Need a new laptop

[nsx_23]

I'm in the market for a new laptop at the moment since my sister wants my 13" Macbook Pro. I'm mainly looking for:

1) Good battery life, preferably close to 13" MB pro levels.
2) independent GFX, preferably nVidia.
3) 13"-14" size. Don't want to lug around a brick.
4) Below $1000.

Not too keen on an Asus and Acer since I had bad experiences with them. So, recommendations?

 

[Dr_Grip]

Lenovo ThinkPad, if you can get one that fits the description in your price range.

 

[nsx_23]

Any specific version? I just hate that most of the Lenovos don't come with a discrete graphics card and instead have Fail intel graphics.

 

[avanti]

good thread, I'll hijack it a bit!

I'm also looking for the same thing, but i would like to add sturdiness and reliability as requirements. Is the lenovo thinkpad better than Asus and Dell, which I was considering?

 

[nsx_23]

Lenovo build quality is pretty good, and I think I've found the laptop I'm looking for:

Lenovo Y460a. 14.1,Intel i5-450M,2GB DDR3,500GB,ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650,DVD Super Multi,Windows 7 Home PREMIUM 64 bit ,Webcam,802.11a/g/n,6-cell battery. About $1000AUD.

http://shopap.lenovo.com/SEUILibrar...43E9D7B9605246CA75A&tabname=Overview#tabstart

Review: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5733&p=2

 

[leviathan]

A Macbook? Same 13" size, same 10h battery, same nVidia 320M as in the 13" MBP, and all for $999.

On the Lenovo: from my experience, the IdeaPads are nowhere near as good as the "professional-grade" ThinkPads, especially concerning build quality. Hence the lower costs.

 

[nsx_23]

I suppose, but I'm not big on the white plastic casing...

Its about the same price as the Lenovo I guess, but 1 grand for a C2D seems steep.

Another contender - Fujitsu LIFEBOOK LH530

http://www.fujitsu.com/hk/services/computing/pc/notebooks/lseries/lh530/specs.html

i5-540m, ATi 5430, 6-cell battery, 2GB DDR3 Ram, 500GB HD. $998AUD.

Or:

Asus U45JC

Asus U43JC

Both i5-540m, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 10hr battery life, nVidia 310m. The 43JC is more expensive but gets 1 USB 3 port and that bamboo body.

 

[Dr_Grip]

Lenovo build quality is pretty good, and I think I've found the laptop I'm looking for:

Lenovo Y460a. 14.1,Intel i5-450M,2GB DDR3,500GB,ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650,DVD Super Multi,Windows 7 Home PREMIUM 64 bit ,Webcam,802.11a/g/n,6-cell battery. About $1000AUD.

I'd go for the ThinkPad line and nothing else.