Replying to Comparable laptop to a MBP - Free XL Jiberish.

Starting Grad School. Would like to invest in a laptop. Looking for a durable, reliable, quality laptop. Obvious choice seems to be a MBP. I am comforted by their reputation as being reliable and long lasting There must be some alternatives.

Since I know dick about computers, I will use the base MBP as a spec benchmark. So for around 1000 dollars, I can get a 13 inch laptop with 4 gig memory, 500 gig hard drive, 2.5 gHz processor.

I dont play computer games, dont want a touch screen. Just want a no-frills, excellent laptop that I can use for presentations, word processing, minor video editing (for said presentations) and using social media/music.

Let me know what you dudes think! If you give me a good idea, and I go with it, Ill mail you a Jiberish Windbreaker. So help me to help you