My last decision for new laptop in 2013

I get funds to purchase a laptop for work every 4 years and this is my lucky year!

My prior work laptop was a 17 inch 2009 macbookpro (Core2duo, 8 GB DDR3, 256 GB SSD) which I also used for editing my photos (Aperture/DxO). My workflow is not unreasonable and my main problem is HD space, needing me to move things to external drives and such to free up HD space, once every few months as well as the size, bulk rather than weight. Both of which I can and have been living with.

This time around, there are only two work imposed requirements for my computer, good screen and Windows 7 Professional. I should be more than ok with a 15 inch IPS (1920x1080) and one of the new Haswell processors.

I have specd out different configurations and have come down to two possibilities

Put the funds into processor and upgrade RAM and storage HD with my own money, in the future vs slower processor but max out on RAM/HD and not worry about upgrading in the near future. OS/programs will be installed on a separate mSATA SSD drive so the main HD will be used a storage/scratch/cache. So the three variables are:

i7-4900MQ, 8GB DDR3, 750 GB 7200RPM + 8 GB SSD hybrid drive OR
i7-4700MQ, 16GB DDR3, 512 GB SATA3 SSD

Both of these will work great for work and for my needs for photo editing. I am considering LR 4or5 and PS for software.

The geeky side of me says go with the faster processor and upgrade the memory and HD on my own, but the lazy/realistic side of me says get the system that I do not have to do anything with, put my own money into, and I will probably never notice the difference between the two processors anyways, for what I do.

I definitely have over thought this and right now I am leaning towards the SSD/slower processor option.

I think hearing some fresh opinions from non/light gaming photographers would be great.

Thanks for your time

I'd go 4700MQ, 16GB and the SSD. 250GB is not enough extra space to compensate for losing the SSD.

4700MQ is not a wimpy processor at all. It beats the latest desktop i5's for most things and is on par with Sandy Bridge i7 Desktop processors.

How much latitude do you have for upgrading components? I'd go with the first computer, add another 8GB RAM (if there's an open DIMM) and upgrade the SSD. It sounds like you could use the 750GB spin drive for storage. If on the other hand, the 250GB SSD is going to be sufficient for storage, I agree that the 4700MQ processor will be more than sufficient.

Thanks, I am going to go with the 4700MQ. I don't know what I was I thinking getting all bogged down with the processor. Going this route gets me a 240 GB Intel 525 mSATA and a 512 GB Samsung 840 Pro SATA3, in an otherwise kick xss laptop, and all I have to do is pay for photo software.