If there is a fast USB slot, you can buy a generic USB card reader for it. Aren’t most advanced cameras wifi and Bluetooth enabled nowadays?
@BunsenBurner - When traveling a lot, one less item to carry can mean a lot to me, especially now that I’m old enough to keep forgetting to pack certain little things. Like I said, it’s not a deal breaker, though. My next camera should be wifi and Bluetooth enabled. 
Definitely understand NOT wanting to deal with Apple instead of Windows. H was eyeing the new Surface but something to consider is the underlying processing and flexibility. Looked at the link for photography. Wonder if the Surface Pro would be ideal for your purposes. I looked at the HP top of the line laptops compared to the Dell and found the Dell better built as I recall. Our history with HP and us sticking with Dell.
Just replaced a countertop microwave oven. There is a learning curve with any new device. Exactly which little button to push, keyboard… No matter what you go with you will need to get comfortable with it. I also have experience with going with top rated items that did not live up to expectations. Therefore I look at reviews but use my own feelings/comfort in making a final choice. You will do the same. Tap our brains and use them to yea/nay your gut feelings. Lucky you to not be concerned about costs- get a touch version!
I choose a 13 inches, but my son wanted This one, is not so bigger but have DVD, very light, fast and excelente to travel.
HP Pavilion 15-cc059nr 15.6" Laptop Computer - Silver; Intel Core i7-7500U Processor 2.7GHz; Microsoft Windows 10 Home; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM; 512GB Solid State Drive
Note the screen size difference above. H got a 13", I was wanting a 15". Big differences in weight, screen viewing- need to decide priorities. I compared Dell to HP and preferred Dell. btw- H’s Asus Zen from the Microsoft store does not have all of the bloatware most do- a plus.
An Internal SD reader adds a few grams to the weight of the laptop and might make it thicker.
What is an internal SD reader? I know what a SSD is.
Memory cards used by photo cameras.
ooh, yeah. totally forgot as we just hook up the camera’s cable.
When my crappy, but very expensive Acer laptop died a very premature death recently, the computer tech guy that tried to help me told me to get a Dell or HP next time. So you’re on the right track.
“and frankly I despise Apple’s proprietary nature of their products”
And I love the result of the proprietary nature; phone, pad, desktop fully integrated. Anything you do on one device appears seamlessly on the others. Order of magnitude more secure, too.
Not sure the “more secure” holds anymore. The number of switch popups to the app store to claim my Walmart win or whatever on my iPhone almost drove me off CC at one point.
Those are annoyances, not security holes!
Yes, annoyances with potential to scam innocent folks, but strangely they were not doing a thing to my Surface… And who’s to say that these “annoyances” are not going to pay the way to bigger issues?
Entering your password on any bogus screen on any browser is indeed deadly!
But igadgets were supposed to be popup and scamware-free… I see it as a warni sign for igadget users: it can hit the fan any time, so vigilance is key. Don’t assume that anything is safe.
Back to laptop selection.
The new HP Spectre 13 and x360 are here:
Sounds like a winner.
One potentially useful tip: if you are a Costco member, buy your laptop there. If you don’t like it, you have 90 days to return it. Very sweet.
This article says the new Spectre x360 has an SD card reader added at the request of photographers:
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/10/hp-updates-spectre-systems-for-kaby-lake-r-and-theyre-rather-attractive/