Kiplinger's Magazine See highlights from the June issue . All the Difference Apple Power Comes With a Price By Michael J. Martinez From desktops to notebooks, we pick the best buys in seven categories. We took nearly 50 computers from the top nine vendors, booted them up, ran a slew of software, poked inside the cases, studied the warranties, and compared prices. Overall, we were impressed. And the price for low-cost but perfectly adequate computers continues to edge lower.
Competition is a wonderful thing.
But you still need to shop carefully because some machines should be avoided. These models are for you. The Gateway Essential PC 800c is the best value out there. You can set up and boot up in about 15 minutes. Honorable mention goes to the NetVista A20i from IBM, known more for its high quality than its low prices.