W8.1 support lower resolution, so that's the good news (actually it improve resolution support across the board)
The 2nd point actually still hold true. W8RT don't cut it. And without cheap OS like W7S, a full price W8 OEM simply cut the netbook razor thin margin to a level that laptop brands simply don't see any point producing it anymore.
By getting rid of the bottom part of the traditional laptop form factor (keyboard and stuff), brands are able to reduce cost, and that's why most of the sub-RM1k 10" are in tablet form now (like Acer Iconia), which tie nicely back with W8 push in touchscreen
I think later this year we may see full W8.1, spec with 22nm Atom (late 2013), 10", < RM1k (I'll buy 1 to play )

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 17 2013, 11:40 AM

I supposed you are using AutoCAD, Solidwork in your study. AutoCAD need good CPU. Solidwork need good CPU & GPU. (And you need 64bit OS)
To have better experience running Solidwork, try to go for as good a GPU you can find within your budget.
Consider this:
Lenovo
G480, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT635M@RM1699, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), FreeDOS
Have seen it selling at RM15xx, very close to your budget. You could get cheap legal OS from your school.

For GPU power, Ivy bridge & Haswell IGPU scale with CPU (e.g. HD4000 in i5 run better than HD4000 in i3).

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 17 2013, 12:08 PM

CPU - the mobile CPU in the G480 I listed earlier is more powerful than the ULV CPU in the 14R.
GPU - The GT730M in the 14R is better than the GT635M in the G480.

Buddy, RM1699 no W8, Ubuntu only

Not many models with Haswell in the market now. If you want Haswell, you will see more choices in 3Q13.
Haswell will really improve running time on battery compare with Ivy Bridge, if brands put some minds into it (MacBook Air improve running time by 40-60% )

Go with 13" ultrabook for light weight and portable. If your light gaming are those FB flash game, Ivy Bridge HD4000 or Haswell HD42/44/46/5000 will have no problem.
Fast - make sure it is full SSD.

Acer
Aspire S7-391-53314G12, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 128GB SSD + (1920x1080; touch)@RM3799, 4GB, W8

Asus
UX31A-R4005H, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 128GB SSD + (1920 x 1080)@RM3599[1.3kg], 4GB, W8

Dell
XPS13, i5-3337U + Intel HD4000 + 128GB SSD@RM3399[1.36kg], 4GB, W8, backlit
XPS13, i5-3337U + Intel HD4000 + 256GB SSD + (1920x1080)@RM4299[1.36kg], 8GB, W8, backlit

Lenovo
IdeaPad Yoga 13, i7-3537U + Intel HD4000 + 256GB SSD + (1600x900 IPS; touch)@RM3799[1.5kg], 4GB, W8, 2 years warranty

Wait for 2 more months, most models will be refreshed with Haswell. So wait if you are not in a hurry.
Prices are RSP, negotiable.

You may actually go to Machine, place advance order for MBA (understand delivery is in late July early Aug13), then run bootcamp to run Win OS (if you have a copy)

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 17 2013, 12:57 PM

no problem. remember to negotiate with Dell by online chatting

Y410p really is one of a kind. No peer in that price point
For your budget, light weight, you have to look at 14".

Asus
K46CB-WX060H, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[2kg], 2GB, 750GB, W8, 4-cell, OD

Dell
Vostro 5460, i5-3230M +Nvidia GT630M@RM1899[1.54kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), Ubuntu 12.04, 3 cell; W8SL@RM2099
Vostro 5460, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT630M + (32GB mSATA SSD + 500GB(5400rpm))@RM2199[1.54kg], 4GB, W8SL, 3 cell

HP
Envy4-1204TX, i5-3337U + AMD HD8750M + 32GB mSATA +500GB(5400rpm)@RM2399[Beats][1.75kg], 2GB, W8
Envy4-1238TX, i5-3337U + AMD HD8750M@RM2099[Beats][1.75kg], 2GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8
Touchsmart 14-k028TX Sleekbook, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768;touch)@RM2799, 4GB, 500GB, W8, ext OD

Lenovo
Z400, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2099, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty

Toshiba
Satellite L40-AS109Xb/G/W, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[Onkyo], 4GB, 750GB, 3 years local warranty
Satellite U940-1001X, i5-3317U + Nvidia GT630M + (32GB mSATA + 640GB HDD)@RM2349[1.7kg], 4GB, W8SL, backlit keyboard, 3 years local warranty (1st year on-site)

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

For your budget, stick with 14".

