I will start with what I am best at… notebooks.

Firstly, let me explain the criteria to make my lists. All notebooks are based on performance and features for the price. This is a “bang for the buck” list, so if you are looking to pay for aesthetics (lights, color/paint, and/or “sexiness”) then look elsewhere.

Secondly, I am doing this to help people find a notebook that would fit their general needs, while saving them some time and headaches researching it themselves.

Lastly, this is a list for consumers of the United States. I would love to have you help contribute to this list if you can, from where ever you live.

Please contact me if you have any suggestions to improve or modify this page to further help more consumers.

General Usage Notebooks

I will explain why I do not have higher than $500 notebooks for this category. If you are really just using a notebook for general use (browsing the net, listening/watching media, doing research/homework, burning CD/DVDs, etc), then there is no real need to get anything more expensive… because you will be just wasting your money on either a “brand” or features that you won’t even use.

** For a sub-$500 budget **:

Compaq CQ60-215DX for $399 at BB (Best Buy)

• 15.6″ fully loaded with AMD Athlon X2 QL-62 dual-core CPU (2.00GHz), 2GB of RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, DVD±RW, Nvidia 8200M
  • An all-around good notebook for the general consumer that is using it for internet, work, using media (movies/music)

Toshiba L305-S5944 for $399 at BB (Best Buy)

• 15.6″ fully loaded with Intel Pentium T3400 dual-core CPU (2.16GHz), 2GB of RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, DVD±RW, Intel 4500MHD
  • An all-around good notebook for the general consumer that is using it for internet, work, using media (movies/music)

Gateway T-6345u for $399 at Newegg (and Frys/Outpost )

• 14.1″ fully loaded with Intel Pentium T3400 dual-core CPU (2.16GHz), 2GB of RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, DVD±RW, Intel X3100
  • Slightly more portable and an all-around good notebook for the general consumer that is using it for internet, work, using media (movies/music)

Acer AS5535-5050 for $469 at eWiz/SuperBiiz

• 15.6″ fully loaded with AMD Athlon X2 QL-64 dual-core CPU (2.10GHz), 2GB of RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, DVD±RW, ATI HD 3200
  • Great for multi-tasking, work, watching movies, even good for playing video games at low-medium settings
  • Perfect for those that want the most performance and features that they can get for under $500

Gateway MD2614u (Black) and MD2601u (Dark-Red) for $499 at BB (Best Buy)

• 15.6″ fully loaded with AMD Turion X2 RM-72 dual-core CPU (2.10GHz), 3GB of RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, DVD±RW, Wireless N, HDMI, ATI HD 3200
  • Great for multi-tasking, work, watching movies (can also connect to HDTV with HDMI), even good for playing video games at low-medium settings
  • Perfect for those that want the most performance and features that they can get for under $500

….more to come.

please visit the Deals Page to stay up to date and help contribute with your great finds.
http://www.gophn.com/deals

Related posts:

1. What is the best notebook/laptop brand? …. Exposed.