Buying laptop for the 1st time? Laptop is expensive compared to desktop.
You want sturdy built? Those are expensive (business class laptop with magnesium alloy / carbon fiber that build like tank)
You want full aluminium casing? Those are expensive. (btw, aluminium casing is not necessary "sturdy" )
Prepare to fork out RM5-6k (or more) for the spec that you want.

For your usage, you need good CPU+GPU, and that will probably wipe out your budget already.

HP
Touchsmart 15-J003TX, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768;touch)@RM3399[2.56kg], 4GB, 1TB(5400rpm), W8, ext OD
Pavillion M6-1110TX, i7-3632QM + AMD HD7670M@RM2999[Beats], 4GB, 1TB(5400rpm), W8

Lenovo
Z400 touch, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768, touch)@RM2399, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty
Z400 touch, i7-3630QM + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768, touch)@RM2799, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty
Y410p, i7-4700MQ + GT750M(GDDR5)@RM2899, 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, 120w psu, swappable ODD, 2 years warranty
Z500, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2299[2.2kg], 4GB, 1TB, backlit, W8; 2 years warranty
Y500, i7-3630QM + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080)@RM2999, 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, swappable ODD, 120w psu, 2 yrs

Samsung
NP500P4C, i7-3610M + Nvidia GT630M@RM2999, 4GB, 500GB

Sony
Vaio SVF14218SGW, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2399[2.4kg], 4GB, 500GB, W8SL

Toshiba
Satellite L40-AS109Xb/G/W, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[Onkyo], 4GB, 750GB, 3 years local warranty
Satellite Pro L840-2010X, i5-3230M + AMD HD7670M@RM2499, 4GB, 750GB, W7P/W8P
Satellite L840-1056X/XR/XW, i5-3230M + AMD HD7670M@RM1949, 2GB, 500GB, W8SL; 2 years warranty; colors: black/red/white
Satellite M840-1070XR/XW, i5-3230M + AMD HD7670M@RM1999, 2GB, 500GB, W8SL; 2 years local warranty; colors:red/white
Satellite M840-1034XG/XP/XQ, i7-3620QM + AMD HD7670M@RM2699, 4GB, 750GB, W8SL; 3 years local warranty; colors:gold/pink/blue
Satellite L50-A100X/XW, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[Onkyo], 4GB, 750GB, W8SL; 3 years local warranty
Satellite L850-1015X/XR/XW, i5-3210M + AMD HD7670M@RM1971, 4GB, 640GB, W8SL, 3 years local warranty; colors:black/red/white
Satellite L850-1024X/XR/XW, i5-3230M + AMD HD7670M@RM1899, 2GB, 500GB, W8SL, 2 years local warranty, RM50 shopping voucher; colors: black/red/white

Prices are RSP, negotiable.
Use the remaining of your budget to get more RAM (8G stick ~ RM200), swap HDD out for SSD (256G ~ RM600).

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 23 2013, 01:36 PM

Ideally, to run AutoCAD, get i7 quad core, and if doing 3D CAD, need good GPU. Also 8G RAM or more is ideal (8G RAM stick ~ RM200). Also FHD screen is better, as he can see more on the screen.
But your brother budget is pretty tight. Priorities

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 14-3421, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT625M@RM1649[1.99kg], Ubuntu, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), 6-cell; W8SL@RM1899
Inspiron 14R, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT625M@RM1699[2.33], 4GB, 750GB(5400rpm), Linux; W8SL@RM1999
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

Lenovo
G480, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT635M@RM1699, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), FreeDOS
G480, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT635M@RM1899, 4GB, 1TB (5400rpm), W8, 2 yrs warranty

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

guys... when will haswell refresh all the lower end laptop? end of august?

Acer
V3-571G-736b8G1T, i7-3630QM + Nvidia GT730M(DDR3) + (1920x1080 IPS) @RM2899[2.6kg], 8GB, 1TB, W8

Dell
Inspiron 15R (Special Edition), i7-3612QM + AMD HD7730M + (1920x1080; anti-glare) + 32GB SSD + 1TB HDD(5400rpm)@RM3199, 8GB, backlit keyboard optional, W8
Vostro 3560, i7-3632QM + AMD HD7670M + 32GB SSD + 750GB(7200rpm) HDD + (1920x1080)@RM3209[2.57kg], 8GB, W7/8

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

MSI
GE60-2OE, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GTX675M + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM4299,8GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, backlit keyboard
GE60-ONC, i5-3230M + Nvidia GTX675M + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM3299, 4GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8

www.illegear.com
Illegear RE-15, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GTX765M + (1920x1080;matte)@RM3599[Onkyo], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), FreeDOS [CPU Options: i7-4700MQ - i7-4900MQ][/color]

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

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

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

Refresh "ALL" lower end laptop? Maybe never?
(currently there are still low end laptop spec with i3 sandy bridge )

If you mean most, then maybe end of Oct13

i mean for 2k - 2.5k range laptop...

oh ok thx. nowadays new gen laptops mostly have built in internal battery?

thin and lights laptops have battery that seal within the case.
Traditional laptops still use detachable battery mechanism.

