Until recently, bargain-basement portable PCs were fire-sale closeouts saddled with obsolete software. Not anymore. For about $500, you can buy a respectable machine with a decent-size screen that can be used to access the Web wirelessly, burn CDs and play movies.

Caveats? Don't count on a $500 laptop to be your main PC. Think of it as a backup to keep in the kitchen or as a machine for the kids. Most come with just 512 megabytes of memory, which means you can run Windows Vista Home Basic, the simplest version of Microsoft's new operating system.

You'll be able to listen to streaming audio from your favorite Internet radio station, but the hard drive will likely be too small for storing movies or TV shows. And forget about editing videos or running the latest 3D games -- not enough horsepower.

The good news is that low-priced laptops from established companies, such as Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba, are usually built as well as systems that cost twice as much. One reason: The cheaper models are often scaled-back versions of their $1,200 counterparts minus the cool stuff, such as a built-in webcam.

Best buys

HP's Compaq Presario V6000T ($499 at Office Depot, OfficeMax and CompUSA) is a case in point. You could spend as much as $2,000 for an upgraded version of this machine -- with a faster processor, more memory and enhanced software -- but the base model's specs are pretty good. The Intel Celeron M430 processor, which runs at 1.73 gigahertz, has plenty of power for everyday tasks, such as word processing and Web surfing. The 80GB hard drive is spacious enough to store music and photographs. The 15.4-inch widescreen display is big and bright, and the built-in wireless networking is fine for most homes.

Weighing in at less than 6 pounds, the V6000T is light enough to move from room to room (but not to lug around the airport). Its six-cell lithium-ion battery lasts up to two hours, and the CD writer is good for burning audio discs. If you're ordering online, HP also offers the Compaq Presario C500T ($449 after a $150 rebate; www.shopping.hp.com), which uses a slightly different processor. Overall, the two laptops should perform comparably.

The Dell Inspiron 1501 ($549) is similar to HP's low-end Presarios. Weighing a little more than 6 pounds, its sleek look, crisp widescreen display and Wi-Fi capability make it a good buy. The 60GB hard disk is small, but you can upgrade to 80GB for an extra $35.

One last thing: Don't expect a multiyear warranty or on-site service with a bargain laptop. The Presario and Inspiron models come with one-year, mail-in service plans, which means you'll have to pack up your notebook and ship it back to the manufacturer if something goes wrong.

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