Great Laptop for Under $500?

[mjiantor]

Recently I've been searching for a budget laptop. I'd like something that is reliable and reasonably powerful for under $500. It should be able to handle Photoshop, Illustrator, and other media software, and it'd be great if it could play games to some extent as well. Nothing ridiculous like Skyrim - simpler games like Torchlight 2 and Dota 2. A robust battery is also desirable.

Can somebody point me in the right direction? A specific laptop deal would be nice, but I'd settle for advice on what brand, processor, or retailer I should pursue. I'm a bit in the dark since I've only ever owned desktop PCs before. Thanks.

[manmanny]

Recently I've been searching for a budget laptop. I'd like something that is reliable and reasonably powerful for under $500. It should be able to handle Photoshop, Illustrator, and other media software, and it'd be great if it could play games to some extent as well. Nothing ridiculous like Skyrim - simpler games like Torchlight 2 and Dota 2. A robust battery is also desirable.

Can somebody point me in the right direction? A specific laptop deal would be nice, but I'd settle for advice on what brand, processor, or retailer I should pursue. I'm a bit in the dark since I've only ever owned desktop PCs before. Thanks.

Dell

[DavidY]

A great laptop for under $500 that can game....sure, I will definitely get on that! :P

Dave

[sickcars]

For under $500 you wont get everything you want. Laptops have come down in price over the years but its funny how people expect to get a quality laptop for $500 or less.

Anyways this laptops is decent with some good specs and made by a great manufacture. Its not strong in the games dept & no laptop will be for around this price range.
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/asus-asus-15-6-2nd-gen-intel-core-i3-2350m-laptop-x53e-rs31-bu-blue-x53e-rs31-bu/10199029.aspx?path=bb178b529622494b3315ec45469eab3 9en02

[DavidY]

There was that $498 HP DV6 at Staples some time ago....caused a ruckus here at RFD. It had a moderately fast graphics chip for gaming. Still an HP however.

Dave

[DougO]

Probably nothing until closer to the start of the new school year. Check around mid August. Big laptop buying time then...

[manmanny]

Probably nothing until closer to the start of the new school year. Check around mid August. Big laptop buying time then... So true.

[mysticalinfluence]

$500 isn't doable the best you'll do for gaming is the $750+tax Lenovo IdeaPad Y570 with the Nvidia GT 555M.

[Janefu]

For gaming, I recommend ASUS A53Z-AS61 Laptop, it has a great graphic card than other laptops under 500$.

[Janefu]

Sorry, I am wrong, Acer Aspire AS5560G-7809 has a better graphic card than ASUS A53Z-AS61, see here (http://gaminglaptopsunder1000.net/best-cheap-gaming-laptops-under-500-dollars/), it features a Radeon HD 7670M graphic card.