I'm not a Mac person.

My suggestion for Windows-based is to go to a physical store and at least get the look and feel of a variety. Didn't look to see what part of the country the OP is in. In the Washington, DC area, there are Micro Centers. These have a good variety of selections - occasional use, business use, lightweight, gaming, etc. Even if you decide not to buy at the store, at least you gather enough info to place an intelligent order. I started doing this after the last couple notebooks I purchased from Dell online, and I wasn't happy with size, weight, etc., and returned.