A couple of years ago, I walked into a computer store and asked what I could buy for less than $800. I was ushered into the back room by a junior employee who could barely contain his laughter and left me to sift through the computers time forgot.

With this humiliating memory in mind, I recently asked six vendors to send me their least expensive, fully configured systems with a monitor--for $800 or less. Guess what? Nobody laughed. Two vendors--eMachines and TigerDirect--beat my price easily at $628 and $658, while iDot and Virtual Micro came in a bit higher, but still below the mark, with $727 and $768. Unfortunately, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq missed by the proverbial mile at $1,048 and $1,198, respectively. I reviewed them anyway to demonstrate what a name-brand price tag will supposedly buy you.

So what's "fully configured?" I didn't specify a setup to vendors, but I expected that each machine would at least have 32MB of memory, a 266MHz class processor, a floppy drive, a 2GB hard drive, a 12x CD-ROM drive, a sound card and speakers, a modem, and Windows 98. It turns out that I was shooting a bit low; all the systems came with 300MHz class processors, a 2.5GB or larger hard drive, and the slowest CD-ROM speed was 24x.

In short, these systems are aimed at small and midsize businesses on tight budgets. Though the systems aren't great game machines (for reasons I document later), they're more than adequate for mainstream business tasks. Note, too, that local vendors and retailers assemble capable, cheap PCs that easily go toe-to-toe with the likes of national vendors like Compaq.

Just keep in mind that "fully configured" means different things to different vendors. Three systems arrived without a modem, monitor, or both. One was even missing Windows 98. After consulting with the vendors involved, I adjusted the price of each system to reflect the additional cost of these missing items.

Systems in hand (well, in my hallway), I set to unpacking, setting them up, and just generally abusing them. You might say I immersed myself in the cheap PC experience--sacrificing my sanity so that you, dear reader, would know what you can get with your hard-earned money.

I won't keep you in suspense-- eMachines' 333c gets top billing as the best overall bargain. It wasn't the best computer--that distinction went to Compaq--but it came darn close and cost half as much. Now that you know the results, why read on? Because the other systems have their appeal and could be a good fit for you or your business. You'll also get some tips for evaluating "value" PCs.

Kicking the Tires

When shopping for a cheap PC, look for a system with a case that can hold all the components you foresee buying. Most users eventually add a Zip or CD-R drive, and if that's you, a minitower or midtower PC should be fine. But if you're constantly adding and removing cards and drives, a full-sized tower is a must. Free slots are important if you want to add 3D video accelerator, SCSI, or networking cards.

CPU. All six reviewed systems use either a Cyrix MII, AMD K6-2, or Celeron 300MHz. class or faster processor. If you run an office suite on any of these PCs, it's hard to tell them apart. But in my informal tests, Celeron-based systems outpaced their rivals in floating point operations, which helps with 3D rendering. The K6-2 CPU has proprietary 3D instructions (called 3DNow) that can help, too, if a program supports them. A surprising number of games do, as does DirectX 6.0, part of Windows 98.

The Cyrix MII and AMD K6-2 CPUs rely on a secondary cache located on the motherboard, which means that you may be able to add more cache to boost performance. If you can, get 512K or more. The latest Celerons, like the one in the Presario 5050, have a built-in 128K cache that you can't add to. Make sure the Celeron in the PC you buy has a built-in cache. Earlier Celerons didn't and they crept like slugs. (For more, see "Big Chips: A CPU Buyers' Guide".)

RAM. You need at least 32MB to run Windows 95 or 98 efficiently, but more is better and Windows 2000 (NT 5) will need 64MB. Make sure you get SDRAM on DIMMs and the system you get has at least one free DIMM slot so you can add more. Remember that some cheap PCs use main memory for graphics chores, which can slow down performance.

Storage. You won't need more than 2GB of disk space to run your favorite office suite, browse the Internet, or play the occasional game, but again, more is better. Audio and video files can eat up disk space at a prolific pace (a four-minute, CD-quality song consumes 50MB). UDMA/33 hard drives are the norm, which is what you'll typically find in these systems.

When it comes to CD-ROM drives, faster is better, too. There's virtually no difference in cost between an 8x and a 36x drive, so don't let a salesperson stick you with a slower unit. Note that older drives may have trouble reading CD-R (CD-Recordable) discs. When in doubt, try it out.

Display. You usually get 14- or 15-inch monitors with a bargain PC, but they should be bright, sharp, and run at a high enough refresh rate to minimize flicker. That means they should have resolutions of 800 by 600 pixels at 85MHz. If you're going to splurge on any component, splurge here--your eyes will thank you.