Hi guys ..still looking around to buy a laptop...

1. Preferred Brand - asus,dell,lenovo,alienware,illegear (acer nono. XD)
2. Budget - 2.5k n above (don wnna regret buying it anyway)
3. Usage - Gaming purposes(able to play ''quite high graphic games'') best if have full hd screen
4. Preferred screen size - 15.6 or 17.3 inch

thank you in advance...

This post has been edited by ilovestrawberry: Jul 23 2013, 06:29 PM

thank you for replying nexus. this is my second time buying a laptop with my first being a toshiba. I've been using it for 5 years now, no problem software + hardware before this but lately eveything is starting to get faulty. My friend told me that Toshiba laptops are generally well known for their durability and quality.. based on your recommendations i'm thinking of getting the Lenovo y500. They're also well known for their durable yet plain build am i right?

need suggestion for haswell chip or ivb chip 14" notebook with any color but no black.....any brand will ok but prefer asus or Lenovo brand.
Budget RM 2600+-.

This post has been edited by jiant: Jul 23 2013, 08:53 PM

the lenovo has aluminium like casing but the feel on the palm rest looks plasticky.

Roux
yes. they looked plain but the performance and build is quite good. touch feel on the laptop itself is great.

1. Preferred Brand - Any (Good Quality)
2. Budget - 1k to 1.5k (Best specs with bang for bucks!)
3. Usage - Student usage, assignments, presentation, light gaming, movies
4. Preferred laptop/screen size - 14' and above

Preferably not so heavy as it is for girl. Also, would be good if laptop recommended can last about 4 years (for uni period) and good customer service if anything happen.

Thanks in advance.

I won't comment too much on "durability and quality" We get what we pay for, every brand has models that are built towards durability (high end business class laptop) or quality (again, high end business class laptop and high end ultrabook)

The stand out feature of current batch of Toshiba laptop models are the generous offer of 3 years warranty (I'm bias towards long and good warranty support )

Y500 is not plain (red backlit keyboard) And lots of gamers on a tight budget are flocking towards it as it squeeze in quite powerful components in low price (corners are being cut somewhere common complaints are the wireless adapter, the touchpad .... )

Lenovo Thinkpad (T / W series)however is very well-known for plain and very very very durable build

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 23 2013, 11:04 PM

If you don't put a "cap" on your budget, then just go for the Alienware and illegear and customise to your heart content lah You can spend up to RM20k if you want.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 23 2013, 10:50 PM

Please follow the format lah (read the 1st post of this thread).
RM2.6k can get you "thin and light but not much power" or "thick and bulky but quite powerful" or "cheap entry level business laptop" or ... . If you don't specify usage, then how does anyone know what to recommend?

Anyway:

Asus
A45VS-VX026H, i5-3210M + Nvidia GT645M@RM2199[2.4kg], 2GB, 500GB, W8
PRO45VJ-V0047X, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT635M@RM2399[2.4kg], 4GB, 500GB, W7P
K46CB-WX060H, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[2kg], 2GB, 750GB, W8, 4-cell, OD
VivoBook S400CA-CA006H, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 24GB mSATA + 500GB + (1366x768; touch)@RM2299[2kg], 4GB, W8

Lenovo
Y400, i7-3630QM + Nvidia GT750M@RM2499, 4GB, 500GB, FreeDOS, 120wPSU, swappable ODD, 2 years warranty
Y400, i7-3630QM + Nvidia GT750M@RM2799, 4GB, 500GB, W8, 120wPSU, swappable ODD, 2 years warranty
Y410p, i7-4700MQ + GT750M(GDDR5)@RM2899, 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, 120w psu, swappable ODD, 2 years warranty
Z400 touch, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768, touch)@RM2399, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty
Z400 touch, i7-3630QM + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768, touch)@RM2799, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty
S400, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 24GB mSATA + 500GB(5400rpm)@RM1999[1.8kg], 4GB, W7HB; AMD HD7450M/W8@RM2199
S400T, i5-3337U + AMD HD 7450M +(1366x768, touch)@RM1999[1.8kg], 4GB, 500GB, W8
ThinkPad Edge E430, i5-3220M + Intel HD4000@RM2599[2.2kg], W7P/W8, 4GB, 750GB (5400rpm), anti-glare

Take your pick.
Prices are RSP, negotiable.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Jul 24 2013, 06:44 AM

Can try this approach:
Dell
Inspiron 14-3421, i3-3217U + Intel HD4000@RM1399[1.99kg], Win8SL, 2GB, 500GB(5400rpm), 4-cell
Extend warranty to 3 years next biz day on site for RM300.
Negotiate, and it will fall within her budget.

by the way, nexus, how do we negotiate with Dell?
coz recently i bought online but they never call me.
some people said that before they deliver, dell customer service will call the buyer to confirm on the package?

True bro nexus, negotiation as in with retailer?

Dont think can nego if buy directly online. Nvr really hunt for laptop, my compaq lasted me 5years and still going..wanted to change but it is still going..lolz.