The Best Bang for Your Buck - the Top 5 Laptops for Under $500

Trying to pick the best laptop for under $500 for your student is tough. Not only are you looking for the best value but the most for your money. From netbooks to laptops, here are five great reviews to help you with your decision. I, myself, am in the market for purchasing a new laptop for my two teenagers who now, require their own computers for their school work. So, let's go laptop shopping.

A student's needs differ than the use of a personal computer at home. Meeting their needs and keeping the price within budget is a difficult task. After weeks of searching and testing with teenagers in tow, I have assembled a list of my top five favorite deals; listed from the lowest priced to the highest priced.

1. Samsung Netbook with Intel Atom Processor NP-N150-JA01US - $279.99

This Samsung Netbook is great for younger student. It is internet ready for all their research needs and also has a built-in web cam to chat with family and friends. This netbook boasts a 10.1" WVGA LED widescreen display, 1GB DDR memory, 160 GB hard drive, 3 in 1 media reader, a 6-hour battery life, Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition, and only weighs 2.7 lbs. and measures 1.1" wide. This laptop fits and feels great in smaller hands and is not that heavy to tote around. This was a favorite among my younger middle school students.

2. Toshiba - Mini Netbook - Intel Atom Processor - Celestial Black NB255-N250 - $299.99

The Toshiba Mini Netbook is an excellent choice for my own budding writer. Not only is this netbook very sleek and compact but also offers Microsoft Works9 and a 60-day trial of Microsoft Office and Student 2007, an essential for older students who write term papers. This netbook comes complete with 1 GB DDR memory, 250 GB hard drive, 10.1" WVGA LED-backlit widescreen, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, built-in webcam with microphone, multiformat memory card reader, an 8 hour + battery life, and weighs only 2.8 lbs and is 1.3" thick. This netbook is a new personal favorite of my teenage son and is perfect for all his needs. This mini netbook is so light and is easy to carry around. We are very pleased with the long battery life and spacious hard drive.

3. Toshiba - Satellite Laptop AMD Turion II Processor L645D-S4033 - Helios Blue - $449.99

This Toshiba is a personal favorite in which I own its predecessor. This is an exceptional choice for the everyday student. My very own teenage students use this particular model on a daily basis. They love the ease of use, the bright and large screen display, and how comfortable the keyboard conforms to their typing. This Toshiba laptop conveniently comes with VISION Premium Technology that makes viewing movies, videos, and pictures jump out of the screen. It has a 4 GB DDR3 memory, Multiformat DVD+-RW/CD-RW drive with double layer support, 250 GB hard drive, ATI Mobility Radon HD graphics, 14" TFT LED HD display screen, Multiformat media reader, Microsoft Windows 7 Starter, Microsoft Office Home, and Student 2007. So, whatever your student needs this laptop has everything to fulfill their needs. Our only downside was the 5lbs. weight and the 1.5" width, otherwise an excellent choice.

4. Lenovo Intel Pentium Processor B560 - $479.99

The Lenovo is perfect for the student who utilizes the internet in large capacity. Internet ready and with its strong Pentium processor allows for terrific multi tasking. This processor is super fast which makes the browsing capabilities of this laptop superb. I was totally impressed with its speed and abilities. The Intel Pentium dual-core Processor P6100 in this Lenovo makes this computer worth it. As an added bonus, it offers a great security feature, a built-in finger print reader that allows your student to keep their files private. Also included is a 4 GB DDR3 memory, Multiformat DVD+-RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support, 320 GB hard drive, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD, 4 in 1 media reader, 4.5 hr. battery life, 15.6" LED High-Definition display, Microsoft Office Starter, weighs 4.9 lbs. and measures 1.3" wide. This laptop has a great screen size for high visibility and the added security feature is a wonderful bonus. Our only downside to this product is that it is a little on the large and bulky side.

5. Dell Inspiron Laptop AMD Athlon II Processor IM501R-1212TMR - Tomato Red - $499.99

This Dell Inspiron comes complete with VISION technology that not only brings your pictures to life but, will make you feel as if you are sitting in a movie theater when watching your favorite shows. The AMD Athlon II Processor offers great speed for fast browsing and 3 GB DDR3 SDRAM for superior multitasking needs. If speed and power is what your student is looking for, then this is the laptop for you. With its Multiformat DVD+-/CD-RW drive, 320 GB hard drive, ATI Mobility Radeon HD graphics, built-in webcam, 7 in 1 media reader, internet ready, 15.6" WLED HD widescreen display, 4hr 2 min. battery life, preinstalled Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, weighs 5.9 lbs and 1.25" wide. This laptop is perfect for everyday use and has everything your student needs to accomplish all and any tasks that they may have. This just a general all-around fantastic laptop, very durable and well constructed. Its sleek and stylish red finish offers a unique welcomed pop of color. Our only downside with this laptop is that is somewhat heavy to carry around. It is the heaviest of all 5 on this list.

Whichever you may choose, you can be comfortable in knowing that any laptop on this list is an excellent value for the price. Any student would love to have one of these top five choices.

All quotes are subject to change and are comparable with www.bestbuy.com

For more information you may visit the following websites:

Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/laptops/

Toshiba: http://www.toshiba.com/tai/products/laptops/index.html

Lenovo: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/notebooks

Dell: http://www.dell.com/us/p/popular-laptop-deals