Laptops under 500 dollars

When it comes to laptops or notebooks you don't need a lot of cash to get a good computer.  Similar to buying a car, you have to decide what you're really going to use the laptop for and don't waste your money on upgrades that will have little or no impact on your use and the laptops performance.  If you're not planning on using it for "gaming" you don't need an expensive graphics card.  If you don't anticipate running lots of programs at the same time you don't need extra RAM or a faster processor than the ones installed at the factory.  For many people the laptop is simply a communication device for email, web access, photo storage and word processing.  For these buyers the most important item in a laptop may be color choice. 

How you will ultimately use your laptop should define what you need inside and that will ultimately save you piles of cash.

This Laptop received the highest rating from Consumer Reports for laptops under $500 and outperformed many of the higher priced models. It boast a 15.6" LED-backlit high-definition Wide screen display with 1366x768 resolution to bring life to movies and games. The AMD Athlon X2 duel-core processor QL-65 enables you to work or play with multiple programs without impacting performance. If gaming is your thing this is not a good fit but rates well for most basic computer function. Batter life is good with over 3 hours and weight is acceptable 5.7 Lbs. Internal speakers were the only parts of this laptop which received a poor rating.

Built in Ethernet and wireless are a must in all laptops today and this one has both.

This laptop comes in just under the wire at $499.99 but it's technically under $500 and received good marks from Consumer reports. With "very good" ratings in ergonomics, performance and versatility the HP model goes a long way to try and accommodate a large group of users.  Watch DVD movies on this laptop's bright 15.6" screen or burn personalized multimedia discs using its double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW drive. An Intel® Pentium® processor elevates multitasking capabilities and enhances your entertainment and Internet browsing experiences.  This is a good laptop at a very low price. Battery life was short, 2.75 hours and it's a bit heavier than others at 6.3 lbs.

HP stands out as one of the best known brands when it comes to laptops.

With a spacious 250GB hard drive for storing media, a 15.6" high-definition widescreen for stunning visuals and a DVD±RW/CD-RW drive for burning digital content to DVDs and CDs, this laptop makes it easy to stay entertained and productive on the go. Consumer Reports gave this laptop "very good" marks for versatility, performance and ergonomics.  If you've spent any time on a laptop you know ergonomics is very important.  Built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam Makes it easy to video chat with and send video mail to family and friends. Battery life is 3.75 hours and weighs 5.9lbs

This also has built in Ethernet and wireless a must for all laptops.

If budget restraints are your driving factor in purchasing a laptop you may have just found your machine.  This laptop features a 15.6" CineCrystal LCD widescreen display with 1366 x 768 resolution and ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics for stunning movie and gaming detail. Customize multimedia discs with the double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW drive.  Consumer Reports rated this budget priced laptop only "Fair" for performance with "good" versatility  and "very good" ergonomics.  The battery life is 3.25 hours and weight 5.6 lbs.

Like the others this laptop comes with Ethernet and wireless.