Input. Don't scrimp on the keyboard. Some bargain PCs come with flimsy keyboards that slide around as you type. Look for a keyboard that's heavy enough to stay in place. Keys should offer mild resistance, rebound crisply, and not wobble. A soft clicking noise helps you maintain a good typing rhythm.

Whether you prefer mice or trackballs, make sure that what you get rolls smoothly. Better models, such as the Microsoft Mouse, have Teflon rollers that don't collect gunk.

Sound. Unless you're an audiophile, a cheap sound card will probably do. Most of these systems have a sound chip built-in to the motherboard, and they all sound fine. Speakers are another story. If you want speakers that reproduce bass tones well, seek out a stereo store.

Ports. Finally, make sure any system you buy has the standard array of ports, including a VGA, parallel, serial, mouse, keyboard, and two USB ports. If sound is part of the deal, insist on a game/ MIDI port (also called a joystick port) and in/out/mic jacks.

Terms of Performance

I judged the business performance of each PC by installing Microsoft Office 97 Professional, then loading, editing, and saving some relatively large Word and Excel files. I tested 3D performance by playing Unreal, an MMX and DirectX-aware, shoot-everything-that-moves game from GT Interactive. I was looking for smooth scrolling and game play in the game's 512-by-384-pixel window. Other informal benchmarks measured each system's CPU, FPU, hard drive, and graphics performance, and they indeed verified my subjective business and 3D tests.

I peeled off each system's cover to see if standard equipment had been left out to cut costs. Happily, everything was present and accounted for, and much of what I found inside was brand-name. Vendors mostly shaved expenses by using lesser-known motherboards with built-in graphics and sound, using main memory for graphics, and shoving everything into smaller cases.

Every USB, parallel, serial, VGA, keyboard, game, and mouse port on every machine was checked with appropriate peripherals, and all passed with flying colors. I paid special attention to the USB ports. I tested hot swapping and other features using a Leopard Pocket USB V.90 modem from Shark Multimedia (www.sharkmm.com) and AccelePort's serial/parallel port replicator from DigiInternational (www.digi.com). I checked each CD-ROM drive's ability to read commercial CD-ROMs and music CDs, plus CD-R discs mastered on several different writers. (In the latter test, TigerDirect's drive faltered.) Every modem was connected to the Internet.

Monitors were judged on their brightness, sharpness, focus, and geometry. I expected them to display a flicker-free 800-by-600-pixel image at 85MHz, which they all did. In 3D tests, however, the iDot and Tiger Direct PCs were either slow and/ or stuttered. This is because the systems used the SiS 5598 chipset/ graphics controller, instead of relying on graphics accelerator cards with their own dedicated high-speed memory and processors. The SiS 5598 lacks 3D acceleration and uses system memory for graphics, so the poor results were not unexpected.

The Contenders

Is a cheap PC a cheap PC? Au contraire. While most of these machines are capable, some clearly go the extra mile. My thumbnail reviews follow.

eMachines eTower 333c. The $638 eMachines eTower 333c's combination of affordability, quality, features, and performance is impressive. In fact, it's so impressive that I can't figure out how the company's making money. The 333c is about half the price of the HP or Compaq, yet it provides the same comforting, out-of-box experience--complete with setup sheet, easy-to-read documentation, color-coded ports, and matching monitor and CPU.

Luckily, half-price doesn't mean slow. The 333c finished only slightly behind the Compaq and Virtual Micro systems while running business applications. Its 3D execution is on par with the HP, tying it for third place. eMachines avoided the pitiful 3D performance of the other Cyrix MII systems (iDot and TigerDirect) by choosing the ATI Rage Pro LT graphics chip (with its own 4MB of dedicated memory) over the SiS chipset.

The 333c's minitower case is sturdy and professionally assembled. All cables and wires are either exactly the right length or are tied off neatly. However, the case had only one free 5.25-inch drive bay. (The 333c already has a 3.2GB hard drive and a 24x CD-ROM drive, so this won't affect most users.) Taking a cue from Compaq, eMachines mounts its game and USB ports on the front of the case, and hides them with a sliding window when not in use.

Korean Data Systems (KDS) manufactures eMachines' monitors and is the main partner of eMachines with motherboard manufacturer Trigem. In my experience, KDS makes a decent, low-priced display, and the 333c's 15-inch model is no exception. The picture isn't as sharp as the monitors that accompany the HP and Compaq PCs, but it's a great deal for $139. A 17-inch monitor is available for $225.

