Grab a refurbished MacBook for the best of work and play for under $500

Some computers blast their fan the second you open Excel, but not MacBooks. As compact as they are, MacBooks are workhorses you can put through the wringer for years. That's what you'd get if you picked up this refurbished 11.6-inch Apple MacBook Air. For a limited time, this beautifully refurbished laptop is on sale for $499.99, down from nearly $1,000.

Bulky laptops are great. Who doesn't love a half dozen ports when you're only really using three? The problem is that bulk doesn't always equate to quality, and sometimes a thick laptop's only claim to fame is you can't slide it under a door. 

This refurbished MacBook Air has the look and the power, and you'd be part of a massive trend of people buying refurbished Apple devices if you picked one up. This generation of MacBook contains a 1.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, which is still one of the best. With 4GB RAM, it's certainly got enough power to run apps for work, play, or school. The 128GB storage may not be as massive as some of the 10TB monsters you run into now, but combine it with a cloud storage plan, and you've got a mobile workstation that's hard to beat.

Add on the 11.6-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display and a nine-hour battery, and you've got a stunning view and a huge window to work or stream your favorite shows. That view is also brought to life by the Integrated Intel HD Graphics 5000 graphics processor. Though it's only a little over half an inch thick, this laptop still gives you two USB 3.0 ports, along with ports for Thunderbolt and analog audio. That means you can choose between wired or Bluetooth headphones.

Get a computer that has the looks and the power, and it helps that this one has that low refurbished price tag too. For a limited time, get an Apple MacBook Air 11.6" 128GB Silver (Refurbished) on sale for $449.99 (Reg. $999). 

Prices subject to change.