[yonif]

I would buy a dell, you can customize your computer, and its at a very good price.

[Krafty123]

You are aware that that XP can run with Win98's interface? I would advise waiting a month, and then buying something based on an Athlon64 (@2ghz will be faster than anything has to offer, and 64bit compatible).

[gcruse]

I thought Gateway was going under. If so, I wouldn't be buying a computer there.

[185JHP]

I suggest you take a look at a Sony Vaio.

[BushCountry]

Buy the parts and build it yourself, it will be fun, educational and a much better machine. };O)

[ThePythonicCow]

My favorite way to buy a computer is to go to resellerratings.com, and pick from amongst the resellers with ratings between 9 and 10, and at least say a 100 reviews.

Been doing this for years, and got excellent results every time. Sometimes I did it when I wanted to pick the parts and let them build, sometimes I wanted to buy the parts and put it together myself, sometimes I needed a particular item, like disk or memory, sometimes I wanted a preselected, ready to plugin and use system.

Over the years, which companies are at the top of this list changes slowly, but the list has remained solid. If it's a top rated company on that list, you will get good service, good systems, and good prices. The companies that I dealt with 4 or 5 years ago off this list are still around, just perhaps have lost their edge compared to the best.

Spend a little while going through some of the top rated companies on their list, until you find one that is selling what you want. It will be time well spent.

[ThePythonicCow]

For example, off the resellerratings.com site, I see Monarch Computer Systems, with a choice of barebones, custom built to your specs, or pre-built. Check out some of their pre-builts, such as at Home, Office & Education Pre-Built Systems. Some good looking, well equipped stuff, for prices starting around $400 to $500.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Dell is advertising a new computer for $499. Can't beat the price.