>If I was a white-box vendor, I'd be afraid - very afraid.

A question of opinion, I think! I, for one, would much rather prefer buying a "white box". Granted, I like to build my computer rather than buy a pre-made. Preinstalled software is not important at all for me, since the first thing I would do is to format the hard drive anyway!

I prefer "white box" because I can choose the components I want: ASUS motherboard, video and CDROM, Seagate hard drive, ViewSonic monitor, Microsoft Natural Keyboard, USRobotics modem, etc. Looking at the provided description of the Dell computer, I wouldn't want it because too many components are unnamed - not all components are of the same quality, and I've too often seen computers crash or perform poorly because of cheap components. I'm not an expert, but I know my way around hardware.

White box have another advantage for me: I live 400km (250 miles?) from the nearest major city, which would be Ottawa. Should a problem arise, I can have my white box serviced the same day, so I'd loose my computer for about a day. Can't say the same with mail-ordered or one bought in a large store.

I do realize not everyone thinks as I do. But since Peter asked what we think...

>> Dimension® L Series, Intel® Celeron™ Processor at 600 MHz
>> Memory: 256MB SDRAM
>> Video Card: Intel 3D AGP Graphics IV
Hardly a perfomant video board. If you want to play games, you're going to cry soon!
>> Hard Drive: 20GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
5400 RPM is no longer a fast hard drive. Ultra DMA33? 66? 100?
>> Operating System: NEW Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional
>> Network Card: Integrated Intel® 10/100 Ethernet Controller
Integrated is not a good thing, IMHO. Can't be changed if needed.
>> Modem: V.90/56K PCI DataFax Modem for Windows, NT
No brand again. Could be a WinModem, which is bad.
>> CD/DVD ROM Drive: 8x/4x/32x CD-RW Drive
>> Sound Card: Soundblaster 64V Integrated
Integrated. 'nough said!
>> Speakers: harman/kardon Speakers
>> Bundled Software: Microsoft® Office 2000 Small Business
>> Zip Drives: 100MB Zip Drive with One Disk