Can anyone suggest a better choice given my criteria?

Hi, the best candidate I have found matching the criteria below is the HP Pavilion HDX16-1140US for around $1000, can anyone suggest something better?

HDX16-1140US specs: Vista Premium, i2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor, 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB RAM (8 GB max), LightScribe dual-layer DVD drive Draft-N Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n); Bluetooth; Gigabit Ethernet; Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics (up to 2302 MB total) Connectivity: 4 USB (with 1 shared eSATA), 1 FireWire, 1 HDMI, 1 VGA, ExpressCard 54/34, 5-in-1 memory card reader
Case: Miltigiant 20 Largest Multi Design Nb Case

1_What is your budget?
Under USD$1700

2_What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?
16-18" screen

3_What screen resolution do you want?
Not criticial, prefer larger

4_Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?
Mostly a desktop replacement, but will be used as a portable occasionally. Not an issue except I will not consider ones with a multi-pound AC adapter as I will do some international travel with it.

5_How much battery life do you need?
At least an hour and a half, prefer two hours or more.

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)?
No.

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

8_How much storage (H.D.D Capacity) do you need?
Prefer 500GB or more (to prolong useful life), no less than 5400 RPM

9_If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post the links to them.
$1000 at http://www.ecomelectronics.com/prodinfo.phtml?id=4645
$1040 after rebate at http://www.amazon.com/Pavilion-HDX [...] 529&sr=8-1

10_How long do you want to keep your laptop?
4-6 years

11_If you would like to mention some other things about purchasing your ideal laptop, post them.
I prefer it to support 8GB RAM for future expansion (4 GB now is fine). I'd prefer it to support a CPU upgrade later. I'd prefer it to have a screen that supports use outdoors (this HP gets bad reviews for glare outside because of the high gloss screen).

If it makes more sense to relax these criteria and accept the need to upgrade to a new laptop more frequently I'm willing to be educated!

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.
I have no preferences, nor distastes. My current one is a Chembook 8400 that I bought in 2000 and upgraded the CPU and RAM along the way, it's painfully slow maxed out at 1 GHz and 320 MB RAM...

13_What country do you live in?
US

Thanks!