lol you can't compare like that.
S550CM belongs to ultrabook, ultrabook have higher price tag, that's normal.
Seriously Vivobook ultrabook series considered one of the cheapest ultrabook you can find in market already, if you can find any ultrabook below Rm1.8k 14 inch with i5 processor using Intel HD graphics, tell me.

Your recommendation of Z580 not best bang for buck. FreeDos version RM2299 RRP is real best bang for buck cause Windows 7 Home Basic not worth RM200 for now. If not Windows 8 hater why don't buy separate licence for RM300, right?

Also, keep in mind that not everyone need a i7 processor, powerful processor dissipated more heat and its uncomfortable. Seriously I don't think i5 ULV processor is a weak processor...

This post has been edited by aristotletan: Apr 24 2013, 07:03 PM

I know there is no 1.8k ultrabook. My purpose is trying to clarify to XeactorZ that cannot compared with ultrabook with normal laptops, if so do it just like comparing a 5 inch phablet and 7 inch tablet. But why people still buy 5 inch phablet even some 7 inch tablet can make call? because of portability. Same goes to ultrabook.

Maybe this review will say how vivobook s400 compared with others

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Asus-V...ok.84582.0.html

By the way, lenovo s400 with mSATA its price very nice, but review score still cannot compared with vivobook.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Lenovo...ok.83304.0.html

I not sure notebookcheck is bias or not, but they review every notebook with very detail, not just looking on performance only. I am not fan of Asus or what, and Asus S400 did have its own disadvantages like reflective screen, below average battery life etc. But on other side like temperature and noise, it really did quite well.

I know for many of the people thinks that vivobook s400CA price is not very good because it lacks of decent graphic cards, but forgive me I am the person who thinks that graphic card is not necessary. And I think that most lowyat members too much focusing on good graphic cards, maybe I am the only members who are neither gamers nor graphics user... but I have to say that, if someone like me don't play intensive games, why don't just throw away the graphic cards? It save your notebook weight , battery, noise and temperature.

But then actually I am dilemma between S400CA and Y580 too. i7 for such attractive price undeniably its quite a great bargain, plus so many USB3.0 slots, but is really bulky. Deciding a laptop is more mess than choosing a girls. Asus S400 is just like a sexy lady with sweet face, Lenovo Y580 is just like a fat-ass girl like Happy Polla but rich background. Hahaha

This post has been edited by aristotletan: Apr 24 2013, 08:06 PM

If I not wrong, OEM keys (which the license key along with your laptop) might cannot use more than once, but only retail keys can. So, if you insist want to boot to mSATA, use a tool for creating backups of your entire hard-drive that can be recovered any time, like Norton Ghost, and many better alternatives here. Maybe you can ask for better software at software section.

I not sure whether this budget can find matte screen or not.. If got hope other guru can help you more recommendation about this.
Anyway this laptop comes in my mind, if neglect matte screen:

14 inch

Dell
Inspiron 14-3421, i3-3217U + Intel HD4000@RM1299[1.99kg], Ubuntu, 2GB, 500GB(5400rpm), 4-cell
Inspiron 14-3421, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT625M@RM1599[1.99kg], Ubuntu, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), 6-cell

15 inch

Dell
Inspiron 15, i5-3227U + Intel HD4000@RM1399[2.25kg], 4GB, 750GB(5400rpm), 4-cell, W8SL
Inspiron 15, i5-3227U + AMD Radeon™ HD 7670M@RM1499[2.25kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), 6-cell, Ubuntu



If you have budget, better get i5 ULV over i3 ULV, cause i5 ULV performance is somewhere between i3-M and i5-M processor.
Anyway web browsing i3-U is pretty sufficient I think. But I was you, I will choose i5 cause 6 cell battery provide longer battery life.

Lenovo
Z500, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2299[2.2kg], 4GB, 1TB, backlit, W8; 2 years warranty , 4-cell

Dell
Inspiron 15, i5-3337U + AMD 7670M@RM1779,[2.25kg] , 4GB , 500GB , 4-cell , W8
Inspiron 15R, i5-3337U + AMD HD8730M@RM1949[2.22kg] , 4GB, 750GB , 4-cell, W8
Inspiron 15R, i7-3537U + AMD HD8730M@RM2349[2.32kg], 8GB, 1TB(5400rpm), 6-cell, Linux

Lenovo give you best hardware configuration, but Dell laptop with ULV processors which gives you slightly lower performance but better battery life, even better if the laptop equipped with 6 cell battery.

