So take a close look at the fine print. So what happens to that $199.95 price tag? Heck! What happened to the FREE? Well the "free" vanished. The Printer was free, but only as part of the #1 bundle and only then after the rebate and if you qualified. The scanner was free, but only as part of the #2 bundle and only then after the rebate and if you qualified. Oh, yes, there is that pesky fine print that said that no offers can be combined or else all bets are off. So much for free!

The first fine print that I look for is signaled at the end of the word computer*. There it is, that darn little asterisk. What I have found it to mean most often is "Monitor Sold Separately". An okay monitor can be had for $200 to $300. A cheap monitor is only as good as your glasses. A good monitor can easily run $400 to $500 and a great one can run into the thousands.

So, What do you get for "free?" You get a $400 rebate." But your rebate is only available with a three-year commitment to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that costs $21.95 to $29.95 per month. (The math: $21.95 x 36 = $790.20. Less $400 = $390.20, and 29.29 x 36 = $1078.20. Less $400 = $678.20 .) So, your $400 rebate costs some where between $390.20 and $678.20. Add to this the setup fees for the 36 month contract and possibly the specific Operating System(OS) and browser demanded by the free rebate provider. So much for free and the right to choose. So what is the bottom line? The price in the store: $1000 - $400 - $75 (printer) - $125 (scanner) - $150 (bundle) = $250; 20%(in-store instant rebate) - the nickel you found on the floor = $199.95.

WOW, $199.95. What a deal! Oops, no monitor. Add $400. Oops, can't have two hardware rebates. Add $125. And add the real cost of the ISP: $390 to $678. Now, oops, wrong OS or browser or phase of the moon, so you didn't qualify. Add $400 and that $199.95 "deal" becomes $1515 ~ $1803 (you got to keep the nickel: it was Canadian). But you still can be held to a contract with the ISP that you cannot use because you choose to use an OS or browser that the contract ISP does not allow, so add an average of $19.95 per month for 36 months ($718).

Your final cost is some where between $2233, plus tax, and $2521, plus tax. This is what is called in the industry a real bummer. We are reminded of the first three rules of business: (1) Read the fine print, (2) Read the fine print, and (3) Read the fine print.

So, Is there a deal out there? I think so. I think I found one: PeoplePC. What do you get? A new, brand-name computer, unlimited Internet access via Uunet (check for your local access number) and both phone and on-site tech support. So, why does it cost $898.20 +$48 shipping + tax (varies depending upon where you live)? Let's deal with just the known costs: $762.09 + interest of $136.11 = $898.20 + $48 shipping = $946.20. Not bad, Hmmm; OK, now a little more math: 946 - 718 (average monthly cost for an ISP) = $228 for a computer. Now that's a deal!!! So what do you really get?

You get a machine built by Toshiba, a 366 Mhz Intel Celeron processor, 64 megs of RAM, a 6 gig hard drive, 32x CD-ROM, 56K modem, two USB ports, a 15" color monitor, a 3.5" floppy, mouse, speakers, keyboard, and a three-year "on-site" warrantee that covers parts and labor. What about software? Well, there is WIN98, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Norton Anti-Virus, Microsoft Works and Quicken Basic 99. There are additional empty AGP and ISA slots, a 5" space for a Zip drive and a second space for another 3.5" floppy. There is an empty RAM slot, and you can add RAM up to a maximum of 256 megs. It's got an Audio/Video RAM Buffer that is shared and is built into the main board, a joy-stick port, and a Sound-Blaster Pro Emulator also built into the main board.

So, you can't upgrade stuff that's built-in, at least not easily anyway. For your video driver, sound system, and joy-stick port, what you get is what you got, period. You can get a 17" monitor instead of the 15" for an extra $109, and they do have a deal on a printer. For an extra $129, plus $10 shipping, get an Epson Stylus 660 with a $30 rebate from Epson.

If you want to know more, call 1-800-PEOPLEPC (1-800-736-7537). To get the real down and dirty details, I talked to Rodney. He was quick with answers, all solid information. I even tried to throw him a curve when I asked if I could convert my old scanner over to USB. He fielded that question with expert ease informing me that because USBs have a power supply included and the scanner has a separate power supply, it cannot be done. He really knows his business and that was just a small sample of the Tech Support. WOW!