keep in mind that on ANY computer, you can install windows and dual boot ubuntu with the WUBI installer, which is a REAL linux installation that uses your windows partition to run (so it doesnt use the extention filesystem). that solves the "hassle free linux" problem.
I personally have been using a Dell Precision M70 Workstation with a Quadro 1400go gfx (1920x1200 res) for the past 3 and a half years, which has been awesome. Like you, my system got old, and I customized a cyberpower laptop for 1 grand. I got geforce 8600gt (yes last gen I know but that was months ago), core 2 duo (the fastest I could afford at the time), minimum ram (I bought another 4gb later to install), dvd burner, and all that jazz.
Love it.
My work machine is a nx9420, with 17" screen and full size keyboard. I like it. We've had some problems around the office with lesser models, but several engineers have the nx9420, and I've not heard any complaints or problems.
The partitions were never my problem.
Here are my problems:
Fucking sound will break when I update my software as Ubuntu asks me to do.
I'll fix this, install compiz, then X.org will break. Uninstall compiz, get X back, but on the wrong resolution.
Fix the xorg.conf, get my resolution back. Now my 3d Acceleration isn't working.
Install propietary drivers, fix xorg.conf AGAIN. Fix my resolution AGAIN.
Now I'm back in my desktop, and I haven't installed Java, flash, mono (UGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH), or much of anything else.
Wubi slows it down too.
There is no single laptop model that I know of that is 100% hackintosh compatible other than the MSI Wind, and I'm not looking to purchase a toy.
If you're asking for anything 100% "hackintosh compatible" I don't know what to tell you. By 100% you mean pop DVD, install and go, no? Well, that's asking for a bit much. I have friends who have it running on dell and HP laptops all around. All took plenty of screwing around. And same goes for linux. If you can't deal with driver issues, you probably shouldn't be using linux...though you say you've used it for a long time. Are you just fed up now?
May I add that Wubi eliminates all those problems, and the slowdown is minimal. It really is, I used a wubi installation for quite a long time.
There is another option: install ubuntu with wubi, and then use LVPM.
here: http://www.linuxhaxor.net/2008/12/06/graduate-from-a-wubi-in...
It even says "Purely performance wise you won’t see much difference when you move from a wubi install to a dedicated install - considering that you have a fairly fast hard drive and that your windows partition is not heavily fragmented."
Also, you have been checking dealcatcher.com and slickdeals.net right? there are a lot of sites out there with awesome deals on laptops that you can get cheap (and reliable). I mean if the only game you're playing is EVE, you really don't need more than any discrete gfx card 2 or 3 generations old, counting from today, right?
You're correct on the gfx chip.
I've been having stability issues on my desktop that prevent me of late from using anything other than...get this...Windows XP. Everything else freezes in the install. I'd forgotten about wubi. I'll get my unix fix that way.
Make no mistake, I'm not comfortable with the control Apple exerts over the hardware and software.
EDIT: Btw, Windows 7 is very nice if you use windows on a regular basis. Very fast on my 14" Dell 1.4 GHz Celeron 1GB Radeon 9000.