Need help deciding on a laptop

I need to buy a new laptop but there is so many different models on the market that I have no idea what I should get.

I am looking for a 15 to 16 inch
6 cell battery will be ok
I wont be using Windows, I will be using Ubuntu Linux

I will mostly be doing photo editing on the laptop, also surfing on the internet and downloading and watching movies. I do not really play any games.

right now I am between the K52JT-XT1 and the N61JQ-X2 for $50 more.

Then there is the G53JW-XT1 for $500 more but I would prefer to keep it under $1000 unless the more expensive one proofs to be way way better.

Should I rather be looking at a laptop with an Intel i5 processor and 6Gigs of RAM ? or is the i7 with 4Gigs of RAM better ?

Also, should I buy a laptop with a USB 3 port ? or will USB 2 be ok for the next 2 or 3 years that i have my laptop ?

I dont need a high end laptop but I would like one fast enough for photo editing and something that will be fast enough and usable for at least the next 3 years.

 

I'd stick with the n61. It's a nice quad core lappy, and looks pretty.

You won't need more than 4gb of ram. Period. The fact you're asking the question indicates that you don't need more than 4gb

USB3 isn't a necessity either. If you get it, great. If not, don't loose sleep over it.

 

Yep, the N61Jq is a VERY GOOD laptop! I have it, and look at my awesome vantage scores!

@DCx I always thought that your avatar is a cat in a drawing, but it is a lizzard... ._. lol

 

Not to go too OT but @Phistachio how did you get a score of 10k on Vantage? lol I ran the trial once and believe I got right around there too...maybe lower actually

To the OP, I too would recommend the N61 for the same reasons DCx has already gone over

 

Thanks for the advice, I think I will get the N61 one then.
i want to upgrade my RAM, the place that sells the laptop only sell the RAM I in need in 4GB sticks.
I am assuming that the Laptop right now has one stick of 4GB of RAM in it with a second slot that is empty for more RAM ?

 

Nope

The N61Jq comes with 2x2GB. But mine is somewhat special, and I have 6GB = 1x2GB+1x4GB

Because I'm pwng

I got the 10k score by uninstalling Norton 360 and installing MSE, and installed Game Booster. And how the hell I got a higher CPU score than you? You have an OC 3.6... ._.

But your GPU kicks my butt lol What's the GPU score btw?

 

Thanks for letting me know
That is really stupid of ASUS .... you pay for 4gigs of RAM and then you have to through 2gigs in the garbage when you upgrade.

 

All notebook manufacturers generally do this for their ready to ship and pre-built models, not just Asus...

Not sure how that is stupid though...most people don't know/don't care about upgrading laptop memory.

Sell your memory on ebay/craiglist/hardware forum...