$500 notebook PC models are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to moving from the lowest-end notebooks on the market to the next level of notebook specifications. Most $500 notebook PCs are still built with basic functionality in mind including secure and wireless internet browsing, the sending and receiving of email, the listening to and burning of CDs, the watching of DVDs, and the downloading or saving of a reasonable amount of files. $500 notebook PC models meet the requirements of most notebook users and in some cases even go beyond what a casual internet user will need. If you're a businessperson, designer, serious video gamer, or multimedia enthusiast, then you'll still want to increase your budget to a higher level as you search for a new notebook that will meet your personal or business computing requirements. The bottom line is that at the $500 level more functionality, more features, and a greater quantity and quality of notebook computers become available.