How to Shop for a New Laptop

When I have spare time, I write. I mostly write short stories. I also keep a food-related blog where I share recipes or my take on when I try a new restaurant. I like the convenience of laptops. I end up brainstorming anywhere—upstairs, downstairs, outside when the weather’s nice. I am seeking a good laptop for writers. It will need to have the following:

A fast processor with a lot of RAM

Somewhat light weight

A wide keyboard

Spacious palm rest

Backlit keyboard

The more affordable, the better!

I looked at the Lenovo Flex 2 Laptop/Tablet. Its features include:

Option to be used as a tablet (touch screen enabled)

Affordable--prices start at $649.00

Intel i5 processor

6 GB RAM

15.6 inch screen

Windows 8.1 OS

Backlit keyboard

Wide palm rest area

Maintenance is simplified. Recovering from technical difficulties is easy with a feature called OneKey. There is a one year warranty, and extended warranty and repair coverage can be purchased. There are many plans. The most expensive one I saw offered was a premium service for $179/year.

Another laptop I looked at is the Dell Inspiron 15 7000. This is a sleek, attractive laptop. Its features include:

Nice price—starts at $649.99

5th generation Intel i5 processor

Windows 8.1

6 GB RAM

1 TB hard drive

Touch screen

Wide palm rest area

Backlit keyboard

Maintenance on this machine is appealing to me. It comes with 90 days of premium tech support, and one year of in-home service after a remote diagnosis. Additionally, accidental damage service plans are available for purchase. It starts at a one-year plan for $49.00 all the way up to a four-year plan for $119.00.

These two laptops are very similar except for one feature: the Lenovo can act as a tablet, with a stand. This may be a deciding factor in making a purchase for some, but since I already have an iPad, I am not really concerned with having a laptop that can also act as a tablet. I am leaning towards the Dell because I really am just seeking a good...