It's quite a well-known fact that most notebook manufacturers try their best in order to come up with certain products that fit the needs of specific market segments, whether we're talking about gaming, office work, ultra-portability and so on. That's also the case with MSI, and after reviewing a while ago a notebook designed specifically for gaming and multimedia (the GX720), it's now time to see something a little different, namely the MSI EX400 model, a device whose features and specs recommend it as a portable computing system designed mostly for office work and web browsing, but also a bit of multimedia playback on the side.

Although it was launched in early autumn 2008, quite surprisingly, the MSI EX400 is not exactly very widespread nowadays, being present mostly on the EMEA markets probably due to the fact that it combines a relatively decent price point with other interesting features, all packed within a very versatile and somewhat attractive design.

As mentioned above, the EX400 is designed mostly for people who spend a lot of time on the go, so portability is a very important issue. For this reason, the display measures only 14.1 inches in diagonal, while other extras (multimedia controls, etc.) lack completely. While some users might find this rather disturbing, others, namely those who are just looking for a “workhorse,” won't probably mind at all.

This latter category of potential customers might also appreciate the fact that the device comes equipped with a specially-designed ECO Engine, a power-saving function whose main purpose is to extend the battery running time while performing different tasks.
Over the course of our very pleasurable experience with the EX400, we were able to test all of the aspects mentioned above, and more, as you'll about to read as follows, starting with the overall design and ending with just what working with the EX400 feels like.