based on your requirement, something fast, fluid and light can be fullfilled with SSD fitted laptops but you may need to get external hard drive for storing more data. and for your info, Acer and Dells' ultrabook lineups are pretty good so you dont need to worry much about the quality.

Samsung
Series 7 Ultra, i5-3337U + Intel HD4000 + 128GB SSD + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM2999[JBL][1.46kg], 4GB, W8

Acer
Aspire S5-391-53314G12, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 128GB SSD@RM3499[1.2kg], W7HP

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

HP
Envy SpectreXT 13-2215TU, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 128GB SSD@RM2899[1.39kg], 4GB, W8,backlit keyboard

Lenovo
IdeaPad Yoga 13, i5-3337U + Intel HD4000 + 128GB SSD@RM3399, 4GB, 2 years; colors: grey/orange

prices are RRP and negotiable.

MBA isnt touch screen. what you pay for Apple is actually the premium build quality of their products.
if your laptop is well maintained, not constantly exposing it to extreme heat, then it will last long.

Lenovo
Y410p, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT755M(GDDR5)@RM3199, 8GB, 1TB, W8.1, red backlit, 120w psu, swappable ODD, 2 years warranty

this is the best you can get. price is RRP and negotiable.

ASUS
N56JR-S4018H, i7-4700HQ + Nvidia GT760M + (1920x1080)@RM3999[2.7kg], 12GB, 1TB, W8.1, backlit keyboard

Lenovo
Y510p, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080)@RM3999[2.7kg], 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, GN37 exGPU & ODD, 120w+170w psu, 2 yrs

MSI
GE60-2OE, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GTX765M + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM4299,8GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, backlit keyboard

Illegear
RE-15, i5-4200M + Nvidia GTX765M + (1920x1080)@RM3499[2.6kg][Onkyo, SoundBlaster Cinema], 4GB, 500GB(7200rpm), FreeDOS, [CPU Options: i5-4200M - i7-4900MQ]

prices are RRP and negotiable. best if you could go for Illegear, as they are currently offering promotional upgrades for November, so you have to grab it quick.

why dont you show them the specs after customization? persuading them to get Illegear is a better choice, unless you can look at this :

HP
ZBook 15, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia Quadro K1100M + (1920x1080; anti glare)@RM6399, 4GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8

Dell M4800

prices are RRP and negotiable. btw, Toshiba dont have workstation laptops. even the mighty gaming branded MSI has a workstation option but it is not available in Malaysia.

This post has been edited by raymondtong94: Nov 27 2013, 07:56 PM

why not? by the way, actually now is 2nd batch of Y510P. now they are refreshed with the better performance GT755M.

Toshiba brand is good but the warranty service is a little flawed (IMO). however, branding doesnt determine your laptop's performance, its the hardware that determines it.

the Dell Precision M4800 (which is latest) was the best option for your old men to do a better job. they will definitely love the quadro and firepro cards in it.

This post has been edited by raymondtong94: Nov 27 2013, 09:34 PM

this is another that best fit Inspiron 15 7000 but performance is a little weaker (due to the DDR3 graphics card)

Acer
V7-582PG-74508G52k, i7-4500U + Nvidia GT750M + 24GB mSATA + 500GB HDD + (1920x1080 IPS; touch)@RM3399[2.2kg], 8GB, W8

Dell
Inspiron 14R, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M@RM1849 [2.32kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), Linux, 6 cell; W8@RM2049

HP
Pavilion 14-N059TX, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2099[2.03kg], 4GB, 750GB, W8; colors: silver/black

Lenovo
Z510, i5-4200M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2399[2.2kg], 4GB, 1TB, backlit, W8; 2 yrs, color: white

prices are RRP and negotiable. for the SSD, just get an aftermarket upgrade. 128GB RM300+/-, 256GB RM600 +/-

Dell
Inspiron 14-3437, i3-4010U + Intel HD4400@RM1399[1.99kg], Ubuntu, 4GB, 750GB(5400rpm), 4-cell; W8SL@RM1549

this is the only one that best fits your requirement.

every famous IT retailer are selling the SSDs around this price range. note the point +/-
goods one will be around 400 though.

no matchable option for you within this price range. however, you may consider this :

Dell
Vostro 5470, i3-4010U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2099, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8, 3-cell

we dont know how long can the battery last or you might need to check internet reviews. however, i can tell you based on the specs.
the Inspiron 7437 has the best battery life but upgrade ability is less compared to the other 2.
Vostro 5470's battery life is okay and its the lightest among these 3.
Inspiron 7537 has average battery life (could last about 4-5 hours).
all these 3 models, the screens are tip-top in colour quality but my winner goes to Inspiron 7437 and 7537.

for the 7437, there are no full HD with IPS models. all Dell's laptops comes with their own TN panel technology called True Life but the colour quality is almost the same as an IPS screen.

