can't really just judge by brand, need to compare model by model.
though acer quality has been improving,
weak point...... cheap? hence people think lower quality?

bad batch perhaps,
mine and other 4 acers didn't face any lcd problem in 3 years++ since 2006, most is dead hdd, or broken lid on hinge area after 3 years usage...

s57, if still can get it
if you concern more on gaming performance...

This post has been edited by lee_what2004: Jan 22 2010, 05:20 PM

aspire 5740 is using hd5470 which basically hd4570 rebranded, overclocked,
while s57 is using hd4650, another level up.

if more into gaming, k40ab,
more into photosho, g450

if compaq considered, compaq presario CQ36-110TX, though slower gpu.
if strictly hp, don't have any with hd4570, but got hp dv6 with hd4650.
other brand would be acer 5740g.

if can up more, consider vaio cw16, now sells rm 3699, p8700 + nvidia gt230m
if strictly under 3.5k, sager np2098 if don't mind online shopping, else would be benq s57,
not much model between 3-3.5k, next step up would be rm 3999 studio xps 16....

well, actually the k40ab and g450 can do both photoshop and gaming, just probably got delays couple seconds

This post has been edited by lee_what2004: Jan 22 2010, 11:16 PM

and I still can do photoshop with my t2250, just really depends how impatient you are

asus k40ab, lenovo g450 with nvidia g210m, both around rm 1999 with FreeDOS

well, graphic wise, its the same with k40ab, since its just using ddr2 vram for u80v's hd4570, the extra cost goes to lighter weight, intel cpu, longer battery life and backlit keyboard.
though, its still nice price for it
iinm last time for p7450 config its around rm 3499

I thought acer 5740g out already?

some user says got already in penang....
garage sales also got sell...
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=1300605

hard to find 11'' with dvd drive, can only think of vaio TT, another one would be one model from asus eee pc though I doubt it exist in malaysian market.
12'' with dvd drive... acer 2930, compaq cq20, dell latitude e4200,

well, ori price would rm 2999
my acer never been through service center
acer's quality has been improving

This post has been edited by lee_what2004: Jan 23 2010, 12:18 AM

made a mistake, the dell e4200 doesn't come with dvd drive..
as vaio TT, should be >6k, not sure still available or not
acer 2930, compaq cq20 should be around 2-2.5k

can't really comment on the sound since I haven't heard it personally.

13'' also hard to find under 2k ....
if don't mind 14'', consider acer 4810TZ, 1.9kg, should have around 6++ hours, dvd drive, rm 1999.

This post has been edited by lee_what2004: Jan 23 2010, 12:46 AM

haven't heard any complaint from my friend using it...

don't forget u80v comes with 2 years warranty and its light (2.1kg) considering its 14''

pretty much that your only choice if strictly 13'', do note that inspiron 13 doesn't have dvd drive.

its always like this when want to buy the right thing
absolute performance: benq s57
value: acer 5740g
mobility: asus u80v

This post has been edited by lee_what2004: Jan 23 2010, 01:29 PM

acer 5740g is using hd5470 which is similar with hd4570, so can say similar with studio 15 with i5, but cheaper price..
though gpu wise, lose to s42 and s57

well, so far no complaint about studio 14 from my friend using it.
though if you want better spec that that one with similar price, consider toshiba l510-s4314, toshiba L510-S4318B

asus k40ab/k50ab, lenovo g450 with g210m, acer 4740g, benq s42(if can find it)

sager np2098 with t6600, last time around rm 2.8k from mucro.

acer 4740g, asus k40ab
if can 2.6k, compaq CQ36-110TX

here selling for rm 2499
as for difference both model, seems like only the ram amount, 2gb vs 4gb.

so far, acer only release 15'' and 14''
if want similar model from other brand, sony FW or upcoming sony F

sager np2098, similar spec without BD-rom, though need to order online
lenovo y550, acer 5935g with gt240m
though those three only have similar performance with s57
to beat it, studio xps 16 is the closest in your budget.

This post has been edited by lee_what2004: Jan 24 2010, 12:43 AM

quite good considering its price,
considering it needs another rm 300 to get i5 + another 2gb ram on acer 5740g but lose one year warranty...
but any info about the vram being used on hd5470?

This post has been edited by lee_what2004: Jan 24 2010, 01:36 AM

acer 5740g is sufficient,
if really want better warranty, consider dell studio 15 with i5.
still none i7 with price tag 3k