MSI X340 CULV Notebook Coming Soon

MSI X340 CULV Notebook Coming Soon

MSI's X-Slim X340 notebook is listed on MSI's website as "coming soon"; it is based on the new Intel Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV) platform. CULV notebooks represent the middle ground between netbooks and higher-priced ultraportables. The X340's specifications include a 13.4" 16:9 widescreen display with LED backlighting, Intel Core 2 Solo processor (1.4GHz), Windows Vista Home Premium, and an HDMI port. Other specifications include 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive. Some models are expected to come with WiMAX built-in.
The X340 starts at 2.86 pounds and very slim; its height ranges from 6-20mm (0.24-0.8 in). It will come with either a 4- or 8-cell battery. The price is currently listed at $1,099.

MSI Product Link
Via (Laptoping.com)

 

$1,099? You can get standard 13" dual-core rigs for less than that.

Edit: Add to that the reports that Intel offered huge discounts on their CULVs to help with launch and MSI paid as little as $70 each for them in bulk.

 

/me thinks that the "coolness factor" (i.e. slim design) contributes to the price in large part here

 

But none of them weigh less than 3 pounds. Any 13" laptops less than $1000 usually weigh at about 4~ pounds.

This thing is thin and light. You really have to compare this to the Dell Adamo.

Compared to the Adamo, it's 2.86 lbs vs 4 lbs, both with ulv processors 1.4 GHz, thinness about the same, battery life probably about the same if not better (can't really get less than 2.5 hours). 128GB ssd Adamo vs 320 HDD. MSI: $1099 Adamo: $2699. I don't believe that's a bad deal, not at all.

 

I want a 12.1" CULV model with 8 cell battery that doesn't cost me my unborn child

 

Dell Mini 11 will have a CULV and is said to start at $499.

Acer Timeline series has a reported price range of $699-$899.

 

The only reason you "really have" to compare it to the Dell Adamo is so you can justify it being over priced.

It's like saying you're too drunk to walk straight but you're more sober than the guy passed out on the floor lying in his own vomit.


On the other hand if you compare the X340 to something like the Dell Vostro 1320 or HP dv3z then yes they may weigh 4.1 lbs compared to 2.86 lbs. but you're getting a built in optical drive, and a better processor for as much as $400 to $500 less.

 

i will stick with my HP 2510P with a 12.1 inch screen and DVD drive, with a U-7700 1.33 core2 duo ULV cpu. i got it on ebay for $535. you can even get a HP 2530P for about the same price with a DVD drive. even though its used you still get a better warranty of 3 years of international warranty. i just bought a 9 cell battery so my baby last 8 hours on pure battery. and best of all it still weights under 4 pounds.

 

Right. But it's also much much thicker in addition to the fact that it is much heavier as well. You have to compare like with like. These categories of machines are designed (and its selling point incidentally) to be thin and light for a premium price. Sure you can compare a budget laptop that is cheap and is 8 pounds to a 2 pound, ultra light machine that's more expensive, but you aren't making a valid comparison (and I know that you aren't specifically, but you need to compare ultraportables with ultraportables, not heavier, thicker machines.)

This laptop actually squares off perfectly with the Adamo. 0.2-0.8 inches thin for this MSI unit vs 0.65 inches thin for the Adamo is the biggest reason why they have to compared. Both use ULV, both have arbitrarily 13.4" screens, etc.

 

X340 Dissected