You get what you don't pay for. When we last looked at a similar PC ("Wal-Mart Delivers a Sub-$200 PC," November 19, 2002), it was a Lindows-based machine costing $100 less. At $299, the Microtel Sysmar150 (available only from the Wal-Mart Web site) substitutes Windows XP Home Edition but struggles under the burden of the more demanding OS.

Powered by an 800-MHz VIA C3 processor, the system turned in poor results on our benchmark tests. The 10GB hard drive is another cost saver (the others here ship with 40GB drives, albeit for more money).

The Sysmar150 comes loaded with nothing beyond the OS. It does have the fastest CD-ROM drive of the bunch, but the difference between 52x and the standard 48x is hardly perceptible, if at all. There is no floppy disk drive, though the unit does ship with basic speakers.

As a low-cost way to introduce Linux to the world, the Lindows-based configuration was intriguing. And if you simply want a low-cost PC for e-mail, instant messaging, and Web surfing, the Windows-based Sysmar150 will suffice. But if you push it too hard, you'll find plenty of applications that won't run satisfactorily on this box.