WOF: When buying a laptop, what do you value most?

I bought my current notebook (a HP DV6 6011TX, i7 with 8 GB, HD6770, 1TB) around May-2011 to replace older DV5 which I've used for about 3+ years.

Although performance/decent graphics are essential, but I couldn't ignore the fact that if build quality is inferior, keyboard/trackpad & display is not good enough, it will be a hassle to use any notebook. Hence, I went with these.

I have 3 Laptops with different requirements.

1. Gamer, is mostly docked, has to have powerful cpu and graphics of course, weight, battery, display, KB not that important but game performance is and so is HD performance, Next time I change this one it will most likely be with a desktop. Currently a Dell XPS M1730 which is getting old now but still plays WoW perfectly well.

2. Work, Im a programmer for a 3D graphics company, the work machine has to have lots of ram, powerful cpu and a strong gpu, Again, often docked but does need to travel from home to office and sometimes other countries so I prefer a small form, light weight and good build quality, Currently a Dell Precision M4500, provided by work so I don't get a big say on this one.

3. Personal, This is just a general use machine for browsing, a bit of coding, reading, playing videos etc, It needs to be light and have good battery as I use it like a real laptop unlike the other 2, also needs good sound and image quality but doesn't have to be amazing, Currently a HP Pavilion. Will play WoW also thanks to its dual GPU system.

Its hard to choose just three features; as I have my own criteria for what is a good laptop for me is.
I consider these things
1) Build Quality,Usually prefer made in Japan for my Vaio..
2) General Performance
3) Good Display -I favor hidef 1080p even with 13 inch models,
4) Fabulous name- That is why I want Sony Vaio
5) Good graphics- as I do a lot of video encoding, and other multimedia needs, lots of number crunching.
6) Portability and weight - I prefer carbon fiber base
7) Good Batttery Life..
Things things aptly fits the third generation Vaio Z with core i7 chip,8 gigs of RAM and some gig of graphic with Blu-ray writer..

Whats the use of mobile computing laptops if they are not build strong enough to take the out door punishments? I vote BUILT QUALITY.

1) An easily removable hard drive
2) RAM
3) Decent graphics

I use my work laptop for personal use when I am traveling so I am constantly swapping the hard drive between my work HD and personal HD. This keeps my private stuff private whereas my work activities can be tracked via the corporate "spyware".

This is not as cumbersome as it seems since when I am working I seldom need to take care of personal stuff.

1) Battery life
2) Portability
3) Build Quality

Anyone that does not have these three chosen needs a desktop and not a laptop.

Knowledge sharing through comments is too gud.I agree with you on this part but what I meant to say is this topic should not be categorized as an "article"...n frm where does the no of posts cums up??

For the people who say gaming is a priority on their laptop: You're either really rich or doing laptops wrong.

Just sayin