http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-laptop-intel-celeron-4gb-memory-500gb-hard-drive-black/7288011.p?id=1219262036899&skuId=7288011&st=categoryid$pcmcat247400050000&cp=1&lp=2
Asus - 15.6" Laptop - Intel Celeron - 4GB Memory - 500GB Hard Drive $250
Compare
http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-transformer-t100-64gb-gray/2888473.p?id=1219080835459&skuId=2888473&st=asus%20t100&cp=1&lp=3
Asus - Transformer T100 $379
Comparison processor
http/www.game-debate.com/cpu/index.php?pid=2098&pid2=1962&compare=celeron-n2830-2-16ghz-vs-atom-z3740-1-33ghz
Comparison HHD vs Flash http
/www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-flash-storage-and-vs-hard-drive/
Similar priced pc
http/www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i3-4gb-memory-750gb-hard-drive-black-licorice/6060259.p?id=1219184620338&skuId=6060259&st=categoryid$pcmcat247400050000&cp=1&lp=5
HP - 15.6" Laptop - Intel Core i3 $379
Comparison cpu
http/cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Z3740-vs-Intel-Core-i3-4010U
Another similar priced
http/www.bestbuy.com/site/toshiba-satellite-15-6-laptop-amd-a6-series-4gb-memory-750gb-hard-drive-satin-black/5546003.p?id=1219137665391&skuId=5546003
Toshiba - Satellite 15.6" Laptop - AMD A6-Series
CPU compare
http/www.cpu-world.com/Compare/325/AMD_A6-Series_for_Notebooks_A6-5200_vs_Intel_Atom_Z3740.html
Then take laptop in general, asus t100 is a 10", most others are 15" bigger screen bigger notebook
t100 is also a tablet and has touchscreen, most other laptops don't
t100 is tablet first laptop second, take off the keyboard you have a tablet, other laptops are just laptop
t100 has smaller keyboard since its smaller, other laptops have larger keypads
There are hundreds of laptops all under $500, I just threw out what I would pick in same given situation. Other than that, there are countless options. One step up from the asus would probably be an i5 with ssd storage, or a i3 convertible with ssd storage as well. But on the other hand, one step up could also just be an i3 with a hhd, since flash is limited to 32gb and 64gb, a step up could also be a larger yet slower hhd. There are also 17" notebooks, and 14/13" notebooks as well. Then there are notebooks with dedicated graphics cards but those normally run at least double the $500 price. I just got my msi for $2500 and stuck another $1500 into three solid state drives. Everything with laptops is personal preference. The smaller, more portable, and 2 in 1 of the asus t100 might be perfect for you. Yet maybe just an Celeron and an actual laptop experience will be better suited. Under $500 is either finding a great deal on a i5 and just buying whatever laptop you find that deal on and going straight performance, or it could be finding a nitch like the asus t100, or it could be just finding 'your' perfect feeling laptop in which your happy with keyboard screen ect, and performance isn't an issue.