SSD + high res matte screen 14-15" + decent build quality

[snowboy]

Hi guys, any help would be appreciated. I'd like a semi-portable notebook (14"-15" screen, or so) that can handle its own display and output a 1080p signal with no glitches. My several-years-old integrated Intel graphics can't quite do that, but hopefully things have gotten better. I'm not at all opposed to AMD Trinity. If necessary I'll install my own SSD (I'll probably do a fresh OS install anyway) but that will impact my $1000 budget. Having a good enough graphics cards to play moderately intensive games (say like Portal II) would be nice but not a firm requirement. Thanks!

What is your budget?
$1000

What country will you be buying this in?
USD

What size notebook do you prefer?
Thin and Light (13 - 14-inch screen)
Mainstream (15 - 16-inch screen)

Would you consider a refurbished laptop?
Maybe

What are the primary tasks you need this notebook for?
Web Surfing, Office and Productivity Software, Photo Editing, Movie Streaming and Viewing, Output Video to TV or Large Monitor, Casual Gaming

Where will you be using this laptop?
Will be used different places and Will stay on desk

How many hours of battery life do you need?
5

Will you be buying online or in store?
online

Which OS do you prefer?
Windows 7

List the screen resolutions that interest you:
High Resolution (1600 x 900)
Max Resolution (1920 x 1080)

Do you prefer a glossy or matte screen?
Matte is fine

Is the laptops design important to you?
No

Approximately what date will you be buying this laptop?
Around 07/23/2012

How long do you want this laptop to last?
5 years

How much storage capacity do you need?
250 GB

Are you interested in SSD for storage?
Yes

Do you want a built-in optical drive, what type?
No

[Kuroi-Tsubasa]

The Intel HD 4000 (or older 3000) can easily handle Portal 2 (great game, btw), so you won't need a dGPU for that.

If you want a durable laptop, you're going to be looking at business-class laptops. These include Lenovo's Thinkpad X or T series, Dell's Vostro or Latitude, and HP's Probook or Elitebook lines. I'd suggest either a Thinkpad T430 or T530 with the 900p display upgrade (~$50) and the default 6-cell battery (should last you about 6-7 hours on a charge).

I'd definitely recommend buying your own SSD and installing it yourself, since that's cheaper than an OEM SSD. Brands I'd recommend are Corsair, Curcial, Plextor, Intel, and Samsung; avoid OCZ like the Plague. Typically, the Crucial M4 (a very, very popular drive) will go on sale often, so watch out for that (same for the Samsung 830).

[snowboy]

Thank you kindly!

[Pikachu]

I recently read an article stating that Intel is rapidly discounting their SSD in order to clear inventory for the next generation. Might be a good idea to keep an eye open and snatch one at a good price.

[snowboy]

So I've read up on it and I've seen many complaints regarding the Thinkpad's screen (viewing angles, contrast, etc.), and I can't find Probooks or Elitebooks with high resolution screens. I haven't looked at Dells yet but I've had poor experiences with them in the past... are there any other good options?

[Kuroi-Tsubasa]

Dell's business line, especially the Latitudes and Precisions, are a whole other level of quality from their home systems (same for thjeir business-class warranty and support). I'd still check out some Latitudes and see if there's any high-res ones.