Laptop for graphic design (relatively high end)

Hello, I've taken upon the job of finding a new laptop for my girlfriend. She currently have a 13" Macbook A1278 which is starting to lack in performance. She is educating her self to become a graphical designer and mostly works in Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. From next year on she will be using AfterEffects, Cinema 4D as well. This laptop will be her main workstation.

What I'm looking for:
- 15.6"/17.3", preferably the first.
- A GOOD screen, very important. This is the main reason I'm asking because it's almost impossible to find any good info on screens. I'm hoping for something matte.
- A decent CPU, preferably i7 2620QM
- The other big reason I'm asking: GPU - Is there any point in getting a Quadro CPU, or would any half decent GPU suffice for her usage (there will be no high end gaming).
- Lotsa lotsa RAM!

Preferably not more than ~2000 USD, and no special preference on brand, if a Macbook Pro is the best choice then be it. Design is no factor as well, no hating on Lenovo!

Any input is greatly appreciated, especially on screen and GPU.

TBH most laptops have terrible screens (for graphic's professionals who require spot-on color). For a "proper" screen you might need something like an Apple Cinema Display, or one of the Dell Ultrasharp panels, or even the Dell U3011. However the Dell U3011 is very expensive.

Apparently the HP EliteBook 8760w is a very good notebook (good screen, good gpu, lots of ram). Although I believe it's quite expensive as well.

Edit: Since no gaming is involved, a quaddro GPU or even a FIREGL would be a good gpu choice - as they are geared towards rendering.

Check this out:

HP Elitebook

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 4158169CVF

HP EliteBook 8560w (XU084UT) Notebook Intel Core i7 2620M(2.70GHz) 15.6" 8GB Memory DDR3 1333 500GB HDD 7200rpm DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL NVIDIA Quadro 1000M

Approx 1600.

I am unsure of the screen quality - but the specs are quite good. 8GB Ram, Core i7 and 15.6" screen 1080P. As well as a Quadro 1000M.

It may not be absolutely amazing compared to some other set ups - but should be quite fast otherwise.

Yes, I actually agree. But, configuring a 15" Macbook Pro with a matte screen, 8GB RAM and SSD takes it way over the budget. These are things that are almost a given in any price equal Windows laptop.

Yes, it has to. Seeing as she's still in the education process she works a lot in different places and her main work station needs to be mobile. Otherwise she'll work on crappy iMacs at school and have a monster at home. The difference would be silly.

I've found it much easier to find reviews on stand alone screen (naturally) than there is to get a good description of a laptop screen. You don't know of any series that is more favored among your colleagues than others, preferably excluding Macbooks.

Hmm. I see the problem all too well. One simple solution is to simply buy something half decent and powerful and have a good monitor at home. That way she can work on it wherever she is, but do more fine tuning at home. I'm assuming that's possible, I'm far from any graphical designer.

Anyway, thanks for the input!

^- Game Junky's reccomendation is pretty good. Dell's laptop-workstations are actually quite decent.

I would say either the Dell as Game Junky mentioned, or the HP elitebook would be good choices, the HP for a cheaper price, or the Dell for the better GPU for rendering.

We were working on a 2K project budget and I couldn't get my Dell rep to wiggle below that threshhold with all the SSDs. We actually would have preferred the IPS, but we all live in a budget-driven world.