Dell
Vostro 5470, i3-4010U + Intel HD4400@RM1899, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8, 3-cell

this is the only best option to fit your usage. price is RRP and negotiable.

the bigger the laptop, the heavier the laptop. the thinner the laptop, the more heat the laptop will trap. since the games you mentioned is not performance hungry, an integrated graphics can even do the job much more better. anyway, your options :

Dell
Inspiron 14R, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M@RM1849 [2.32kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), Linux, 6 cell; W8@RM2049
Vostro 5470, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2249, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8, 3-cell

ASUS
K451LB-WX071H, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199, 4GB, 750GB, W8
A550CC-XX530H, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT720M@RM2099[2kg], 4GB, 750GB, W8; colors: black/red/white
S550CB-CJ102H i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M + 24GB mSATA + 500GB + (1366x768; touch)@RM2499, 4GB, W8

however, you might consider Lenovo ones :

Lenovo
Z510, i5-4200M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2399[2.2kg], 4GB, 1TB, backlit, W8; 2 yrs, color: white

prices are RRP and negotiable. use the remaining budget to extend the warranty to 3 years on-site.

when we talk about cooling system, it is the best to get a thick laptop but it might be heavier. thinner ones look compact and easy to hold but thinness can trap lots of heat, which may result to uncomfortable usage after long hours (if no sufficient cooling was provided, might ended up hardware damage). and to advice, dont get touchscreen laptops, they are very useless and you might dont even use it after you purchased it.
for the screen, it is best if you could go for IPS screens or 90% NTSC gamut screens, since it is useful for your PS and Illustrator works. the laptops that have average screen colour quality to the best :

Lenovo
Y510p, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT755M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080)@RM3399[2.7kg], 8GB, 1TB, W8.1, red backlit, swappable ODD, 120w psu, 2 yrs

Illegear
RE-15, i5-4200M + Nvidia GTX765M + (1920x1080)@RM3499[2.6kg][Onkyo, SoundBlaster Cinema], 4GB, 500GB(7200rpm), FreeDOS, [CPU Options: i5-4200M - i7-4900MQ]

ASUS
N56JR-S4018H, i7-4700HQ + Nvidia GT760M + (1920x1080)@RM3999[2.7kg], 12GB, 1TB, W8.1, backlit keyboard
N550JV-CN077H, i7-4700HQ + Nvidia GT750M + (1920x1080; IPS matte)@RM3699[2.7kg], 4GB, 1TB, W8, backlit keyboard

Acer
V7-582PG-74508G52k, i7-4500U + Nvidia GT750M + 24GB mSATA + 500GB HDD + (1920x1080 IPS; touch)@RM3399[2.2kg], 8GB, W8

prices are RRP and negotiable.

Dell
Inspiron 14, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT720M@RM1699 [1.99kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), Linux, 6 cell; W8.1SL@RM1899
Inspiron 15, i5-4200U + AMD HD8670M @RM1699[2.25kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), 6-cell, Linux; W8.1SL@RM1899

Acer
E1-472G-54204G75k, i5- 4200U + Nvidia GT720M@RM1899, 4GB, 750GB, W8
E1-472G-54204G50, i5- 4200U + Nvidia GT720M@RM1699, 4GB, 500GB, FreeDOS

Lenovo
G400s, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT720M@RM1899, 4GB, 1TB, W8
G500S, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT720M@RM1699, 4GB, 500GB, FreeDOS

prices are RRP and negotiable.

to add, some resellers dont give cheaper price by just the face, some judge it by the tone of the customer (my type). if you sounded angry towards them, maybe you dont get the desired price.

Acer's quality is pretty good recently, especially their ultrabook lineups.

if you ask me about it, i will just say it is a short form for 'around'. i messed up the affix.