Best budget laptops for students

Just a few years ago, a budget laptop was, by default, a big and ugly plastic box. At that time, the Celeron M and lower-end Pentium Processors were the king of Intel's market of laptops and notebooks. However, the year 2012 is considered as the first year when budget laptops really got a fair shake. There is a wide range of laptops with some surprising features that make them only cost under $600, and you can receive the same performance as a more expensive model. The number of cheap laptops, from 11-inch ultraportables to 17-inch desktop replacements, continues to grow thanks to technology advances.

Here are some of the best budget laptops priced under $600 currently available for a variety of different uses and prices.

1. Acer Aspire V5-171-6867

If you want a power ultraportable giving you all the performance you're looking for from a mainstream laptop at a low price, the Acer Aspire V5-171-6867 is unbeatable. The device crams the horsepower of a full-fledged ultrabook into an 11-inch ultraportable. The laptop also offers the excellent set of specs and features including a Core i5 processor, 6GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive and HDMI. Additionally, the Acer Aspire V5 is equipped with USB 3.0, Bluetooth and stuffed into a very small Netbook-like body. The laptop sells for just $550.

2. Lenovo ThinkPad X130e

The Lenovo ThinkPad X130e is the inexpensive and kid-oriented product that carries the ThinkPad branding and design. With rubberized bumpers, a tough build and easy-to-access ports, this device is really much suitable with students, travellers or businessmen who have to travel seriously. The X130e is powered by an AMD Fusion E-300 processor, having an 11.6-inch HD LED display and four gigs of RAM. With excellent keyboards, the laptop is available at $499.

3. HP Envy Sleekbook 6

The HP Envy Sleekbook 6 is the sharpest-looking laptop whose most amazing feature is that it manages a fantastic 8 hours 45 minutes away from the mains. It helps you last an entire working day on a single charge if you stick to light tasks such as word processing. The laptop is also powered by a mid-range A6-4455M processor running at 2.1GHz which is more than capable of handling everyday online tasks. Moreover, the keyboard and touchpad of the HP Envy Sleekbook 6 are similar to what the other new HP Envy laptops offer. This wonderful laptop costs you only $599.

4. Dell Inspiron 17R

If you are seeking for a laptop at maximum screen size for minimum investment, the Dell Inspiron 17R is a good choice. The device has a monstrous display, a Core i3 processor and Nvidia graphics into a 38mm thick, 3.3kg chassis. The laptop is also designed with 6GB of RAM, a current-gen Intel Core i5 CPU and a 750GB hard drive. Moreover, the touchpad of the Dell Inspiron 17R is big enough to be useful on a 17-inch laptop. Its keyboard is Dell's standard variation on the widely spaced, island-style, flat-topped one in most current laptops. The device starts at a price of $599.

5. Sony Vaio E Series SVE11113FXW

The 11-inch Sony Vaio E has a sharp design plus decent graphics and good battery life. This laptop has good off-axis viewing from the side and support with an app called PlayMemories, for managing photos and videos. It also has another app called Media Gallery, which manages photos and videos (and music). The laptop’s current price is $449, which keeps it from being counted out along with the outstanding features.