Updated September 9, 2005

Whether you're shopping for your first PC, a second or third one for your home network, or something affordable to get you through four years of school, sometimes you need a PC that covers just the basics. On the whole, today's PCs are powerful machines--right down to budget PCs. You can easily find a full system for less than $1,000 that will hold up for years if you need it for nothing more than e-mail, Web surfing, light office work, and maybe a little photo editing on the side. Be careful not to be swayed by a deal that looks too good to be true. Often, an ultra-low-end PC is just a vendor's way of clearing out old inventory: outdated chipsets and two- or three-generation-old processors, for instance. Spend a bit more than a bargain-basement configuration, and you'll not only get better features, you'll also get a system that will better stand the test of time. With that, here are the latest budget PCs that we've reviewed.

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