At 1.3kg, the MSI X340 is an impressive feat of design from MSI and unlike the X320, it has a Core 2 Duo ULV SU3500 processor, which is part of Intel's new CULV platform that doesn't quite offer the same kind of grunt as you'd get from the Intel's more power hungry platforms, but on the other hand, you get a much slimmer notebook.

MSI has also gifted the X340 with two USB 2.0 ports, that's at least one more than the MacBook Air, an HDMI connector, an Ethernet port, a D-sub connector, a memory card reader, a 1.3 Megapixel webcam and two audio jacks. The X340 also got GMA4500MDH graphics, although this is hardly cutting edge, it's the best integrated graphics Intel's got at the moment. 

It  will also feature 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and it looks like it will have HSDPA and even WiMAX connectivity as an option. Somewhat oddly, MSI has gone for a traditional 2.5-inch hard drive ranging from 250 to 500GB with no mention of SSD as an option. MSI will also offer an optional external Blu-ray drive for the X340.

The only downside that we can see is the fairly low resolution 1,366x768 13.4-inch display, this is the same as on the X320. Then of course there's the matter of the 4-cell battery which doesn't sound like it'll last all day, but at least it keeps the weight down, although an 8-cell option will be made available.

At 330x224x19.8mm (WxDxH) the X340 is more or less the same size as the MacBook Air and for once it looks like Apple might have some real competition if the build quality of the X340 is as good as it seems to be judging by the pictures.

More details are expected during CeBIT and Engadget are suggesting that the X340 will cost sub US$1000.

You can find some pictures and more details here