Laptop geeks...I need help.

I'm looking for a laptop for under a $1000. Ill be using it for my business, I'm a home inspector. Ill need to load tons of pics on the software. I also want something that's built well, I'll have it with me on the road. I've been reading reviews but would like opinions from any of you who also travel.

[size=3]panasonic toughbook[/size]

Have you thought about an iPad? You could take pictures with it and have large sizes on your screen right away. My bathroom remodeler had one (with 3G) and it was a great tool for him. You could add a keyboard if typing on a touch screen isn't good for you.

I did see a review in the NY Times today about Google Chromebooks that was favorable. http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/laptop-buyers-should-pay-some-attention-to-the-chromebook/

sign up for best buy's deal of the day emails, there is a lap top nearly once a week on there sometimes twice a week with some decent savings, compare that to frys electronics or micro center. if your gonna be using it on the road a lot i may look into one with a solid state hard drive as the prices are starting to come down a little

If you are not going to be reading (or uploading and downloading) large files (i.e. 3D blueprints) then you do not have power user needs. So most any laptop will fit the bill.
Where I go my laptop goes. And I travel a lot. Both flying and driving. And when I get to where I'm going I'm out on factory floors. I do read large files. And I take a TON of pictures.
If it weren't for needing the graphics card and having to use Windows Office I could get by with a Ipad.
I carry around a Dell Latitude with the extra large battery.
You don't need a laptop with a LARGE screen. Unless you plan to watch movies. So in my opinion a laptop with the 17" screen is a waste of money. Spend your money on RAM. Windows 8 likes LOTS of RAM. Can't have too much.
And if I may I'd like to suggest that you properly protect your investment with a good case. I happen to use a bag (Empire Builder) made in the USA from a company called Tom Bihn. With the optional laptop sleeve. I've carried this bag from Puebla, Mexico to Montreal. It has fallen off tables (with computer inside) and been dropped and abused by the TSA.
[url="http://www.tombihn.com/CTGY/laptop_bags.html"]http://www.tombihn.com/CTGY/laptop_bags.html[/url]

Thanks for the responses guys! I've been checking out Lenovo, lots of good reviews and looks like I may go that direction.

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I'm looking for a laptop for under a $1000. Ill be using it for my business, I'm a home inspector. Ill need to load tons of pics on the software. I also want something that's built well, I'll have it with me on the road. I've been reading reviews but would like opinions from any of you who also travel.
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There might be something that beats the build quality of the MacBook Air, but I haven't seen it.

To be honest, you could buy a used macbook pro and put a solid state drive in in. a SSD will do much more for you than any amount of ram. also a SSD is great for people who are mobile because vigration and shock wont fail the hard drive. A regular spinning hard drive can crash from too much vibration (while its on).

Macbook airs are solid aluminum and have SSD's, You can pick up a macbook air and shake it while its on and it will be fine.