Today's software, particularly the ''suites'' from Lotus, Microsoft, WordPerfect and others, are ravenous for storage. PC veterans who remember when a 20-megabyte disk drive was considered big are reminded that applications routinely exceed that. Almost any machine you buy is going to have a 56-kilobit modem in it. Be aware that while the modem might be capable of that speed, your telephone connection might not. If you do find one, don't buy it.
Many retailers bundle a printer.
Windows 98 is almost unavoidable. Janet Reno isn't chasing Bill Gates for the exercise, so submit, already. Start online, which will save shoe leather. Decide your price range and make a comparison chart about products within that range. Look at ads in newspapers and in PC magazine.