Asus
A45VS-VX026H, i5-3210M + Nvidia GT645M@RM2199[2.4kg], 2GB, 500GB, W8
K46CB-WX060H, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[2kg], 2GB, 750GB, W8, 4-cell, OD

Dell
Inspiron 14R, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT730M@RM2099[2.33kg], 4GB, 750GB(5400rpm), Linux; W8SL@RM2299
Vostro 5460, i5-3230M +Nvidia GT630M@RM1899[1.54kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), Ubuntu 12.04, 3 cell; W8SL@RM2099
Vostro 5460, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT630M + (32GB mSATA SSD + 500GB(5400rpm))@RM2199[1.54kg], 4GB, W8SL, 3 cell

HP
Pavilion 14-e018/019/020TX, i5-3230M + AMD HD8670M@RM1999, 2GB, 500GB, W8
Envy4-1238TX, i5-3337U + AMD HD8750M@RM2099[Beats][1.75kg], 2GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8

Lenovo
Z400, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2099, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty
Z480, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT640M@RM1999, 4GB, 1TB(5400rpm) W8
G480, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT635M@RM1699, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), FreeDOS
G480, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT635M@RM1899, 4GB, 1TB (5400rpm), W8, 2 yrs warranty

Toshiba
Satellite L40-AS109Xb/G/W, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[Onkyo], 4GB, 750GB, 3 years local warranty

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

Could you live with 14"?
Lenovo
Y410p, i7-4700MQ + GT750M(GDDR5)@RM2899, 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, 120w psu, swappable ODD, 2 years warranty

15" or above normally is not light weight (we are talking about > 2.3kg at least). Actually Y410p also is not light

Light weight 14" (~ < 2kg) that could handle your usage:

Asus
K46CB-WX060H, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[2kg], 2GB, 750GB, W8, 4-cell, OD

HP
Envy4-1204TX, i5-3337U + AMD HD8750M + 32GB mSATA +500GB(5400rpm)@RM2399[Beats][1.75kg], 2GB, W8
Envy4-1238TX, i5-3337U + AMD HD8750M@RM2099[Beats][1.75kg], 2GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8

Toshiba
Satellite U940-1001X, i5-3317U + Nvidia GT630M + (32GB mSATA + 640GB HDD)@RM2349[1.7kg], 4GB, W8SL, backlit keyboard, 3 years local warranty

Prices are RSP, negotiable.
To ensure smooth multi-tasking, put in more RAM (8G stick ~ RM200). To ensure "smooth" usage, consider changing the HDD into SSD (SSD 256G ~ RM600). These after-market upgrade normally will not void hardware warranty.

Replace HDD with SSD - the difficulty / troublesome level actually depend on laptop model. Some model let user access HDD bay very easily. Some models require user to tackle 40+ screws, tear out almost the whole laptop

free RAM upgrade - that we actually has to thank laptop brands. Why they decide to stick 2G RAM into laptop as standard spec for certain models when W7 or W8 actually will not run optimally at least with 4G (if OS is 32bit, can't utilise more than 4G). So I think re-sellers just take pity on buyers (or save themselves the hassle of getting blame by the buyers later "why laptop so slow ah?" )
But remember, the RSP is just that. Re-sellers normally can give a bit of discount, and more RAM is a form of "discount / free gift"

Light and thin 14" normally don't come with ODD. In fact, iinm, there is no models in Malaysia that satisfy all your "must" criteria

If you can omit touchscreen:
Asus
K46CB-WX060H, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[2kg], 2GB, 750GB, W8, 4-cell, OD

If you can omit ODD:
Acer
V5-473PG-54204G50, i5-4200 + Nvidia GT740M +(1366x768;touch)@RM2299, 4GB, 500GB,W8 *no OD

