Laptop for mom

Techteen14 · February 23, 2015

So, my mom currently has a 2010 white Macbook. It's on its last leg, which is fine because my mom hates it anyway. She gets frustrated by the software, but she doesn't like Windows either because the last laptop she had she also hated (some Inspiron from ~2005-2007 running XP). This apparently changed when I built my PC, because when I showed her Windows 8 she wouldn't stop looking at the Start screen and the Live Tiles. It was odd, really.

When her Mac inevitably breaks down, I want to be able to give her Windows options as alternatives to the MacBooks she'll probably consider. She's a blogger who travels a decent amount, and since her current laptop is ~5 pounds IIRC, she gets shoulder pain from the backpack she wears, which triggers migraines. So it has to be light and preferably thin.

It also must have 4GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, a 13" 1080p screen (I have a feeling she'd never use a touchscreen, but it'd be nice to have), a decent keyboard and a great battery. Budget is $1,000, but I have a feeling she'd like to spend as little as possible. (Cheapness runs in the family )

The new Dell XPS 13 meets all these, but there have been reports of really poor performance and QC, so I'm now not sure if I want her to get one.

Thanks.