I have a budget of 500$ and a flickering dream

[Strike For The South]

To make a long story short.

-Giving my brother my old laptop
-Starting school again in the fall
-probably going to need a new laptop
-I may just take notes shorthand but then the other children may bully me
-no one likes being bullied
-However, I don't like spending money

Needs
-Word Processor
-Internet connection
-Portable

I care not for your geeky bells and whistles

[Lemur]

I would steer you toward one of the AMD Fusion laptops (https://www.google.com/search?q=AMD+fusion+laptop+gaming&aq=f&oq=amd+fusion+laptop&aqs=chrome.0.59j57j60j5j0j60.2265j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#tbm=shop&sclient=psy-ab&q=AMD+fusion+laptop+gaming&oq=AMD+fusion+laptop+gaming&gs_l=serp.3..33i38.2636.5167.2.5285.16.13.2.0.0.0.118.1033.10j2.12.0...1.0...1c.1.12.psy-ab.EEmCrhtDFJA&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.46471029,d.aWc&fp=c3078b8e0b4def70&biw=1920&bih=955), since they perform normal desktop applications adequately, are usually cheap, and because of their architecture they can do some gaming.

[Furunculus]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-AMD-A6-1450-APU-Temash.92264.0.html

[Papewaio]

You can get free word processors so unless you are getting a viable student discount don't buy M$

[Furunculus]

agreed. Openoffice 4.02, or even Calligra Office