Special Promotions Drive Desktop and Media Center PCs
To jump-start 2005, PC makers are offering a smorgasbord of discount deals including special promotions, mail-in rebates, and instant savings. Alienware, for example, is currently providing a $500 mail-in rebate, which you can use toward any Area-51 desktop purchase. (You'll need to enter the code MIR500MC2 in the Agent ID field on the shopping cart page to take advantage of the rebate.)
Gateway recently announced a new line of low-cost EMachines desktop PCs starting at $360 (following a $50 rebate).
Promotions like these change every week or two, so if you see one you like, jump on it, says Garter's Reynolds. And, if you miss one, don't fret: Keep your eyes peeled for the next big promotion--another often follows, be it a week or a month later.
Following the trend in digital cameras, look for prices of last year's Media Center PCs to decline while new models are introduced at lower prices--and with features that are easier to use. Another trend: the emergence of more sophisticated "living room"-style form factors.
At $799, Gateway's 3250X is one of the cheapest Media Center PCs available. Not only does it cost $200 less than the company's previous models, it also currently sports several free upgrades, including a 15-inch LCD flat-panel display (if you buy a CRT), 8-in-1 media card reader, extra memory, and a CD-RW drive.
Check out PC World's Top 15 Desktop PCs.
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