If you're looking to buy a laptop on a small budget, follow these tips in your hunt for a model that balances decent performance with great value:

Consider getting a netbook instead

If you are only planning to do some basic computing like browsing the Web and running word processing applications, a netbook should suit your requirements.

While laptops will set you back at least $1,000 or so, netbooks typically go for about half the price - at $500 to $600 depending on brand and specs.

Before you take the plunge though, remember that due to their relatively small size, netbooks don't have an optical, or disc drive.

This might mean that installing additional software that is CD or DVD- based might be tricky and would require an additional external optical drive.

Netbooks are also not so great at multi-tasking. So if you're the type who enjoys running several applications simultaneously, a laptop might be the better choice.