Help with laptop purchase

1_What is your budget?

Up to $1000 CAN, ideally less.

2_What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?

Minimum 14".

3_What screen resolution do you want?

Don't really care.

4_Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?

A bit of both. It's mostly a replacement, but I will need it for classes/work from time to time.

5_How much battery life do you need?

Not much. Anything over 2hrs is good, I guess.

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)?

Yes, just The Sims (2 and 3, which is set to come out this summer). The reqs released for The Sims 3 are as follows:

Windows XP:
* Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
* 2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
* 1 GB RAM
* At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content
* 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0

Windows Vista:
* Windows Vista (Service Pack 1)
* 2.4 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
* 1.5 GB RAM
* At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content
* 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0

* For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, the game requires at least:
o Intel Integrated Chipset, GMA X3000 or above.
o 2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU, or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, or equivalent
o 0.5 GB additional RAM

So, I'm curious regarding graphic cards. Will the GMA 4500MHD work fine, or the Intel GM45 Express chip (are these two related in any way)? Just because many laptops I loved when I saw had the drawback of these Intel chips. If that won't be a problem, it'd make my purchase SO much easier.

7_What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo / Video editing, surfing the web, playing music, watching movies, Etc.)

Pretty much what's listed in the brackets: Video editing with Adobe Premiere, surfing the web, music, movies, programming in Mathematica, as well as standard document/spreadsheet editing, etc.

8_How much storage (H.D.D Capacity) do you need?

At least 250GB

9_If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post the links to them.

Well, being that the purchase will be made in-store in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and I know that there is a Future Shop and a Best Buy there, those are the sites I looked at (futureshop.ca and bestbuy.ca). But if there are other computer-shops in Kitchener that aren't coming to mind, they'll work just as well.

10_How long do you want to keep your laptop?

As long as possible - I don't have money to upgrade often. My current PC was purchased 3 and a half years ago, and the laptop will be bought in May this year (getting rid of the PC).

11_If you would like to mention some other things about purchasing your ideal laptop, post them.

I just want to be able to play the Sims 3 once it comes out in June every now and then without waiting FOREVER for it to load. The other stuff doesn't need as much performance as the game. Maybe Adobe Premiere needs a decent processor and RAM, but I think that's about it. I'd also prefer it had a Bluray disk, but it's not a necessity. I'd also prefer a IEEE 1394 port, a web cam, and 4+ USB ports. Again, this is all ideal - I know I may have to live with some sacrifices to stay within my price range.

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.

Well, looks-wise I LOVE Sony (VAIO) and Apple. However, both are usually on the expensive side (especially the latter). I found one cheap Sony VAIO on bestbuy.ca (http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10116461&logon=L&langid=EN) but some of the specs aren't that great. I like laptops that are slightly curved around the edges, and I'd absolutely love a white one!

13_What country do you live in?

Well, I currently live in Bosnia, but the laptop, as I mentioned, will be purchased in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. So, the only thing that will have to be checked is whether the charger supports European voltage, otherwise I'd have to purchase something to convert it.

So, please help regarding mainly the graphics card (if GMA 4500MHD or Intel GM45 will be good enough), and with suggestions for as good a laptop as possible that looks sort of like the one I posted (the Sony VAIO, white with curved edges), for the price limit posted. Thanks for your time!