Hi everyone! Let's get going with the...

LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE

• Country of purchase: USA, preferably.

• Budget range: $1000-$2000, perhaps $100 or so over the upper limit. Need something that won't fall apart in 2 years, unlike my previous Lenovo... The hinge exploded on me when I opened it during normal use.

• Purpose (netbook, ultraportable, mainstream, gaming, desktop replacement, etc.): Ultraportable/gaming, emphasis portability.

• Screen size preference: 14"-15.6", preferably 14." 13" acceptable.

• OS preference (Windows/Mac/Linux): Windows. Mac would work. I'm really looking for reasonable alternatives to the Macbook Pro.

• Gaming requirements (example games and desired fps/settings): I'm not looking to play triple-A titles at max settings, but being able to run modern titles at medium levels would be excellent. Older titles (late 2000s, early 2010s) should run fluently with settings maxed or near max. More recent indie titles should run well at medium/high. Besiege is surprisingly taxing...

• Other performance requirements (video editing, CAD, etc.): I'm not sure what biochemistry will demand from a computer, but I do at least expect some video editing and the like for as-of-yet unforeseen projects. Will be pursuing a track in medicine. Imaging, perhaps?

• Brand preferences and reasons (already owned accessories, familiarity, business compatibility): The two laptops I've owned are Windows machines. Sony was alright, but they've discontinued their (ludicrously overpriced) notebooks. Lenovo is... alright. Good keyboards, but my experience thus far has resulted in a negative personal perception of their build quality. The Lenovo U410's hinges tend to fail, as I discovered. I'm unsure of its successor, the U430, and its new chassis.

• Any particular style that you like (examples are great): Ultrabooks like so, or something like the MBP. Not too flashy; it shouldn't scream, "I'm a gamer!"

Which of the following qualities would you prefer? (Choose one, two, or balanced)

• Long battery life -vs- Low weight -vs- High performance: Battery life = weight > performance

• Build quality -vs- Low price -vs- High performance: Build quality > high performance >>> low price

• Low noise/heat -vs- High performance: No major preference, slight leanings toward lower heat.

Which features would you pay a premium for?

• High resolution screen: 1080p/full HD is sufficient. I've survived with 720p.

• A great keyboard: This is a key factor (pun not intended). Yes, I've tried the Razer Blade, but I abhor its keyboard.

• A great touchpad/mouse buttons: Not hugely important.

• Great audio: Maybe. External speakers/headphones may suffice.

List any features that are critical:

• Comfortable keyboard for long typing sessions.
• Decent battery life, perhaps around 4-6 hours unplugged, doing some web surfing and word processing.
• Reliability, durability, and/or maintainability.
• Adequate portability; should be able to carry around in a backpack for a day, between classes.
• Ideally, RAM should be expandable to 16GB.

Additional notes:

• I'm currently leaning toward the Macbook Pro 15 w/ Retina Display, but I've always been a bit leery when it comes to Apple products. They're excellent machines, but I question their value. I've struggled to find a balance between performance, battery life, portability, and quality; most Windows machines above 1k are geared toward gaming, and suffer in terms of battery life.
• I am not overly concerned about storage space, especially if it uses SATA/mSATA formats. If the price is a few hundred dollars below 2 grand, I could easily buy some Samsung SSDs and swap them in.
• A bit suspicious of ASUS and Dell machines; I've heard less-than-pleasant things about their quality.
• Current considerations: MBP 15 Retina and this. Does Gigabyte produce reliable notebooks?

Thanks for taking time to read through my verbose post. I've been agonizing for hours over this decision; it sometimes seems like there's no middle ground between the factors I'm weighing. I appreciate any input you might have, even if it's just an experience with a laptop or brand that you'd like to share.

-AxNinjaX