Laptop for Graphic Artist when Apple out of the question

[freshspin]

Need advice finding a Windows Laptop for a Graphic Artist running Adobe CS5
Apple is out of the question for a few reasons.

I've heard good things about Dell XPS laptop line, I like the specs for Toshiba Qosmio
but I've heard Toshiba has a lot of support issues with Plastic parts and the Qosmio is a bit too heavy. Same is true about weight with the Dell Workstations (M6400 etc.)

Can you recommend anything else?

I'd like the following if I can get it:
7200 RPM drive
Great screen with full HD
non-motherboard based graphics
I7
Sandy Bridge


Thank you for your time and advice.

 

[gsaldivar]

Lenovo Thinkpad W520 - a 15" workstation-class laptop that meets all your requirements.

- Intel Sandy Bridge-based, up to quad-core i7-2920XM
- Nvidia Quadro 2GB discrete graphics card
- 4 RAM slots for up to 16GB of RAM
- mSATA SSD slot (add an SSD without sacrificing a drive bay)
- Ultrabay expandable (do two hard drives/RAID + SSD if you want!)
- Up to Full HD 1920x1080 screen
- Optional built-in Pantone color-calibration sensor
- Lenovo Thinkpad military-spec build quality is second to none...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mk25pxQ3E8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG13u2enh0g

 

[mfenn]

The new Dell XPS 15z is thin, light, and can pack an i7, 8GB of RAM, 1080P display, GT525, and 7200RPM drive all for $1500.

 

[freshspin]

Great links!
I didn't know about the Lenovo, Fabulous specs! could be better looking though.
The dell looks great too.

Great youtube links making fun of the Iphone, I laughed..
And your link about North Korea is sad, Auschwitz like for sure.
I know a missionary that wanted to give away food in North Korea, and they would allow it only if he paid the government a huge amount of money.

 

[M0RPH]

The new Dell XPS 15z is thin, light, and can pack an i7, 8GB of RAM, 1080P display, GT525, and 7200RPM drive all for $1500.

I second this suggestion. Very slick laptop... makes the Thinkpad look like a relic from the 90's.

 

[gsaldivar]

could be better looking though.

The Thinkpad was definitely designed for enterprise/business and government use where a rugged, comfortable design and a conservative style is the standard. The interior is matte black, the outer housing is a black rubberized finish. There is nothing to distract you from your work, no glossy surfaces to attract scratches, fingerprints, or glare from lighting.

You won't find a cheap "chiclet" keyboard on a Thinkpad. Many people regard the Thinkpad keyboard as the best designed and most comfortable to use of any laptop on the market today. Try one out and you'll see what I mean - the keyboards on these laptops are meant for people that power through hour after hour of emails every day.

The display hinges are solid chunks of steel, and are meant to take constant abuse from opening and closing without any becoming loose or worn down. The lid is carbon-reinforced polymer, to give the most protection from constant "road warrior" abuse, with the least amount of weight.

I could go on and on about the build quality of the Thinkpad. But search around and you'll get the same opinion anywhere. While not cheap, these laptops are among the best made machines out there.

 

[mfenn]

The Thinkpad was definitely designed for enterprise/business and government use where a rugged, comfortable design and a conservative style is the standard. The interior is matte black, the outer housing is a black rubberized finish. There is nothing to distract you from your work, no glossy surfaces to attract scratches, fingerprints, or glare from lighting.

You won't find a cheap "chiclet" keyboard on a Thinkpad. Many people regard the Thinkpad keyboard as the best designed and most comfortable to use of any laptop on the market today. Try one out and you'll see what I mean - the keyboards on these laptops are meant for people that power through hour after hour of emails every day.

The display hinges are solid chunks of steel, and are meant to take constant abuse from opening and closing without any becoming loose or worn down. The lid is carbon-reinforced polymer, to give the most protection from constant "road warrior" abuse, with the least amount of weight.

I could go on and on about the build quality of the Thinkpad. But search around and you'll get the same opinion anywhere. While not cheap, these laptops are among the best made machines out there.

The Thinkpads of today are a far cry from the T42 and T43. Sure, they're still "pretty good" but they are no longer world beating by any means.

Macbook Pros, Dell Latitudes, and HP EliteBooks are all in the same class now (IMHO).