P400 or P500 -the decision

hello, i'm currently deciding between these two laptops, the lenovo p400, and the 500 series, i'll post the specs. right here for quick reference. i'm going to be an engineering student at the U of minnesota twin cities next year and i'm in need of a new laptop.

p400:

Product Features

3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i7-3632QM processor
Features a 6MB L3 cache and 2.2GHz processor speed with Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz.
Intel® Core™ i7 processor
Features 8-way processing for ultimate smart performance. Intel® Turbo Boost Technology delivers extra performance when you need it and increased energy efficiency when you don't.
8GB DDR3 memory
For multitasking power.
14" LED-backlit high-definition 10-point multitouch display
With 1600 x 900 resolution offers easy navigation and delivers intense detail and clarity.
Intel® Wireless Display
Wirelessly transmits streamed or downloaded movies, TV shows, music, photos and more from your laptop, network or the Internet to your TV (NETGEAR Push2TV adapter required, not included).
1TB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm)
Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times.
Intel® HD Graphics 4000
For arresting images with vivid detail. HDMI output for flexible connectivity options.
Built-in webcam
Makes it easy to video chat with family and friends in 720p resolution.
2-in-1 media reader
Supports Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard formats.
1 USB 3.0 port and 2 USB 2.0 ports
For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n)
Connect to the Internet without wires.
Bluetooth 4.0 interface
Easily link with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a mobile phone or MP3 player.
Built-in 10/100 Ethernet LAN
For quick and easy wired Web connection.
Weighs 5.3 lbs. and measures just 1.2" thin
For easy portability. Backlit AccuType keyboard with individual rounded keys enables comfortable typing and simplifies use in low lighting.
Soft-touch finish in graphite gray
Provides a stylish look.
Microsoft Windows 8 64-bit operating system preinstalled
Provides a stable platform for word processing, Web navigation, gaming, media storage and more. 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office 2010 included.

costs $749, basically, quad core, more ram, more hard drive, and its a touch screen


p500:

3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i5-3210M processor
Features a 3MB L3 cache and 2.5GHz processor speed with Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz.
Intel® Core™ i5 processor
Features smart 4-way processing performance with a speed boost.
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Delivers extra performance when you need it and increased energy efficiency when you don't. Intel® HD graphics provide extra graphics power for your laptop when you need it.
6GB DDR3 memory
For multitasking power, expandable to 8GB.
Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive
Create custom DVDs and CDs.
15.6" WXGA widescreen display
With 1366 x 768 resolution showcases movies and games in stunning clarity.
Intel® Wireless Display
Wirelessly transmits streamed or downloaded movies, TV shows, music, photos and more from your laptop, network or the Internet to your TV (NETGEAR Push2TV adapter required, not included).
750GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm)
Offers plenty of storage capacity and fast read/write times.
Intel® HD Graphics 4000
For lush images and vivid detail. HDMI output for connection to an HDTV.
Built-in webcam
Makes it easy to chat with and send video mail to family and friends in 720p resolution.
1 USB 3.0 port and 2 USB 2.0 ports
For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
2-in-1 media reader
Supports Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard formats.
Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n)
Connect to the Internet without wires.
Bluetooth interface
Easily link with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a mobile phone or MP3 player.
Built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN
For quick and easy wired Web connection.
Weighs 4.9 lbs. and measures just 1" thin
For easy portability.
Microsoft Windows 8 64-bit operating system preinstalled
Provides a stable platform for word processing, Web navigation, gaming, media storage and more.

costs $559, less power full, not touch screen, bigger screen at lower resolution

**but its $190 cheaper**

my question is: are the extra features of the P400 worth the extra $200? I'm obviously not a hardcore gamer (integrated GPU) but i would like a nice preforming machine that can handle some 3D rendering and anything i throw at it (maybe a little movie editing, song production, etc.) in a real sense, can i take advantage of the quadcore? is the touch screen worth it? and will an extra 2GB of ram help being that the GPU and CPU share. also i have a big concern that the P400 will be longer lasting, due to its higher performance level, is it an investment in the longevity of my computer?

*the only game i will be running on it is my phoenix flight simulator, (not a very intense game, rated for a much lower graphics card then the HD 4000)

i would be open to other suggestions, but i'd like it to be in the same price range as these and have at least an i5 and similar hardware (good luck, lenovo has unbeatable prices for the power)

and if you're wondering why the P series and not the z or y from lenovo is because i don't want to deal with lenovo's over seas shipping, the p series i can pick up at my local best buy and they will check it to make sure its not a dud before i take it home

thanks for any help, i'm really appreciative of anyone's opinions.