In light of the 333c's absurdly low price, I expected a lot of corner cutting. But aside from the paucity of free drive bays, the only other downside is a rather tiny pair of wedge-shaped speakers. They're fine for listening to Window's audio clues, but "bass response" isn't in their vocabulary.

eMachines support package is a mixed bag. The one-year, parts-and-labor warranty is fine, but the 15-day free telephone support is parsimonious at best. However, the 15-day period doesn't kick in until your first call, so if your first problem occurs six months after you buy the machine, you can still get your free support. The eMachines Web site has numerous well-written FAQs that cover a variety of troubleshooting and configuration problems, as well as general PC knowledge. There's a separate area for NT drivers and updates, but it wasn't available at the time of this review. Technical support is also available via e-mail.

When it comes to phone support, it's clear things at eMachines haven't quite gelled. Call the toll-free number, select hardware support, and you're asked to call a toll line. But press 0 and you get the same support for free. The company offers a mix of live and taped help, but the live techie I talked to answered my questions about upgrading video memory correctly.

All in all, eMachines' 333c is the little tower that can--for your business. If you're looking for better game performance, you might also consider eMachines' 333I, which has the same ATI Rage Pro LT/Intel Celeron 333 combination that gives the Compaq 5050 its silky-smooth game play.

Compaq Presario 5050. The 5050 is easily the best business and gaming machine of the bunch. Its Celeron 333 processor and ATI Rage Pro LT graphics chip combination makes game play delightfully smooth. The 15-inch MV500 monitor's crisp picture and the resonant bass response of its side-mounted JBL speakers don't hurt, either. Windows and business application performances were tops, although only a shade faster than those of the Virtual Micro and eMachine PCs.

But hey, for $1,198, you should expect more. And you get it--although I'm not sure it's worth twice the price of the eMachines 333c. Still, the 5050 packs a whopping 96MB of SDRAM and an 8GB hard drive. The 5050 was also the only machine to include a digital VGA port for driving a flat-panel display. The premium price also buys a large bundle of software, including Microsoft Works, Quicken, and Encarta.

The 5050's ports and even the wires that run to the speakers are color-coded. An illustrated setup sheet is included. Preprogrammed buttons on the keyboard make it easy to control the 36x CD-ROM drive, change the volume, and perform online tasks, such as retrieving e-mail. Shortcut buttons are a nice idea, but I wish Compaq had spent more time designing keys that didn't wiggle so much.

Compaq has also taken steps to eliminate the tragic mistakes of novice users. For instance, the case is sealed with a sticker warning that opening the PC is a bad idea. PC pros, however, will be irked by the lack of documentation on the system's BIOS and CMOS Setup routines. In fact, BIOS information is even hidden during boot-up.

The Compaq packs its components into a stylish, beige-and-brown minitower case. The game and USB ports are mounted handily on the front and covered by a retractable, translucent cover. Inside the PC, there's not much room to maneuver. Adding a card won't be much trouble, but installing a drive or memory will require removing the system's power supply.

Compaq offers a good support package, including a one-year, parts-and-labor warranty and 24-hour, toll-free phone support seven days a week. There's even software that can help a Compaq technician diagnose your machine's ills via modem. The documentation is excellent as far as it goes, but it lacks technical specifications. Compaq's speedy Web site has answers to common problems, and it provides video and modem software upgrades. You'll also find a series of simple tutorials on DVD, memory, and so on. Technical support is also available via e-mail.

Compaq's phone support comes in English and Spanish, and projected wait times on hold (in my case, 10 minutes) were accurate. Less accurate, however, was the live help. I asked a few basic questions about adding memory to the 5050, which the techie got wrong.

The Presario 5050 is clearly the most powerful computer in this roundup. But do you really want to fork over twice the cash for a little extra performance, two-tone style, and some niceties?

iDot 300M2. There's a lot to like about iDot's 300M2. Built around a 300MHz Cyrix MII and 30MB of RAM, it outperformed both the TigerDirect GT 300 and HP Pavilion at business tasks. It's also moderately stylish, has great support policies, and costs only $727. But its stuttering 3D performance should give gamesters and video users pause.

The 300M2 is the only minitower system in the review that offers decent expansion: two free 3.5-inch bays and one free 5.25-inch bay, plus two free ISA and PCI slots. But my favorite feature is a pull-out carrying handle on top of its case. You may not move the system much, but when you do, you'll appreciate this handy touch.

