MSI X350 Notebook: Thin and Light

A wedge, a slice, a sliver, a … squeegee? Odd associations come to mind when trying to describe the MSI X350, a notebook so slim that its front edge comes almost to a point like the stapled side of a magazine. The machine measures 8.8 by 13 inches by — well, 0.9 inch thick at the rear, but it tapers to barely a quarter of that up front.

To put it another way, words like “thin and light” and “slimline” get tossed around for laptops substantially fatter than the X350. To put it the obvious way, the X350 is almost as thin as Apple’s knife-edge MacBook Air. And while the elegant Apple costs $1,499, the MSI is $900 at Amazon and Newegg.

The Deli Test

The X350 is also the first notebook we’ve tested that weighs less than advertised — 3.3 pounds according to MSI literature, 3.14 pounds on the scale at our local delicatessen. And while it’s easy to hit the three-pound mark with a 10-inch netbook or an 11.6-inch ultraportable, the MSI is considerably easier on the eyes with a relatively big, sunny 13.3-inch display.

The 1,366 by 768-pixel panel is one of the thinnest we’ve seen, just a wafer compared to the thick lids of some full-sized notebooks, but it feels sturdy enough, without too much flex when you grasp the corners. It’s sharp and easy to read, with clear colors as long as you stick to the top two or three brightness settings.

Read the rest at Hardware Central.