Packard Bell Multimedia 8300

SUMMARY

PRO: Easy setup, good tutorials for novice buyers, wide range of software.
CON: Slow performance for its class, poor reliability and service ratings.
$1378 (as of March 1999); Celeron-400 CPU, 96MB of SDRAM, 10GB hard drive, 14X-32X CD-ROM drive, V.90 56-kbps fax-modem, 17-inch monitor with built-in speakers, AGP graphics chip.

Packard Bell
888/211-4159
www.packardbell.com

The Multimedia 8300 offers an extremely simple setup that will appeal to technophobes dipping their toes into the digital swamp for the first time. Great documentation, good online tutorials, clearly marked cables, and built-in speakers in its 17-inch monitor are this PC's strongest features. Plus, at $1378 the Multimedia 8300 costs a little less than other name-brand Celeron-400 systems.

As far as performance goes, the Multimedia 8300's graphics scores were on par with those of other Celeron 400-based machines. But its PC WorldBench 98 score of 176 paled in comparison to the 190-plus scores posted by Celeron-400 systems from Dell and Gateway.

The Multimedia 8300 spoils you with its software offerings: The large bundle includes Microsoft Works, Word 97, Quicken Basic 98, Money 99, MGI Photo Suite, and the Packard Bell Learning Center.

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