mar 3rd 2010 9:18PM]

@ThomasBags

Apple and all normal laptops have the inner side of the plastic case coated in a metallic film or some sort of metallic paint. Not sure about this one though, you never know with KIRFs...

[juanvaldez Posted Mar 4th 2010 7:11AM]

@Needsahaircut Not bad as long as they didnt use the freaking 4200rpm hdd that they used in the MBA.

[zb88 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:05PM]

ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Evan Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:18PM]

@zb88
NOT A GIVEAWAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[zb88 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:38PM]

@Evan
LoL! I know, I had so many tabs opened so I mistakenly posted it on this one, my bad...

[DoctarPeppar Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:06PM]

Cool...funny how all these macbook look alikes are coming out yet Apple still hasn't updated theirs with newer cpus. When was the last update, June 2009? Lol.

[Khris Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:19PM]

@DoctarPeppar With the iPad coming out, it wouldn't surprise me if the MBA candle quietly gets snuffed out of existence.

[DoctarPeppar Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:38PM]

@Khris
What!? No way...I'm sure I'm not the ONLY one who would want a touch screen macbook with a nehalem based CPU with switchable discreet GPU that runs a FULL version of OS X...iPad is a crippled nonsense device for sheeple who want the next "big" thing. It's a glorified eBook reader, nothing more.

[Kaboof Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:57PM]

@DoctarPeppar sry but for most ppl an EBook reader has a display that isn't.. well.. stressing your eyes? I'm considering buying an ebook reader but never thought of the iPad because of this.

[DoctarPeppar Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:59PM]

@Kaboof
I guess I'm not most people then...frankly I could care less about an ebook reader -- I would rather have an all in one device in a small form factor \ slimline \ tablet. Maybe the dell mini series will prove to be something for my liking.

[SoDigito Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:08PM]

Does it run snow leopard?

[keplenk Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:37PM]

@SoDigito Hackintosh is a no go, it has 4500MHD. It would have been nice if it was hack ready.

[garfieldfriends Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:08PM]

for 350 bucks, i'd say hell yes

[Prevacator Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:09PM]

It's funny, how this actually has more functionality than the actual Mac Book Air. Seeing as it has more than ONE USB port. Hell it even has VGAo-out and an SD card slot.

[Ducman69 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 7:54PM]

@Prevacator Don't forget HDMI.

But you won't know until you handle it in person if the keyboard is reinforced with jello-pudding. Definitely worth a review though Engadget!

[mtnDewFTW Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:09PM]

That looks terrible and NOTHING like the MacBook Air.

[MoonWalkerCTE Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:13PM]

@mtnDewFTW Agreed

[p0p0 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:13PM]

@mtnDewFTW
Its look putting 2 stool samples side by side. You can't tell which came from where but they are both pretty much the same.

[EricR Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:13PM]

@mtnDewFTW So let me guess, you own a MacBook Air and you're jealous?

[Dafrety Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:17PM]

@mtnDewFTW
You're right, the design is far too useful. They need to remove all the ports and slap on a higher price tag.

[MoonWalkerCTE Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:17PM]

@EricR I used to have one. My dog happily catched it until one day he got decapitated :(

[enGadget iGadget Posted Mar 3rd 2010 7:36PM]

@MoonWalkerCTE

Boo. This thing has more ports than my former MacBook.

On the other hand, $350 for a thin laptops that has an Intel ULV processor (!!!) is very, very tempting. I hope those manufacturers finally get rid of Atoms. I can't see how ASUS' UL laptops have 12 hours of battery life and still trounce Atoms. More ULV please.

[Dsi2play Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:13PM]

what!! how can a kirf product be so thin?
oh..... No CD drive


and the desktop look like a windows pick

[Nitesh Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:14PM]

That doesn't look half bad, but I wouldn't take a gamble on KIRF products.

[rji Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:39PM]

@Nitesh My sentiments exactly.

[sawtx Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:44PM]

@Nitesh
It's not really a KIRF, MSI is a pretty big company and the X-Slim line gets pretty good reviews. This is just an alternative to the Air.

[Nitesh Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:44PM]

@sawtx Read the article again, its a fake version OF the MSI.

[Oli D Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:48PM]

@Nitesh I bought a Kirfy 12" Chinese Netbook (pretending to be a MBA). Its built well, but of crappy plastic, kind of loud, but it stays cool, runs Windows 7 nicely, and hasnt exploded in 6 months or so.

It was a gamble, and I wouldnt take it out in public, but it wasnt bad for the price.

[Nitesh Posted Mar 3rd 2010 7:53PM]

@Oli D How much did it cost? I wouldn't mind a cheap MBA imitator. Does it run OSX?

[Oli D Posted Mar 4th 2010 2:28AM]

@Nitesh It was £200 for 12" LED Screen, 320Gb HDD, 2Gb DDR2, Atom N280. Haven't tried running OSx86 on it, but they are pretty standard netbook specs, so it probably would.

[Christian Martin Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:15PM]

I'll stick to Garfield Minus Garfield.

[sawtx Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:18PM]

Not exactly hard to come by and it's been around for some time now, you guys even did a X320 vs. Air article over a year ago. There are a few places with a black X340 like newegg and amazon, though it is a more expensive unit.

[AZNTechy Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:41PM]

350 is a pretty sharp buy on the account of the HDMI out in my opinion.

[Oli D Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:49PM]

@AZNTechy Don't try and run an HD external monitor on this thing though. Chipset can handle it, but the cooling is probably terrible.

[Sonicjet Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:41PM]

This is hardly a KIRF...it does not even try to be a kirf and looks like a good deal from a good maker.

[SonicEarth Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:42PM]

This looks nothing like a MacBook Air.

[hj Posted Mar 4th 2010 5:37AM]

@SonicEarth Because of the too many usefull ports?

[Dgosh Posted Mar 3rd 2010 4:48PM]

Ahhhh, another wonderful Shanzhai product.

[JavierNatalio Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:04PM]

CCLVIV isn't even a real numer...

[lifelikeneek Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:13PM]

@acavista

agreed

[albinomexi Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:15PM]

Makes me want to return my netbook...

[strap3212 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:18PM]

@acavista

Did you even read the article? This isn't the X340, it's a KIRF of the X340, which some people feel is a KIRF of the Air.

[ferank Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:25PM]

What the hell is CCLVIV? CCLIX? Learn Roman Numerals if you want to use them. KTHX

[JBgobears Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:30PM]

CCLVIV is not a valid Roman Numeral. Should be CCLIX.

[/Roman Numeral Nazi]

[JustThatNerdyGuy Posted Mar 3rd 2010 5:51PM]

Not bad all you need is a chiclet keyboard and a built in button trackpad...