MSI X-Slim X340-023US NoteBook Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500(1.40GHz) 13.4" Wide XGA 2GB Memory 320GB HDD Intel GMA 4500MHD

Pros: Light and thin with good screen size. Everything works in #! crunchgang linux (ubuntu 9.04) except vol hotkeys. MSI gave me disassembly guide pdf to put a 64g SSD. This increased battery life (.5 hr more or less)

Cons: I don't really mind keyboard and turn off mouse pad (fn + f3) to use bluetooth mouse, so none really

Other Thoughts: I like this computer to "mod only" to be a large screen netbook ie; linux/ssd. vista and slow large harddrive I see no need for such a computer

Pros: Light weight, cavernous hard drive

Cons: flimsy keyboard, potential hardware problems

Other Thoughts: I have heard of potential hardware problems with this design. It is the early hours of the morning before work, soi I do not have time to write much, But, last night, the hard drive on my unit failed after about 2 months of moderate use. This unit is one (was one) of 5 laptops I work on, so it's use has not been high. I have traveled with it once (about a month ago). I am now looking at an Acer 3810T. I'll update this depending on how my experience with MSI support goes in repairing/replacing it. As of last night the support website was down, so the experience is not boding well.

Pros: The size, and I'll say it again, the size. This is exactly what I wanted in a laptop for a price I was cool with. Basically it's half the speed and half the price of the macbook air, same size and I think it's actually lighter.

It really is delightfully thin and light, barely notice it when I bring it along.

The screen is also beautiful.

It's fast enough to play hulu without stuttering, which a netbook can't do, and was my baseline for performance.

I also love that it has bluetooth and a nice webcam built in.

From a spec perspective, the only thing it's missing is a macbook air esque multitouch track pad, and an illuminated keyboard or some sort of keyboard led.

The price was just right.

Cons: The keyboard sucks. Flat out it's horrible. The laptop feels plasticy and a bit fragile as is, but then you touch the keyboard and it feels like they spent $5 on it as an after thought. I am reluctant to use the computer simply because the typing experience is so bad.

It's made 10x worse by the fact that the trackpad seems to mystically get palm touched when you are typing if you aren't uberaware of it. I don't think I've typed my windows password in without clicking out of the box on my first try yet.

I really need to stress how much the keyboard sucks. I've never used a keyboard that felt this cheap, even on my mom's netbook by MSI. It sinks in when you touch it, sounds plasticy and ... I don't know, but I wouldn't use it to write a paper for school.

Other Thoughts: I bought this laptop because when I travel I have to bring my work laptop, and 2 full sized laptops in my carry on luggage was killing my back. If I had to use this more than once or twice a month for a weekend I probably would have sold it and took the loss, but the size is just perfect and so is the speed.

The battery life is 2 to 3 hours, which is perfect for my needs, just be aware you traded an incredibly light laptop for battery life. The power brick is delightfully small, which impressed me as having a big one would defeat the point of the small light laptop.

It also comes with a nice mouse. They tried, and it was a valid attempt, but unless they fix the keyboard and trackpad, I'd really hold off for a 2nd generation. It makes me sad to discourage people from this laptop as I want it to succeed, but it's been bothering me enough I felt the need to write this review so others were warned.