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MSI X340 reborn as DIY carbon fiber tablet, watch it stream YouTube at 720p (video)
Tired of touchscreen tablets that lack speed, a usable UI, or support for a certain streaming video format that will go unnamed? As one of our favorite sayings goes, if you want it done right, do it yourself. One Engadget reader took that idea to heart in crafting the 13.4-inch carbon fiber contraption you see above, imbuing it with enough high-end netbook parts to run Windows 7 at a brisk pace and play 720p video on its large, resistive touchscreen. Starting with the guts of an MSI X320, adding an accelerometer and 40GB solid state drive and finally sandwiching a random Chinese digitizer on top, the whole 1.6GHz Atom Z530 machine cost him under $700 in parts. For that price, we're sure many of you would be happy to follow in his footsteps, but if not, by all means continue complaining to your tablet manufacturer of choice. We have another favorite saying: the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Video after the break; Q&A with the creator at our more coverage link.
How would you change MSI's X-Slim ultraportable line?
MSI's seductive X-Slim lineup first dropped jaws back at CeBIT, and it's been tempting PC addicts ever since hitting the market a few months back. Many have argued that the X-Slim family looks just a bit too much like that other ultraslim lappie over there, but we'd say these are distinct enough to walk their own path. Catering to a wide range of potential customers, MSI has actually issued quite a few of these machines, from the X320 to the X340 to the X600. If you've been fortunate enough to pick one of these up for yourself, how has the user experience been? Is it as much a looker in person as you thought it'd be? Are you satisfied with performance? Anything missing for the price? Go on and get heard, won't you?
MSI's X-Slim X320 now shipping in the US for $599
MSI's X-Slim X340 has already made its way out into this brave, new world, but the version that checks in at a score less (for whatever reason) is just now starting to do the same. If you're looking for the least expensive way to snag yourself an X-Slim, head on over to one of a few reputable e-tailers and part ways with $599. Depending on courier and location, you should be reveling in your decision within a few business days. Oh, if only everything else in this world was so easy.
MSI's X-Slim X340 vs. X400 vs. X600 CULV laptops... Fight!
The big Computex show in Taipei is just a few weeks away and that means laptops, tons and tons of laptops. Specifically, CULV thin-and-light laptops that Intel's hoard of dutiful manufacturers have positioned between netbooks and super-expensive, ultra-portables like the MacBook Air or ThinkPad X301. Engadget Chinese is at the unveiling of MSI's full range of X-Slim laptops. We've already seen the X320/X340 up close, but this is the first time we've received official specs on the 14-inch (1366 x 768) X400 and 15.6-inch (1366 x 768) X600. Both feature Core 2 Solo CULV processors, an HDMI jack, hard disks up to 500GB in capacity, up to 4GB of DDR2 memory, and a 2-in-1 card memory reader. The X600 adds eSATA, options for 6 or 9-cell batteries (compared to the X400's 4 or 8-cells), and bumps the graphics from integrated GMA 4500MHD to ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330. Now we're just waiting for the ship dates and prices which should start at $699 to about $1,100.Update: Official press release says to expect these before June is through.
MSI X320 ultralight escapes its box
We've already spent some time ogling over the MSI X-Slim X320 in person, but the ultrathin laptop is starting to ship out in Europe, and these are the first unboxing photos we've come across. Sadly it looks like retail units will be festooned with an nasty array of stickers across the palm rest, but overall it looks like MSI's pulled off a nice little riff on the MacBook Air theme. Full set of pics at the read link.[Thanks, Jens]
MSI outs full specs of X-Slim X320 / X340 and Wind U123
While MSI has been teasing its Wind U123 and X-Slim X320 / X340 laptops for a little while now, we've yet to see the full specifications for each rig laid out. Until now, of course. Over at CTIA in Vegas, the company is revealing all the dirty details about what makes these May-bound rigs tick, and we're pleased as punch to see a few unexpected inclusions. As for the 10.2-inch U123, you'll find a 1.66GHz Atom N280 CPU, integrated WWAN and even a built-in TV tuner. As for the X-Slim X340 (starting around $1,000), it's amongst the first to feature Intel's newfangled CULV platform, which sucks down one-sixth the power of a regular mobile CPU. The X320 (starting at $700) gets gifted with a less exciting 1.6GHz Atom Z530, but the optional 3G / WiMAX module definitely makes it altogether enticing for those scouting a continually connected ultraportable. Head on past the break for the full hardware breakdown.
MSI X-Slim X320, X340 and GT725 hands-on
We knew MSI's newest X-Slim laptops were ultrathin, but it wasn't until we saw 'em in person here at CeBIT that we truly appreciated the design. These are definitely amongst the sexiest laptops we've seen in some time, though it only took a moment for fingerprints to begin marring the previously flawless glossy top. Both were appropriately sturdy and remarkably lightweight, and if these are any sign of where MSI is going with its styling, we can't wait for the future. On that note, we should also mention that we stumbled upon the absolutely gigantic GT725. Granted, that machine is aimed squarely at the gaming crowd, but it just looked unnatural after toying with its fitness-minded siblings just seconds earlier. We went a little crazy with the camera, but feel free to only peek the thumbnails you like.%Gallery-46388%
MSI X-Slim X320 and X340 coming in April
Hint of déjà vu notwithstanding, we're pretty stoked to hear MSI''s ultra-thin X-Slim laptops, the 13.4-inch X320 and X340, are making their way to the retail channels this April. The X320 is sporting a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor, while the Intel CULV-equipped X340 will be available in two configurations: a 1.2GHz Celeron M 723 and a 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo SU3500. MSI's Director of U.S. Sales Andy Tung says he expects the trio to run for around $700, $750, and $999, respectively. If that's not enough, two more X340 models are coming in May, in 1.3GHz Core 2 Solo SU2700 and a Core 2 Solo SU9600 options. No word on the 15.6-inch widescreen X600 model, but we're hoping to see it sooner rather than later.
MSI unveils new X-Slim models ahead of CeBIT
We certainly aren't tired of the X-Slim 320 laptop from MSI, with its Air-like form-factor in less expensive and slightly more practical packaging -- it's still many moons away from release, after all. Despite that, MSI felt the need to announce two new models to round out the still unreleased lineup: the 13.4-inch X340 and 15.6-inch X600. We don't know much about these two yet except that the X340 is slated be priced somewhere in the (wide) range of $699-$999 in the US, that both offer HDMI in addition to VGA output, both are Centrino 2-based, and that the X600 even has an eSATA port on top of its two USBs. We'll surely be seeing a lot more of this pair (plus the X320 as well) at CeBIT in just a few weeks, and are hoping that MSI will go ahead and maybe release one before introducing any more.
MSI unveils ultra-thin X-Slim 320, fits snugly into manila envelope
MSI has unveiled the 13.4-inch X-Slim 320 (is that you, U300?), which at 1.98cm and about 2.87 pounds puts it just a teensy bit lighter and thicker than its Cupertino-born doppelganger, and comes with either a 4 or 8 cell battery that lasts up to 10 hours. The company provides no specs in its presser, but our cohorts at Engadget Chinese were at an MSI pre-CES event and report that we're looking at a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor, 1366 x 768 resolution, up to 2GB DDR2 RAM, 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, 3.5G network card, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, VGA output, and an all-in-one card reader, and according to Crave it might be using the NVIDIA Ion platform. It's coming second quarter of 2009 for about $800 -- we'll see it for ourselves later this week.[Via Engadget Chinese]Read - MSI press releaseRead - Crave report