I use a lenovo T530 and it does quite well under Linux. But it was not $500, even with a significant discount. Think pads are known for being good for Linux.

I use a lenovo T530 and it does quite well under Linux. But it was not $500, even with a significant discount. Think pads are known for being good for Linux. However, you might want to get a brand like clevo or sager, where you can build your own system. I know there is a suggest a Laptop sub reddit, where they may be able to point you to a good setup. You also could look for a used system, or one with a bad hd you can replace. Best of luck, sorry I couldn't help more.