Searching for Laptop for school

[Kyuoto]

Hello, i don't have much of an idea on what is a good laptop or not. I'm a student heading into engineering program, designing and drafting.

1_What is your budget?
About $700 to $800. $1000 is pushing it unless it's just that good.

2_What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?
Doesn't matter

3_What screen resolution do you want?
1680 x 1050
Anything higher would be nice.

4_Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?
Portable. For school

5_How much battery life do you need?
3 to 4 hours is nice when doing Microsoft word or Solidworks/AutoCAD

6_Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?
Games, yes.
Just looking to play newer games on medium to low minimum.

7_What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo / Video editing,watching movies, Etc.)
Engineering student, most likely Solidworks and needs to run AutoCAD. Maybe a few other programs that i'm not sure.

8_How much storage (H.D.D Capacity) do you need?
Anything above 250+ is nice

9_If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post their links.
Not really.

10_How long do you want to keep your laptop?
At least 2 years

11_What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ?
DVD writer at least please!

12_Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.
Dell not recommended, will still consider (experience shows it screws up within 6 months)

13_What country do you live in?
Canada

14_Please tell us any additional information if needed.
I have already compiled a bunch of laptops. Would prefer if someone with better experience helps me out.
http/www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=570_374_673&item_id=033072
http/www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=570_577_371&item_id=032149
http/www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6471592&CatId=4948
http/www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6447986&CatId=4938
http/www.cdw.ca/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1931195#TS
http/www.cdw.ca/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=2126721#TS
http/www.cdw.ca/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1919584#TS

Thanks for your time, not sure if i did this right.
Edit: If there are any better ones, please inform me, thanks!

 

[buwish]

Out of the ones you have selected, i think that you'd be happiest with the Acer AS7740G-6969, as it has the superior hardware, at least in concern to the others. The only thing that I'd be worried about is that it has been refurbished.

 

[sidewinderx2]

Since you're going to be using CAD software, i would suggest a computer with a dedicated graphics card... while all of your selections (and probably most computer in your price range) would have trouble meeting your battery life goals (while using CAD software, at least), you can try this one: http/www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?webid=884380&AffixedCode=WW&cmSearchKeyword=3820tg

It has an i3 processor, a dedicated graphics card, as well as a pretty decent battery life... and it's pretty cheap too

 

[Kyuoto]

Thanks for the replies. I'm sure i will look at a few more laptops.

I have looked at the one from staples. It is a good deal however, it lacks a DVD drive. I believe i will most likely be using the DVD drive for running some CD programs since there are many CD/DVD programs like Microsoft Office that i would need to use.

On a related note, would Amazon be a good place to search for a laptop?
PS: Are these links i gave dedicated graphics? I`m even more clueless when it comes to laptops