Sound is 3D-enhanced, although the 300M2's Mli 168 speakers don't show it off very well. They produce clear and undistorted sound, but little bass. A 15-inch ADI monitor provides a picture that's on par with the eMachines' KDS monitor--not as sharp as HP's or Compaq's, but sharp enough. The iDot's 36x CD-ROM drive made short work of installing my test applications.

The great support policies I mentioned include a five-year warranty on the processor and memory, and three years on the rest of the components. iDot is the only second-tier vendor to offer 24-hour, toll-free technical support seven days a week. Included user and setup guides cut down on those calls. iDot's tech support Web page doesn't list any FAQs, but there was a downloadable PDF version of the system manuals. I wasn't able to reach the FTP site where iDot supposedly has drivers and updates for download. Tech support is available via e-mail.

There's no software bundled with the 300M2 other than Windows 98 and some drivers, but the out-of-box experience was pleasant. The system was packed neatly, a setup guide was included, and the ports were labeled but not color-coded. I did have one minor complaint: The speakers were shipped without a 9-volt adapter or the four C-cell batteries required. All in all, if you don't need heavy-duty 3D, it's a decent little system.

iDot's phone support seems shaky. I waited 20 minutes, then got a techie who had his facts wrong about the system's SiS graphics chipset. (He claimed that that you can't allot more system memory to video. Ennh! Wrong answer.)

Hewlett-Packard Pavilion 4440. The two-tone, medium and dark gray Pavilion 4440 is as stylish as the Compaq Presario and comes with a slug of RAM and disk space, but it can't match its rival's performance. In fact, the $1,048 system tied the Tiger Direct GT 300 as the slowest business performer in the review. Its 3D performance was better, nearly equal to the eMachines 333c.

The albatross is once again the SiS 5598 chipset, which uses 2MB of the system memory to perform its graphics chores. If it hadn't been for the 333MHz AMD K6-2's 3DNow extensions and 64MB of main memory, the 4440 would have tied for last place in the 3D tests as well.

Lack of desk space could be the best argument for buying the 4440. Its microtower case is 2 inches shorter and 5 inches shallower than a normal minitower. Yet there's still room inside to maneuver, and the free PCI and two free ISA slots are easy to reach. However, you'll need to remove the power supply to reach the DIMM slots. They're both filled, so you'll have to dump one to add more RAM.

The Pavilion's 15-inch monitor has a very sharp picture and Polk Audio speakers mounted on each side, just like the Compaq. Unfortunately, they lack JBL's excellent bass response.

HP offers top-shelf support policies, including a one-year, parts-and-labor warranty and round-the-clock free (but not toll-free) technical support. The out-of-box experience is pleasant as well. A setup sheet is included for first-timers, the ports are color-coded, and a comprehensive user's guide is included. HP's Web site serves many nations and handles many products, so navigating to the appropriate technical support page takes some doing. There's a misleading Tech Connection page that's just computer tutorials. Once you locate the right page, you'll find troubleshooting tips, FAQs, and software upgrades.

As I expected, HP's phone support was fast and right. I called a toll number and got a techie almost immediately, who answered my memory upgrade and BIOS questions correctly.

Factoring in support and bundled software like Microsoft Works and Encarta, the 4440's $749 base price doesn't seem so bad. If only they'd stop charging $299 for a 15-inch monitor.

Addendum: When I checked HP's Web site, the configuration of the 4440 had changed. They've switched to the ATI Rage Pro LT for graphics duties, which should hike the system's performance significantly.

Virtual Micro Entry Level PC. Local Bay Area vendor Virtual Micro sent us a sweet-performing, 300MHz AMD K6-2 system with 32MB of SDRAM that totaled only $629--including a 14-inch monitor. Unfortunately, that price didn't include Windows 98 or a modem. Using Virtual Micro's prices, these essential items raised the total to $768. (Flip through Computer Currents and you'll see a number of retailers--Bold Data, Hi-Tech USA, Actnet, and others--who are climbing aboard the cheap PC wagon with competitive systems.)

The Virtual Micro turned in the second fastest performance at both business tasks and 3D gaming. It's also the only machine with a removable AGP graphics card--an 8MB Diamond SpeedStar A50 AGP--and its 40x CD-ROM drive is the fastest unit in the review. Add a 4.3GB hard drive, and you have a configuration second only to the Compaq Presario's.

