HP would never be on my list of laptops. Mine lasted 1 year and two weeks, two weeks after the warranty expired. Motherboard went kaput. I even asked the computer repair shop if it was feasible to have the motherboard replace, and the repair person said "... that motherboard is notorious of having problems. It was a mid-price 17.3" screen HP laptop.
... I suppose perhaps the more expensive HP are more reliable but I don't know. I know many other rant about their experience with their HP laptops => overheating! Well, laptops do generate a lot of heat.
For $1000, gosh, there's plenty to choose from. I would go with a familiar brand. I heard the ASUS are quite good, a bit pricey.
I too am in a market for a decent price laptop. I am a computer programmer analyst so I just need a reliable decent laptop, I don't need what computer gamers need, hi acceleration graphic cards, premium hardware etc ...
Member Darkmere must have heavy demands for a computer 'cause for $1000, you could get a fairly decent laptop in my opinion.
My two Dells, (mid 90s, 2004) are still with me doing fine and I used to them at least 8+ hours a day.
Gosh I think you could get laptop with Blu-Ray drives for under $1000.