Do you mean Acer V5-471G, i5-3337U + 4GB RAM + 500GB + Nvidia 710M + Win8 @RM1899 ?
I not recommended that. This is because..
-Since you doing video converting, its better go for standard processors (i5-M) instead of ULV processors (i5-U)
-Nvidia 7xx series have a wide range of graphic cards. But performance is vary for each cards. Nvidia 710M = Nvidia 620M . So 630M pawns 710M already.
-I think its hard to find something "light" in this budget which meet your requirements, but at least there is one:

Dell Vostro 5460, i5-3230M +Nvidia GT630M@RM1899[1.54kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), Ubuntu 12.04, 3 cell; W8SL@RM2099

One of the disadvantages of this laptop is its only have 1 RAM slot, so since you do video converting, I afraid that 4GB RAM is not enough for you if you do HD video converting, so if you upgrade into 8GB RAM with single RAM stick, its costly

Anyway, Dell provide good warranty, so even if spoil you can call them to fix it easily.

Perfect laptop for you in this budget
Just let you know if you wanna to save more, you can contact with DELL and ask for offline discount and save around RM50~100.

Theoretically, GT650M SLi is better than GT750M
But sometimes it depends. But if your games doesn't support SLi, GT750M might have better performance.
Maybe you can take a look at here before you buy to ensure the games you play support SLi.

In processors, the difference is minimal between 4th gen and 3rd gen. If graphic card is your main priority, you should consider it first.
If I not wrong new Y410p support Nvidia Optimus technology which means switchable with Intel HD graphics to provide longer battery life; maybe you can confirm this by asking Lenovo thread or seller.

I afraid that this laptop is obsolete.

For option A:
-Dell Inspiron laptop isn't "expensive" enough to satisfy your budget. Well, there's premium XPS laptop but screen size is definitely small for you.
-For Lenovo,
Y500, i7-3630QM + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080)@RM2999, 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, swappable ODD, 120w psu, 2 yrs
Y500, i7-3630QM + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080)@RM3899, 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, swappable GN37 exGPU & ODD, 120w+170w psu, 2 yrs
-If still got leftover budget can upgrade mSATA SSD

For option B:
-Same with above, but can consider MSI
MSI GE60K - i7-3630QM-2.4GHz , 8GB DDR3 RAM, 1920x1080 (Anti-Glare), 128MB SSD + 1TB SATA HDD , GTX660M, Win8 @RM3999

For option C:
No laptop which is light but 15 inch in this budget. But there's a lot 13 and 14 inch ultrabook in this budget.

This post has been edited by aristotletan: Jun 24 2013, 06:29 AM

SONY VAIO T SERIES 14" (1366 x 768@touchscreen) + i7-3537U + 4GB RAM + 500GB + 24GB mSATA + Intel HD 4000, 2.1KG, W8, RM3399
HP Elitebook Folio 9470M, i5-3317U + 4GB RAM + 32GB mSATA + 500GB SATA HDD + Intel HD 4000, W8PRO, 1.63kg , 4-cell , RM3499

Both laptop are slim. Use remaining money to upgrade a SSD if you want.
Anyway hope it helps you.

Just my two cents, if your college are confortable with 13.3 inch, its better to go for that due to ...
-even slimmer design
-more options
-usually equipped with SSD
-lighter

This post has been edited by aristotletan: Jun 24 2013, 09:29 AM

K46CB got touchscreen also? Are you sure?
Define "ultrabook" please. Ultrabook != slim laptop
Next time before you recommend, can you please check it properly?

EDIT: Do you see the difference?

s400 by aristotletanyising, on Flickr


k46 by aristotletanyising, on Flickr

Next time if u uncertain about something, don't say it out, no one will blame you.

This post has been edited by aristotletan: Jun 28 2013, 09:46 AM