Acer TimelineX AS5830T... i3-2310/4/640/15.6"/7-8 hour real world batt life, mostly aluminum casing (plastic on bottom only), 399$ out the door. I type a lot, and it has a nice keyboard. Not great, but good. Also has USB 3.0 and S/PDIF. I can meet it spec wise, mostly, but haven't seen build quality (harddrive withstanding) to match it for under about 800$. Saw an i5 Envy for 829$, but that's in the fiscally irresponsible realm.
**BRENT**