>I am going to need a new SSD for my laptop. There are quite some price differences when it comes to SATA II or SATA III, and also depending on the brand etc. What I am looking for is fast and reliable and long living. But does it make sense to spend more money or are they all basically the same in the end?

My personal opinion, go with the Samsung 840 pro series line. They are fantastic.

They are a bit more expensive, but are rated very highly in terms of performance and durability.