What specs are good for a laptop needed only to run Word, watch movies, and internet and is at $500 or so price range? Nothing fancy but also something that won't fall apart once the one year warranty is over.

I'm partial to HP as the one I have right now has lasted me 9 years and only last year did it start showing its age but I'm not sure if the same quality level exists today.

Thanks.

 

If the worst thing you'll do is watch movies, literally anything. Internet will be a bit different as you'll want at least 802.11n wireless, ideally one with a two spatial stream configuration (only reviews will point this out).

 

Got myself an HP 650 about 3 months ago. Works like a charm, batteries last for 5-6 hours when I'm just writing stuff in university and the keyboard has a nice feel to it. I paid 250€ for it online, though I don't know if that company ships to the US.

A friend of mine ordered one of the newer HP laptops for something like 550€, but it hasn't arrived yet, so I dunno if it's overpriced or the deal of the century.

 

Where are you getting these movies? it's possible a Chromebook would be a good fit, but it depends on your movie source.

 

The Chromebook also can't run word.

--sent from my chromebook.

 

Google Docs!

 

I tried a chrome book in store and did not like it. The Sony Vaio or HP Pavilion series look decent and it seems that Sony pricing is now better than HP with the same specs.

I used to be a pc gamer but am entirely console based now (huge flat screen Sony screen can't be beaten).

Thanks for all your suggestions.