I'm looking for something that can:
handle GPU-accelerated photo and video editing (Not anything extreme like the Quadro or Firepro)
handle FL Studio 10/Cubase 6 with ~5 VSTs
has >3 hrs battery life(optimally 5-6) while doing basic word processing/internet without heavy flash videos. I have pretty sensitive eyes and find it necessary to turn the display brightness all the way down on all the computers I use, so that may help with increasing the battery life.
has <17 inch screen(HD is optional)
if possible, has USB 3.0 port(s)
can run VMWare Workstation 8/Virtualbox (hardware virtualization) with a few simultaneous 512 MB Windows XP/Ubuntu 11.10 VMs
has DVD-RW burning capabilities
The most I'm willing to pay is $1885. I can order online for a laptop not available in my area.
So here are the machines I'm considering:
HP Pavilion DV4-3126tx (14'', i5-2430M, AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1 GB GDDR5, capable of up to 8 GB DDR3 RAM, 4-6 hrs battery life from various reviews because it downclocks the 6750M while on battery)
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=c03000387Alienware M11x R3(11.6'', i7-2617M, GT 540M 1GB GDDR3 with nVidia Optimus, max 16 GB RAM, up to 8 hrs battery life from various reviews)
http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-m11x-r3/pdLenovo Y570 (15.6'', i5-2430M, GT 555M 1GB GDDR3 with Optimus, max 8 GB DDR3 RAM, average 4 hrs of battery life from various sources)
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/laptops/ideapad/y-series/y570I was considering the Asus ROG, Sager/Clevo, Toshiba Qosmio, and MSI gaming laptops at one point, but the abysmal battery life is a no-go.