HP
Touchsmart 14-k028TX Sleekbook, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768;touch)@RM2799, 4GB, 500GB, W8, ext OD

Lenovo
Z400 touch, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768, touch)@RM2399, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty

Toshiba
Satellite S40t-AS102X, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768; touch)@RM2449[Onkyo], 4GB, 500GB, W8SL; 3 years local warranty

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

You can upgrade HDD to SSD aftermarket, normally will not void hardware warranty. SSD 128G ~ RM300, 256G ~ RM600.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 17 2013, 05:40 PM

Acer
V5-551G-84552G1T, A8-4555 + AMD HD7650M@RM1599, 2GB, 1TB, W8

Dell
Inspiron 14-3421, i3-3217U + Intel HD4000@RM1399[1.99kg], Win8SL, 2GB, 500GB(5400rpm), 4-cell
Inspiron 14R, i3-4010U + Intel HD4400@RM1549 [2.32kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8 , 4 cell

HP
Pavilion G4-2110TU, i3-3110M + Intel HD4000@RM1599, 2GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W7HP

Lenovo
Z485, A8-4500M + AMD HD7450M@RM1599, 2GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8
G400s, i5-3230M + Intel HD4000@RM1599, 4GB, 500GB, FreeDOS
G480, i3-2348M + Intel HD3000@RM1299, 2GB, 500GB (5400rpm), FreeDOS; W8@RM1499
G480, i5-3230M + Intel HD4000@RM1499, 2GB, 500GB (5400rpm), FreeDOS

FreeDOS mean you need to get OS yourself.
Prices are RSP, negotiable.

Don't compare 1 brand to another brand. Compare model vs model. Different model from 1 brand could have big variance

If your usage is mainly for gaming, go for the most powerful GPU+CPU. In this case, Z400.
If battery running time is important to you, but you still want to kick in a game from time to time when in AC power, get a frugal CPU + a powerful GPU. In this case, K46CB.

G480 vs G400 vs Z400 - go out and look at the real thing and you will see the difference
G480 is the most "normal" model. Normal thickness, normal built quality.
G400 is the newer G series. Slimmer than G480, but less powerful.
Z400 is newer than G480. Z series is more "medium end". Z400 is slimmer than G480, and more powerful than G480 and G400. But Z400 is the most difficult to dismantle / clean / upgrade

Do ask them if they are giving you another 2G stick or replace the 2G stick with a 4G stick. Impact future upgradability since laptop normally only has 2 RAM slots.

edited: (sorry, sorry, devour sifu point out my mistake)

I make a mistake in my split
Z400 touch and Satellite S40t-AS102X both have ODD.
Both are not that "light" though (~ 2.2kg)

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 18 2013, 01:26 PM

Of course you could connect to external display through VGA/Display Port/HDMI (just make sure you have the same port at both the laptop and the external display or you'll have to deal with adapter).
For normal usage, those GPU is more than capable. For gaming, depends on game titles. Going higher resolution mean more pixel to handle, you may have to turn down details level to compensate so that games stay in playable fps.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 18 2013, 08:00 AM

can can, for example, try to squeeze out an additional 4G stick rather than 2G stick

aiyo, thank you sifu. Yes, it has. Lack of sleep really get to me in the morning
On the other post, I said Samsung 840 Evo has "1GB" capacity

"Reliable"? Not really sure how to measure that

Lenovo
G480, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT635M@RM1699, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), FreeDOS

Price is RSP, negotiable.

V5-471PG-53334G50, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT710M@RM1899, 4GB, 500GB, W8
GT710M is quick weak ass

If you want to stay with Acer and within the same price range:
Aspire V3-471G-53212G75d, i5-3210M + Nvidia GT630M@RM1899[2.3kg], 2GB, 750GB W8

If you want to stay with Acer and can up budget a little bit:
V5-473PG-54204G50, i5-4200 + Nvidia GT740M +(1366x768;touch)@RM2299, 4GB, 500GB,W8 *no OD

Prices are RSP, negotiable.