Your Next Laptop Computer: Finding a Budget System for Under $500

Nowadays, just about everyone needs a laptop, even people who have desktop computers at home or at work. Laptops are convenient for a number of reasons, and people who are frequently on the go can really get a great deal of work done, even when they're not able to work from home or their office. Many people prefer laptops for exactly this reason, but for some, buying a laptop can be a problem if they don't have a very big budget. Laptops can sometimes be very expensive, depending on the type you choose and what you are looking for. Luckily there are some awesome laptops for under $500, eliminating the necessity for you to spend more money than you can afford for a computer. If you're in the market for a laptop under $500, the following 5 choices are all great.

Dell Inspiron 1545

This laptop is excellent for those looking for a computer to work and/or play on. With a 15.6 inch screen and Intel Core duo processors, this laptop will perform optimally and should meet your every need. Purchasers of this Dell favorite have the ability to personalize this computer by choosing from six different colors: Jet black, Alpine white, Promise pink, Pacific blue, Ice blue and Passion purple. This handy computer comes equipped with a Windows 7 operating system, a 4-cell battery, 2GBs of memory and a 250 GB hard drive. The laptop is $469.99, but by customizing the color and other features, the price will increase, although additions are not necessary. Purchase directly from the manufacturer by going to dell.com.

Acer Aspire 5543

For $449.98 at staples.com, you can get this nifty laptop that supports various usages. The following is the specifications of this laptop: 5.74lbs; 15.6" 1366x768; Intel Pentium Dual-Core P6000 @ 1.86GHz; 4GB RAM; 320GB HDD; DVD burner; 802.11n; Windows 7 Home Premium; webcam; HDMI; 6-cell battery; and it comes with a 1yr warranty. Staples.com currently offers free shipping on this laptop.

Toshiba Satellite L655-S5055

Sold at OfficeMax.com for $379.99, this computer has been rated a five out of five stars by satisfied customers. The high-rated laptop is powered by an AMD V series processor, it has 3 GBs of memory, 250 GB hard disk drive, a 15.6 HD LCD display, 802.11 b/g/n, DVD super multi optical drive, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, and it comes with a 1-year limited warranty.

Compaq Presario CQ62-220US Notebook PC - Also sold at OfficeMax.com, this handy laptop is only $399 and comes with: AMD Athlon II Processor, 320 GB Hard Drive, 3GB Memory, Windows 7 Home Premium, and a 15.6" diagonal widescreen.

eMachines eME527-2537 15.6-Inch Laptop - this sleek black laptop can be purchased from amazon.com for $361.98 and has a near perfect rating by many satisfied customers. The computer comes with an Intel Celeron processor, Windows 7 Home Premium, 160 GB Hard drive, a 15.6 wide screen and comes integrated with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi certified wireless.