RIP

My laptop died. I'm sure I could take it to the shop and get it back to life but the price of doing that would be the same as the price of a new one. (With the exception of having to buy Word, that is). So I'm going laptop shopping. What are your suggestions? Trying to keep it under $500, mostly for writing and internet stuff. Not a gamer, don't give a big hullabulloo about much. I just want a good computer that will last awhile and not crash as often as that damned Dell.