Best HP Laptops for Freelance Writers

The demand for freelance writers has skyrocketed recently, as many businesses discover the pros of outsourcing. Instead of hiring full-time staff, a company can hire experienced writers on online freelancing platforms, often at a lower cost. 

Being a freelance writer can be a great profession. You can set your own hours and work from anywhere in the world. However, it’s not so smooth sailing without a laptop fit for the task. Tasks like writing blog articles, novels, newsletters, or e-books require the right laptop for optimal performance. 

At HP, we know the daily challenges freelancers can face and how to overcome them. So, without further ado, let’s explore the best HP laptops for writers and why they’re crucial for writers.

Why the right laptop matters for writers

Picking the best laptop for writers involves more than just looking at the specs. Apart from technical performance, you should also consider the practical side. In this section, we’ll dive into the most crucial aspects of laptops for freelancers.

Importance of keyboard comfort

As a wordsmith, a comfortable keyword is essential. It’s your go-to tool for transforming your ideas into sentences. Your keyboard choice should depend on your personal preference. Keyboard buttons come in various sizes and shapes. Some people prefer clicky, old-school buttons to modern, flat ones. Our laptops are designed to simplify typing and reduce fatigue during extended writing sessions. 

The need for a clear, eye-friendly display

Prolonged writing sessions can damage your eyesight, so you’ll want an easy-to-read display with a blue-light filter. A high-quality display ensures your text is sharp, the colours pop, and everything looks clear without squinting your eyes. Most of our laptops are Eyesafe®-certified, meaning their display filters out harmful blue light without sacrificing image quality.

Long battery life for uninterrupted writing sessions

So imagine you’re deeply focused in the middle of a writing session, and suddenly your laptop dies. If you’re a freelance writer, you’ve probably encountered this problem. That’s why choosing a laptop with a long battery life is crucial. 

The easiest way to determine which batteries last the longest is by looking at the Wh (Watt-Hour) measure. The higher the watt-hour measure, the longer the battery lasts. Most laptop batteries average around 45 Wh and can last anywhere from 6 to 8 hours on a single charge.

Portability for on-the-go writing

Freelance writers tend to travel often and find inspiration in places like cafes, coworking spots or public libraries. That's why a remote writer's laptop must be easy to carry around and light enough not to add too much unnecessary weight to airport luggage. At HP, we make laptops designed to be light and compact, perfect if you're on the move.

HP's best for freelance writers

Now that we’ve discussed why the right laptop matters, let’s explore our recommended laptops for writers.

HP Spectre x360

With its sleek design and top-level performance, the HP Spectre x360 is one of our most popular laptops for creatives. The two-in-one feature lets users flip and fold the laptop for various uses. In addition, the Spectre x360 has an Ultra High Definition Plus (UHD+) touchscreen, ensuring sharp, clarified reading. As if that’s not enough, it also has thirty-two gigabytes of random-access memory (RAM), making it ultra-fast at processing files and working with multiple software programs simultaneously.

Key features:

•    Display size: 16”
•    Resolution: 3840 x 2400 (UHD+)
•    RAM: 32GB
•    Hard drive: 1TB
•    Battery type: 6-cell, 83 Wh
•    Processor: 13th Gen Intel® Evo™ Powered by Core™ i7

HP ENVY series

For writers who prefer long writing sessions, the HP ENVY series is the perfect solution. The battery life on this model is outstanding thanks to a four-cell battery measured at 55 Wh. Furthermore, thirty minutes is all the time it needs to go from 0% to 50%  charge. The HP ENVY series also offers an ergonomic keyboard for typing comfort and a lightweight design, making it easy to carry for on-the-go freelancers. Forget about your battery life and focus on what matters with our ENVY series laptop!

Key features:

•    Display size: 15.6”
•    Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
•    RAM: 16GB
•    Hard drive: 512GB
•    Battery type: 4-cell, 55 Wh
•    Processor: 13th Generation Intel Core i5

HP Pavilion x360

Our HP Pavilion x360 is not just a regular laptop; it’s a versatile 2-in-1 workstation that doesn’t cost a fortune. Besides having essential writing features such as a comfortable keyboard and a high-quality display, it offers something else: flexibility. Pavilion x360’s touchscreen can be folded and extended by 178 degrees both ways. Combined with the magnetic pen, you have the ideal portable tool for laidback proofreading. Leave your desk and conclude the final touches to your masterpiece right on your sofa!