The Virtual Micro's impressive components are housed in an extra-wide, midsize tower case--a stable breed I call earthquake specials. The extra width also makes it easy to maneuver inside and provides plenty of room for additional components; one ISA and four PCI slots are free, as are two 5.25-inch bays and one 3.5-inch bay. Only the TigerDirect GT 300 had more room.

Unhappily, Virtual Micro provides little help for first-timers: no users guide, no setup guide. The ports aren't color coded or labeled, either. Difficult-to-read metal etchings are all there is to help newbies distinguish one port from another.

If you plan to buy from Virtual Micro, opt for a better monitor than the 14-inch Relisys R151A they shipped me. The unit's focus was horrible, and the tube face is round to the point of distraction. I didn't care for the cheap-feeling keyboard or mouse, either. Spend the extra 25 bucks for better extras.

Virtual Micro's support policies are a cut above the crowd. The two-year, parts-and-labor warranty is exceptional, and technical support is available nine hours per day on weekdays for as long as you own the system. If you return the system within three days, you get a full refund. Up to 30 days after that, a 15 percent restocking fee applies. Alas, Virtual Micro doesn't offer tech support via its Web site.

Virtual Micro's phone support was top notch. A quick toll call connected me with a very savvy tech who answered all my questions correctly. He knew immediately, for example, that mixing SIMMs with DIMMs would slow system performance slightly.

TigerDirect GT 300. Its name invokes images of speed, but the $658 TigerDirect GT 300 finished dead last in both business and 3D performance. Its Cyrix MII 300MHz processor wasn't the primary culprit, but rather, the SiS 5598 graphics controller that gobbles up 4MB of system RAM.

Game play was rough, with bizarre, wavy lines running through text. Reducing the resolution was the only way to make game play acceptably smooth and defect free. This is the same problem I encountered with the SiS-based iDot system.

The GT 300's wide, midsize tower case was the only AT type in the review--all the others were ATX. If you plan on adding components, you'll love it. A three-bay drive cage, attached crosswise to the case's upper support beam, gives the system an amazing total of six free 3.5-inch bays. There are also one ISA and four PCI slots available, and the interior is roomy enough to make any type of upgrade a snap. But poking around, I found an oddball combination of technologies.

The GT 300's motherboard supports both DIMMs and SIMMs. SIMMs may be cheaper, but they're slower, and the system's four unused SIMM slots are a waste of space. Additionally, the parallel port takes up a card slot opening instead of poking out by the keyboard port. The PS/2 mouse port, two USB ports, and an infrared port were also mounted this way.

The GT 300's 24x Lite-On CD-ROM drive was the only one that had problems. (The Lite-On drives found in other systems perform fine, so I'll chalk this up to a defective unit.) My GT 300 didn't arrive with a monitor, but I've seen the 15-inch KDS VS-5 TigerDirect currently bundles, and it sports a sharp 800-by-600-pixel picture at 85MHz.

The bundled Kinyo speakers are your basic, small, no-bass-response type, with a peculiar, two-part power cord. The two halves mate using a tiny socket and two easily bent pins.

The system comes with passable user and setup guides. The one-year warranty covers parts and labor, and the company provides toll-free technical support 18 hours a day, Monday through Saturday. Tiger's online tech support (www.tigerdirect.com/profiles/support/frameset.asp) is hiding one level down in a confusing, wordy menu. But there are a bunch of FAQs that cover basic troubleshooting and components, plus installation of USB devices, LS-120 drives, and so on. There's also a solid driver section. Note that this is a fairly technical area, so you'll need to know the model number of the system or component in question.

My experience with Tiger's tech support, however, wasn't very positive. After I navigated through a help menu, Tiger's support line asked me to hang up due to heavy traffic--then hung up on me. The second time around, it said the same thing, but returned me to the main menu. This is one help system that needs work.

Just make sure that you order exactly what you want--there's no refund or money-back guarantee. This, combined with the GT 300's oddball mix of technologies and lousy performance, don't recommend it.

The Envelope, Please

The cat is already out of the bag, but here are the results again. All six systems would be acceptable for everyday business tasks, but the eMachines 333c is such an outstanding deal that it stands alone. In terms of price, quality, and performance, it's an appealing package, especially for businesses that need to cheaply spread computing power around the office.

