Best 17.3" laptops with SSD under $750?

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for a new laptop, mostly for work—specifically programming and design (running software like Microsoft, PADS, LPC, ST visual, etc.). For everything else, I'll just be surfing the web or watching movies.

Here’s what I’m thinking:

A 17.3" screen, at least a 128GB SSD paired with a 500GB HDD (or just a single 256GB SSD), minimum 8GB of RAM, and an i5 quad-core processor (would love an Intel Core i7 if it fits the budget, but I know that might be tough). No Windows needed.

To be honest, I'm not an expert when it comes to processors or graphics cards, so if anyone knows their stuff, please give me some pointers on which specs I should actually be hunting for.

It's not a dealbreaker, but it would be nice if it had:
A GeForce graphics card
At least a 2-year warranty
A 7200 RPM hard drive if it's an HDD + SSD combo

I prefer paying cash, so ideally somewhere near Washington, D.C., or just a really reliable online retailer.

My budget is around $500, though if there's something significantly better for $550 or a little more, I could make it work.

Thanks a lot!

If a larger screen is too much to ask for, then a 15.6" display works just fine—but either way, I’d definitely try to push the budget up to $5,000.

I’m looking for the exact same thing you are. I’m just hoping someone drops a solid recommendation here—and if you already pulled the trigger on a purchase, please post the link! To be honest, I don't fully get what you mean by "desirable" other than the warranty aspect, but if you say it's good, I'll take your word for it. 😬

A 15.6'' screen is perfectly fine for me, so come on, people, help me out here! 🙂