Note that you won’t find a new Apple laptop for under $500. If you want a new Mac laptop — the least expensive option is to purchase a Apple MacBook Air MC506LL/A, which was released in 2010, and currently sells for $849 at Amazon.

The Best Apple Laptops Under $500

Let’s take a look at the used Apple laptops you can get for under $500.

When buying a used or refurbished laptop, pay attention to the seller’s rating and return policy. In most cases you’ll want to avoid “newly launched” sellers, or sellers with ratings under 90%. When your used laptop arrives, you’ll know pretty soon if it works as advertised. If it doesn’t, you’ll want to be able to return the machine within 30 days. I’d also try to find a buyer who mentions that the laptop has a battery that “still holds a charge”. Many laptop batteries need to be replaced after 4-5 years. If you do find the battery unacceptable, it’s possible to buy a replacement Macbook batteries separately for about $40.

Apple MacBook MB403LL/A ($470-$500)

For just under $500, the best Macbook you can buy is an Apple MacBook MB403LL/A. This Macbook came out in Late 2008, and it has 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a 13.3 inch screen. Although it was released 4 years ago, this is a perfectly acceptable laptop for 2012. It can run Apple’s latest operating system, OS X 10.7 “Lion”. I’d advise you to try to get this Macbook with 2 GB of memory installed — there’s not much price difference between a 1GB and 2GB machine, but the extra memory makes a difference.

The Apple MacBook MB403LL/A is available on Amazon for about $500.

Apple G4 iBook M9627LL/A  ($250-$300)

If you really looking to save some money, you can get an Apple G4 iBook for under $300. These machines came out between 2003 and 2004. They have 1.33 gHZ processors and can run the OS X 10.5 “Leopard” operating system. While they are not speedy by today’s standards, these laptops work fine for web browsing and running other applications, though watching videos online can be frustrating. But overall, a quality computer from Apple.

The Apple G4 iBook is available from Amazon for $250-$300.

Apple G4 Powerbook M9110LL ($470-$500)

If you’re looking for laptop with a 17″ screen, you can get a used Powerbook  G4 M9110LL for under $500. Note, however that this machine was released in 2003, and only has an 1.33-GHz PowerPC G4 processor. The  MacBook mention above is an faster Intel processor and more memory for the same price.

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Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker

Cook’s Illustrated magazine has the most reliable review of pressure cooker — they put six pressure cookers through rigorous tests. They gave top rating to the Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker, saying this cooker works splendidly, and has an easy-to-use locking mechanism. Over eighty reviewers on Amazon gave this cooker an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

This cooker comes with a 10 year warranty.

The Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker is available from Amazon for about $75.

Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Pressure Cooker

In an interview in the Washington Post, Lorna Sass, author of three pressure cooker cookbooks says she recommends Kuhn Rikon’s Duromatic cookers for their integrated lid-locking and their excellent safety-release system. Here’s what the New York Times said about them:

The Kuhn Rikon Duromatic, made in Switzerland, lived up to its reputation as the Mercedes-Benz of pressure cookers. It purred, came up to pressure quickly, was easy to regulate and opened and closed smoothly…The instruction manual and recipe booklet were exceptionally good.

The most popular size of Kuhn Rikon Duromatic lines is the 7-Liter Pot, its available from Amazon for $172.

Presto Pressure Cooker

If you are looking for an inexpensive cooker, you might consider a Presto pressure cooker. It comes with a 12-year warranty and features include a locking handle and pressure-release indicator. Over 200 Amazon reviewers gave this cooker an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The Presto Pressure Cooker is available from Amazon for about $68.

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