I'm looking to purchase a laptop that is not that expensive, but performs really good
I'm not a gamer
I just basically want a laptop for surfing the net, checking email...etc
Also, not too big in size
Advice on any brand(s) will be helpful
Thanks

cheap with decent specs try acer!

Dell, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo in the upper half of their product range... No cheap laptop lasts for long, and the long-term cost is much higher due to repair requirements.
The most important feature is cooling channels, and the ability to clean out lint, fiber, and dirt.