What's the best laptop for university under £600?

Linda's history-studying son needs a portable computer. Which model would deliver value for money on a budget?

My son is off to university and needs a laptop for his history course. His needs are coursework, watching movies, listening to music and gaming. Our needs are best value for money on a budget of 600 or less. What do you think of reconditioned laptops? We are not a poor household, but we are going to have to make a few sacrifices to get him through university. Linda

It's always a good idea to see if the university and/or department have any recommendations, discount deals or special requirements. This can be important for courses that use professional software, though I don't expect history needs anything that won't run on most laptops.