Of course, the Virtual Micro Entry Level PC is an able runner-up. But I can't summon much enthusiasm for the other systems. The Compaq was easily the classiest system reviewed, but at $1,198 it's hardly what I'd call a bargain. The iDot (despite its great support policies) and the TigerDirect GT 300 would be major disappointments to game enthusiasts due to their poor 3D performance. I loved the HP Pavilion's small profile, but not its fat price tag and mediocre performance.

This was never really a contest. eMachines has the perfect formula for a budget machine. It's well built, easy on the eyes, and fast, and it comes with bundled software and enough support to see most users through. Put in a more personal way, for Christmas I sent my mother a replacement for her aging 486--an eMachines eTower.

© 1999 Jon L. Jacobi. All rights reserved.

Jon Jacobi is Computer Currents' Mobile Office columnist. He's also a longtime writer and technical consultant for PC World and is the author of the Take Note musical ear training program.

The Other Cheap PC: One man's story

Price is one thing, service another--a lesson I learned recently when I bought a discounted iMac. It was a Macworld show special, available only to expo attendees and only from the CompUSA Web site accessed from the CompUSA booth: a $999 closeout on the original, bondi blue, 233MHz iMac. CompUSA sweetened the deal with an extra 32MB of RAM and free shipping. I bit.

My smiling new iMac was on back order. When I began wondering how long that back order might last, things started to get dicey. A week after my order, I called CompUSA's customer service at 2:30 p.m. and was held in queue until 3:00 p.m., at which point a recorded voice told me CompUSA Direct had closed for the day, that I should leave a message, and they would call me back. But a few clicks and seconds later, another voice told me that the voice mail box was full, so I'd have to call again.

The next day, I called at 2:40 p.m. and was treated to two hours and 20 minutes of bad pop music and CompUSA house ads. When you're on hold at CompUSA, you're not warned how long the wait might be. When an agent finally picked up, I was genuinely surprised.

Part of expediting my order, as it turned out, was changing the payment method from credit card to COD. (This was the only snafu that couldn't be attributed to CompUSA. My bank, as it turns out, prohibits charges of more than $700 per day to my Visa banking card.) CompUSA asked me to fax a copy of the check I'd be paying with. According to my fax machine, the fax went through, but CompUSA never found it.

That's why I was back on the phone again a third day. The next person I spoke to--after yet another interminable wait on hold--instructed me to fax the check again, explaining that there was no way to confirm the fax had been received. In fact, he didn't seem to know where the fax machine was. The only way for me to confirm that the fax went through, the man explained, was to call back again.

Throughout this ordeal, I sent three increasingly incensed e-mails to an address listed on the CompUSA site: customer_service@compusa.com. And every day, my cries for help disappeared into the void. After two weeks, I had yet to get any response--even one from a lowly autoresponder.

Finally, CompUSA received my check, the iMac arrived, and although I'm happy with the machine, I have to wonder if the grief and the wasted time was worth the price savings. For $200 more, I could walk into any Mac reseller and get my choice of colors, a 266MHz CPU, and perhaps less grief.

In its defense, CompUSA claims that seasonal sales, particularly on the Web site, were greater than expected and therefore taxed its ability to provide service for these new customers. But next Christmas, when PCs are even cheaper and more powerful, and sales inevitably skyrocket, will the company get caught flat-footed again? If so, it's almost certain customers will pay.

--Rick Overton

Brand Name Versus No Name (Celebrity Death Match)

The bargain systems from HP and Compaq may be more expensive, but they do offer more. For starters there's software. Both companies bundled Microsoft Works, Quicken, Encarta 98, and several other titles. eMachines included Microsoft Works with the 333c, but the iDot, Virtual Micro, and TigerDirect systems only come with Windows 98 and drivers.

Then there are items designed to make life easier for the first time user--the "out-of-box experience." Illustrated setup sheets and user guides may not be important to seasoned geeks, but to the neophyte they're worth their weight in gold. Color-coded ports make setup quicker and easier for everyone; HP, Compaq, and eMachines offered all of these. The iDot and TigerDirect had decent documentation, but no color coding. The Virtual Micro system lacked both.

Then there's the style factor. A matching monitor and system case, which the eMachines, HP, and Compaq systems all have, can be a big plus-- especially if you're entertaining a client. Look what the iMac has done for Apple's fortunes.

Finally, there's peace of mind. A big company like HP is going to be there today ... and tomorrow. It may not provide the best support (in fact, some of the most knowledgeable people work for local retailers), but it will be there for the long haul. But then again, most office PCs have a shelf life of two to maybe three years. If you have a capable IS staff, it may not be an issue. But it's one worth considering.

--JJ