Asus Chromebook Flip C434 for $528: If you can do all your work via a browser, and that browser happens to be Google Chrome, then you should consider a Chromebook.Plus, battery life is pretty good and you're not parched for ports.
It runs Windows, and you get a lot of laptop for the money: an Intel Core i5 chip, 8 gigs of RAM, a 256-gigabyte SSD, and a sharp IPS LCD 14-inch display. Unless you're editing 4K videos or rendering CAD models, this reliable machine will treat you well. It's completely silent due to the fanless design, and battery life is spectacular. With the new M1 processor, it can easily handle all but the most intensive tasks (and even with more demanding apps, it fares really well for its price).
