New laptop purchase

[zamrg]

I'm in the market for a new laptop - my old one, an HP NX8220 kicked the bucket a while back and the motherboard needs to be replaced, so it's probably just cheaper to buy new.

I know someone travelling the UK at the moment and they'd be able to bring it back. The price range I'm looking at is R6000 to R7000 or around 400 - 500 pounds.
I like the specs of the Toshiba Satellite Pro L500 1RG (L500-1RG-PSLS1E-01R00CEN LSB) Laptop but I don't know the brand too well, have always been an HP fan.
http://www.laptopshop.co.uk/Toshiba-Satellite_Pro_L500_1RG,specification,n4.htm

I've got the following questions:

Could anyone suggest some possible laptops within my price range?
Does anyone have any experience with Toshiba?
Does anyone have experience with purchasing laptops overseas and getting by customs?

 

[Messugga]

Try and look at Asus as well, as they come with two year international warranties, so should something ever go wrong, you wouldn't need to ship the thing back to the UK.