Compaq Presario S3100NX Desktop PC (1.80-GHz Athlon XP 2200+, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

With features such as CD burning, DVD playing, a comparatively large hard drive, and surprisingly gutsy processing, the Presario S3100NX is a great choice for those who need solid computing at an entry-level price.

Powered by a cost-effective yet punchy 1.8 GHz AMD Athlon XP processor 2200+ with QuantiSpeed architecture, 256 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM, and a integrated ProSaveageDDR KM266 graphics card with 32 MB of shared (not dedicated) memory, the system is clearly not intended for extreme multitasking or heavy-duty 3-D games. It is, however, all you need for most typical home and home office tasks, Internet surfing, and 2-D gaming. HP has included a large 80 GB hard disk for permanent storage of your programs and files, a 3.5-inch diskette drive for older or smaller applications and backups, and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive through which you can burn and listen to audio CDs, archive your data and enjoy the latest movies.

The Presario S3100NX features a variety of amenities to enhance everyday computing, including six high-speed USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals, a convenient Presario Internet keyboard with hotkeys, a PS/2-style scrolling mouse, serial and parallel "printer" ports, an integrated 56K modem for basic Internet and email access, and a 10/100 Base-Y Fast Ethernet port for speedy network interaction and e-communication. The system is not equipped with a monitor or external stereo speakers, thus allowing users to custom select these components.

To help get you started, Compaq has pre-installed a variety of software applications, including Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system, Microsoft Money 2003, Microsoft Works 7.0, and Quicken Financial Center.