update: went with the ASUS G751JT-CH71 + installed extra ssd.
4710HQ / 4720HQ cpus are fine. 860M+ is fine. Win7 is a bonus, but I've given up on that now. Non-TN screen is a hard requirement. Will be used for photoshop, audio, and some gaming. Hence, IPS, decent sound, and okay gfx horsepower. The individual is on the go, but weight is not a problem. Often used with external kb / mouse.
1) ASUS ROG 17? full size arrow keys, IPS, but everyone dings the sound output. =/ Ah, but user uses headphones (plus usb sound card) for audio work. $1499 970M is overkill, but hey.
2) Acer Nitro 17 - lousy trackpad and integrated buttons, lousy mini arrow keys, lousy serviceability, 860M, has IPS, thin. $1399
3) MSI GT / GE / GS - normal arrow keys, 965 / 970 / 980M but impossible to get IPS without a really, really high price ($3900). OMG, because they ship 4x256 ssd in raid in the IPS machines. How lame.
4) AW - pretty sure the 17 is only TN (and no optical drive at that price?)
5) Dell Inspiron 17 7000 ... mini arrow keys, only 845M
6) HP - nothing
What else is there? There's the Clevo / Sager but impossible to find TN vs IPS specs meaning it's all TN probably.
4710HQ / 4720HQ cpus are fine. 860M+ is fine. Win7 is a bonus, but I've given up on that now. Non-TN screen is a hard requirement. Will be used for photoshop, audio, and some gaming. Hence, IPS, decent sound, and okay gfx horsepower. The individual is on the go, but weight is not a problem. Often used with external kb / mouse.
1) ASUS ROG 17? full size arrow keys, IPS, but everyone dings the sound output. =/ Ah, but user uses headphones (plus usb sound card) for audio work. $1499 970M is overkill, but hey.
2) Acer Nitro 17 - lousy trackpad and integrated buttons, lousy mini arrow keys, lousy serviceability, 860M, has IPS, thin. $1399
3) MSI GT / GE / GS - normal arrow keys, 965 / 970 / 980M but impossible to get IPS without a really, really high price ($3900). OMG, because they ship 4x256 ssd in raid in the IPS machines. How lame.
4) AW - pretty sure the 17 is only TN (and no optical drive at that price?)
5) Dell Inspiron 17 7000 ... mini arrow keys, only 845M
6) HP - nothing
What else is there? There's the Clevo / Sager but impossible to find TN vs IPS specs meaning it's all TN probably.
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