Looking for a new laptop

I'm looking for a newer laptop. I've looked around at current deals and tried to do some research as I haven't bought a new one in a few years so I'm not up to speed on all the new processors and such. I do a fair bit of gaming and will be doing a lot of photo editing as well as some video editing. I'm also looking for something that I can hook up to a 50" plasma TV. I know most laptops these days have an hdmi port but I'm not sure if bigger TVs need a more powerful computer or whatnot. I had a very bad experience years ago with an HP laptop that I paid too much for and it didn't even last me 2 years. I'm very careful with my electronics but after a year of using it the hinge started to break and after numerous other issues it finally died completely. I was told the motherboard went out. Needless to say I'd like to steer clear of anything HP brand. I know a few people who have Toshiba computers and seem to like them. Other than that I'm not sure what's good and what's bad. I'd also like a 17" screen. I'd like to stay around the $500 price point but would be willing to go up to $600 if I found something amazing. I've looked around and found this deal... http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrar...de=21829UU
It seems to have everything I'm wanting that I can see. I don't know much about the Lenovo brand other than I think it's made by IBM. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

If you are gaming you need a dedicated graphics card. That G780 only comes with integrated graphics.

IBM sold the Thinkpad line of laptops to Lenovo (a Chinese company) about 7 years ago, but the professional machines (the Thinkpad T, W and X series) are all still designed by the same IBM guys in Chapel Hill, NC. All other Lenovo machines (including the one you linked to) are designed & manufactured by Lenovo in China.

Even so, in your price point that's a decent machine to look at, although you should check the outlet as well (http://outlet.lenovo.com), and also the Dell outlet (http://outlet.dell.com) for Inspiron machines.

I completely agree that you should avoid HP.