Hello, since the PC Fair 2010 Part 2 is coming soon, I need advise now to start preparing my target. (I follow the template on 1st post)

I guess my target is somehow many people's target as well because I read a lot of post regarding searching for high-end netbook. I'm sorry but being practical, I think it is easier to find lower-end laptop because current netbook won't last a 4-year campus life.

My (our) focus is on (ultra) portable multimedia, not gaming.

-Brand : any brand is ok for me (nominate and I'll sort it out myself later)
-Budget: Rm1800-RM2300
-Specs:
+ 1. can stream Full HD (1080p) without lag via HDMI port. Some netbook even have HDMI port but they cannot stream full HD smoothly.

+ 2. screen size is not important since I'll connect it to my Tv. Similarly, no need Altec-Lansing grade speaker.

+ 3. I don't play 'heavy' game, so an middle range ATI/NVIDIA graphic card is ok with me, but no Intel/GMA.

+ 4. Preferably sub 2kg, weight typical college girl can carry easily. We need to also consider charger, carry bag, mouse and sometimes cooler pad too right?

+ 5. No need optical drive if possible, since I'll download movie and play directly on laptop.

+ 6. No need bundle operating system or antivirus if possible. The money can use on something better I think.

+ 7. No need high-end processor like Core i7, as long as it can stream HD movie.

+ 8. Small footprint. If possible, I hope to squeeze this laptop in my bag without carrying an extra bag. (Malaysia got a lot of snatch thieves....)

In short conclusion, I'm looking for portability, non-gaming, entertainment laptop. What I do ==> facebook, watch show, light game.

Currently fulfilled target:
- Dell Inspiron 13R (but have bundle Win-7 and McAfee)
- Dell Inspiron M301Z

Everybody is welcome to suggest more model to compare, it helps a lot of people. Thanks a lot !!

This post has been edited by kkhong: Jun 30 2010, 03:47 AM

I have several candidates to choose:

1.Compaq CQ42-188TX/Compaq CQ42-189TX - rm2199
2.Acer 4741G - rm2299
3.MSI CX420 - rm2499
4.Dell 13R - rm2299

They are around the same price and I like Dell. However, is it possible to get the Dell 13R without Windows (like FreeDos), because I would like to spend the money at other place.

Or perhaps somebody can suggest some other model listed above? (prefer no Windows, internal drive and lightweight)

This post has been edited by kkhong: Jul 7 2010, 01:53 AM

do you know how heavy is this laptop? The website says it's 2kg but usually they weight it without the battery, so I wish to confirm with someone who touched this laptop before.

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Added on July 9, 2010, 9:09 pmNo need, preferably with HDMI port.

Got a question though, if I want to stream Full HD through HDMI to my TV, the processor plays more role or the graphic card?

I ask this because currently Dell Mini 10 / HP 311 can have HDMI port, but the movie is less than 12 fps (unacceptable to watch smoothly), but they have weak processor and graphic accelerator, so I'm not sure which is the bottleneck.

If I want to stream Full HD, can Intel GMA 4500 MHD stream it smoothly over HDMI port to TV?

This post has been edited by kkhong: Jul 9 2010, 09:09 PM

The believe the Acer would be the lightest and thinnest (correct me if I'm wrong), but will the CX420 difference a lot in terms of weight and thickness? If not much difference (not that we human can notice it), then I'll choose MSI since they have the same spec...

100 gram i don't think I can personally notice it, how about the thickness? some notebook thickness can change when the battery is removed...

ATI 5470 > Nvidia G310M, but there is a new ATI 545v and notebookcheck.com has not provided review and testing yet. Any user of 545v know where it stands ?

Ati 5470 > Nvidia G310M > 545v or

Ati 5470 > 545v > Nvidia G310M

wanted to ask:

will there be any difference between buying a dell from Online website and from the PC Fair dell booth?

how about the price? can we negotiate the price while at the Pc Fair booth?

1. Compaq Prestario CQ42-268TX, i3 350M + Ati 545v, freeDos - Rm1949
2. MSI CX420X, i5 430M + ATi HD5470, freeDos, 2 years - RM2199
3. Acer 4741G, i5 450M + Nvidia 310M, Win 7 HP, 3 years - RM2299

Comparing the 3 above, is paying extra Rm350 reasonable to shift from Compaq to Acer?
Also, paying the extra Rm100 from MSI to Acer reasonable? (because I don't really think i5-430 and i5-450 have much difference, and take Windows 7 out of consideration though)

It seems that the Acer 4741G is currently the hottest cake in Pc Fair, really nothing can challenge it in the whole low-middle market?

This post has been edited by kkhong: Jul 17 2010, 12:26 AM

I notice that MSI CX420X specs different from the website compared to Pc Fair model. The website have 320g harddisk while the Pc Fair model is 500g, but I don't know that rpm of the harddisk, anyone can provide?

Also, the hot model Acer 4741G harddisk is 5400rpm or 7200rpm?

How does a AMD Athlon2 Dual Core P320 fare against the Intel i3-350 processor. Will have noticeable difference?

good news is that the MSI CX420X price has been reduced to Rm2199 with free gifts in Pc Fair.

This post has been edited by kkhong: Jul 19 2010, 03:20 PM

what other promotion? you have to tell me which brand you looking for because everything is in promotion during PC Fair...

I guess you're talking about the A42Jv-VX042V. What I see is normal promotion, Rm2899, 2 year warranty (1 year + free 1 year warranty), laptop carry bag, then the usual pack of free gift hamper.

haha..lowyat should always be the cheapest place you can find. Usually Pc fair price is roughly the same, depend on more negotiation skills though..

what aspect do you focus actually?

1. quality/reliability?
2. sales volume/popularity?
3. technical support/after sales service?
4. cheapest price?

lee_what2004 is a very senior forummer in this section, and he already gave good recommendation for you dy. You must have higher budget for gaming laptop.

hello, I'm using this Compaq CQ42-268TX, bought it last week at Pc fair, so far so good. I just want to tell you that it now comes with ATI 545v graphic card, not ATI 5450.

Regarding the freebies, usually you get a bit more free gift than you buy it at shops. But it is really 'a bit more ONLY' free gift. So if your petrol and car park fees can rationalize the effort to go to KLCC pc fair then it's ok, otherwise go to normal shop will do.

Anyway, this model is available at Lowyat with rm1879. I also suggest you to compare it with MSI CX420X at rm1999, which has higher spec but harder to find this model (out of stock at Lowyat).

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Added on July 30, 2010, 8:57 pmCompaq + Acer laptop user here. Not sure which problem you faced but so far so good. Laptop is a fragile thing, mostly is depend how the user handle it.

For example, Acer has a Timeline series which is very thin. However, I can feel the electric is flowing across the laptop when you touch it on the surface when charging it.

Both Compaq and Acer has 3 years warranty though. According to statistic, compaq has the lowest quality and Asus has the highest quality. Yet I still get the compaq because the statistic is year 2008 and I believe I handle laptop in a very gentle manner.

This post has been edited by kkhong: Jul 30 2010, 08:58 PM