Are there any alternatives?

Yes, there are several 15-inch alternatives, though there aren’t many at this price range. HP’s Envy 15 is out of date, as is Asus’ ZenBook 15. The Surface Laptop 3 15-inch uses weaker quad-core processors, as does the LG Gram 15.

　　Dell’s XPS 15 offers a sturdier chassis, faster performance options, and a better screen. It’s around $300 more expensive for the same specs, though the XPS can configured much higher. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2 comes close to matching the Inspiron’s expandability and can also be quite a bit faster, but it’s twice as expensive.

　　If you want to consider a 2-in-1, the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 is a good option. It’s a bit faster atn gaming than the Inspiron and is about $500 more expensive. It doesn’t feature have Dell’s expandability, either.

　　

How long will it last?

The Inspiron 15 7000 is built well and feels like it should last as long as you’ll need it. The ability to easily pop open the chassis and upgrade components means that you can add more RAM and storage as your needs grow. That means the Inspiron should last you a bit longer than your average laptop.

　　The 1-year warranty is industry standard and, as always, disappointing.

　　Should you buy it?

　　Yes. It’s a solid laptop for the price, and the expandability features are a plus.