Laptop buying advice

Hi /comp/.

I'm looking for a really cheap laptop and was wondering if you could advise me. It'll mainly be used for word processing, possibly some Photoshop, and watching anime/films etc (so the ability to play H.264 encoded files is preferred).

My budget is small... possibly around $500 tops, preferably less. What kind of spec would I need for those requirements, and what can I expect to get with that money?

I'm guessing I might have to go the ebay route (but would rather not if possible). Do you have any tips on what to get or what to avoid?

Thanks in advance.

>>2

Thanks for the info. There are a whole load of laptops on eBay from seemingly respectable refurbishers, which I'll probably go for.

A friend recommended an IBM Thinkpad X30 (P3 1.2GHz, 512MB RAM, 40GB HD etc) which are going for about £320 ($560ish). Although there are other systems with P4's and a bit more RAM, I've been told that the Thinkpads are really sturdy and worth the bit extra.

What do you think... a good buy, or any other recommendations?