Key features:

•    Display size: 14”
•    Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
•    RAM: 16GB
•    Hard drive: 512GB
•    Battery type: 3-cell, 43 Wh
•    Processor: 12th Generation Intel Core i5

HP EliteBook

If you’re a wandering wordsmith, our HP EliteBook may be the ideal option. Thanks to a 14-inch screen compact design and a weight of only 1.38 kg., this laptop fits in most small bags and is super-easy to carry with you. This elite laptop comes equipped with our HP Long Life battery, which lasts twice as long as regular three-cell, 51 Wh batteries. Moreover, the EliteBook is solidly constructed and features a high-performance AMD Ryzen™ 7 PRO processor. Simply put, the EliteBook is an all-in-one example of convenience, performance and quality.

Key features:

•    Display size: 14”
•    Resolution: 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA)
•    RAM: 16GB
•    Hard drive: 512GB
•    Battery type: HP Long Life, 3-cell 51Wh
•    Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 PRO

Software considerations for writers

Choosing the right laptop is only the first step to becoming a writing master. To elevate your freelance writing game further, consider these software recommendations:

Microsoft Word: Word is the timeless writing app we all know about. It's where you can transform your ideas into web pages or novels. Besides simple features like text editing, table inserts and chart formatting, Microsoft has recently added more complex features like real-time translation.

Grammarly: Grammarly is the go-to software to keep your grammar in check. With Grammarly, you can swiftly scan your documents for grammatical errors. The pro version gives you access to helpful features like synonym recommendation and sentence rearrangement for clarity.

SurferSEO: Most freelance writers are familiar with the importance of Search Engine Optimization, especially when writing web content. SurferSEO is the most popular tool for SEO. It allows writers to optimise content so it's more likely to rank on Google search. The app can audit any website for improvements and give writers suggestions on search keywords, optimal word count and more.

Dropbox: Dropbox is a cloud storage solution for all your files and documents. The app stores your files on the cloud and backs them up automatically. Using Dropbox, you can also seamlessly share files with clients and colleagues.

Importance of cloud storage solutions for document safety and accessibility

Freelance writers and businesses need a place to store documents safely and efficiently share them with colleagues and clients. Storing files on the cloud fulfils those needs. 

Because it's backed up regularly and automatically, cloud-based storage often offers better protection against cyberattacks. In addition, most cloud-based software like Dropbox or OneDrive lets you share documents and communicate easily and swiftly, increasing your company's productivity output.

Tips for maintaining your HP laptop as a writer

As a freelance writer, your laptop is your primary tool for earning money, so you should maintain it for optimal performance in the long run. Below are some essential laptop maintenance tips you should follow.

Cleaning and caring for the keyboard

If you consume drinks and food while using your laptop, the keyboard can quickly get dirty. It’s a wise idea to clean it at least once per day. Some people even use silicone keyboard covers for extra protection. 

For best cleaning results, use disinfectant wipes, cleaning slime or isopropyl alcohol. However, a simple microfiber cloth can work well too. Make sure to use the HP Easy Clean app, which allows you to disable your keyboard and touch screen before you start cleaning.

Regularly updating software and performing system checks

You must stay up-to-date with software updates to ensure ideal performance and security. Keeping your software and operating system updated lets you benefit from newly released features and security measures. Moreover, these updates will ensure your software runs smoothly without glitches.

On the other hand, you should also perform regular system checks. System checks scan your hardware subsystems to make sure they are running correctly. For best results with HP laptops, use our HP PC Hardware Diagnostics Windows Fast Test tool.

Ensuring a backup system for written content

As a freelance writer, keeping all your work on one computer can be risky. Your work is precious, and losing it would be a nightmare. For peace of mind, use cloud-based storage options like Dropbox. Store all your work online and have it backed up automatically, so if you ever lose your laptop or fall victim to a cyber-attack, you can retrieve your files quickly.

Summary

As more businesses switch to outsourcing for their content needs, freelance writers are busier than ever. It's critical to understand that writing content isn't just about text. It consists of more complex tasks like research, fact-checking and SEO optimisation, which require your laptop to run multiple software apps simultaneously. Paying close attention to eye comfort and battery life is essential, too, as creating high-quality content takes long writing sessions. Whether you're a writing veteran or a freelance newbie, it's clear that investing in a reliable laptop can take your writing game to the next level.

About the Author: Shweta Shetty is a developer turned writer passionate about all things tech. She distils complex technical jargon into engaging and practical content for everyone!