Laptop on a budget

[j86frey]

help...i am a college student with an urgent need for a laptop. The current laptop I own will not support the programs that I need to run for my classes. eg: AutoCad and Autodesk Revit Architecture. The problem is I am on a ramen noodle budget while in school and I just cant see myself paying over $500 for a new machine. Any suggestions?

 

[phyco126]

What is your current machine?
What are the software requirements?
Do you prefer a massive laptop, medium, small, portable, etc...?