the main issue with laptops is heat and no you can't upgrade the Gpu so don't buy an intergrated graphics

for $1500 i'd look at a refurbished Asus laptop with 2harddrives around 16G Ram and nvidia Gpu chip on Windows 10 or some other brand offering their version of that ... in Australia thats around $800-$1200 depending on model and sales

Luke Skywalker: I don't, I don't believe it.
Yoda: That is why you failed.