Just to tag along, my brother recently picked himself up a Samsung Series 9, http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/15-inch-samsung-series-9-...

They have a 256 gb ssd / i7 model for $1800, and a 128gb / i5 for a cheap $1300 (both are on Amazon, look for model number np900x4c). We played with one in a Best Buy before purchasing online, it definitely felt pretty comparable to the mba's I've used.