Don't know the cost but I like my HP bought at Best Buy. A Pavilian Slimline.

I am a security tool dev at MSFT. I strongly urge you to move up from XP. Yeah, it was great in its day, but it is no longer being sold and its days of support are numbered. Many options for running securely (like running as a non-administrator) are very difficult in XP.

Win7 is being very well received. Please consider it. And, well, that is what will be on a new box.

$400 is pretty damn tight for a new desktop machine.

Simon,i had a Terrible experience with BB,their service was bad,the floorstaff acted like I didn't exist.That being said I stormed off,right over to Staples,really,and I walked out with a pretty fast HP,complete with a 20" widescreen LCD monitor for 584$ with taxes and recycling fees(I live in the peoples republic of California).You might get cheaper online,and don't fear Windows 7,it's fast and smooth,not much of a learning curve at all,Good Luck,
Bob

I'm scared shitless of W7, not only because of increased nannying, but because I suspect a lot of my computer's drivers and software would be incompatible (thus necessitating the purchase of a new computer). It's an older Dell (the current drivers are all dated 05) and Dell does not offer a Windows 7 dropdown under options. Plus, when I went to Dell's W7 compatibility guide and couldn't find mine listed, I saw this:

***QUOTE***

If your computer is not on this list, installing Windows 7 is not recommended (the computer may not have the minimum hardware requirements needed or have very little functionality).

***END QUOTE***

I don't like being forced to replace a perfectly good computer simply because I want to upgrade the OS.

BTW, my machine is a Pentium 4 at 3.00 GHz, with 1.0 GB of ram. That ought to be good enough -- so why are they telling me it isn't?

Here are the CNET ratings for the range you want. I am most comfortable with HP, IBM and Dell. Some of the others may have good ratings too.
http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/?filter=100021_10446692_&tag=resourceRightContainer.0

Other suggestions.

Depending on your usage pattern, try and maximize memory first followed by CPU clock speed. Storage can always be added later and is very cheap these days.

Eric -- I feel your pain. :)

Microsoft changed the model for device drivers (to allow added functionality) in Vista. Each hardware manufacturer made choices about whether they wanted to pay developers to write enhanced drivers to allow their hardware products to work with the new driver model. Dell chose to not do so for some of the hardware devices contained in your system. It's usually not whether the processor chip is fast enough or the RAM is expansive enough.

OS'es are not simple "drop in" replacements, much as we might like them to be.

Bobnormal,

Thanks for that. I'll have a look.

Our local BB is excellent BTW. The floor staff is very sharp and the repair dept. gave my dead box a quick once over for no charge.

Of course the fact that I announced to every one I came in contact with that I'm an engineer may have had something to do with it.

computer died? Which part? The Hard Drive, the CPU, the motherboadr. Any of these parts can be replaceed for much less than $400. $400 for a new desktop is pretty hard to do.

Simon NP,Eric it's true that Vista/W7 is sucky for driver development,but simon was blegging new machines ya know?Personally I have some XP machines around just for Music recording and mixing,W7 wont play ball with my older,but functionally awesome software,so your fears are valid.That said when you get the cash,try W7 on a new machine,you will enjoy it,but it's not perfect,Love you guys!,
Bob

Try the refurbished desktop sections at tiger Direct or Newegg. You can find lots of good deals there.