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Microsoft says any PC with a 300-MHz chip and 128 MB of memory can run
Windows XP. But you'll probably want more. Here are three good bets,
depending on your needs:



IF YOU WANT...      MODEL/COMPANY     SPECS                            PRICE



AN XP STARTER BOX   Presario 5300     1.1-GHz Intel Celeron chip,      $569
                    Compaq            256 MB of memory, 20 GB of
                    compaq.com        storage, CD-ROM drive



A MID-RANGE CHOICE  Dimension 4300    1.6-GHz Intel P4 chip,            959
                    Dell              40 GB of storage, DVD, and
                    dell.com          recordable CD-ROM drives



TO MAKE THE         Pavilion 7965     1.7-GHz P4 chip, 512 MB of       1249
MOST OF XP          Hewlett-Packard   memory, 80 GB of storage,
                    hp.com            high-speed Firewire connections






IF YOU WANT...      MODEL/COMPANY     PRICE   THE SKINNY



AN XP STARTER BOX   Presario 5300     $569    More than enough power for
                    Compaq                    basic Web surfing, game playing,
                    compaq.com                and such. Sold only in stores.



A MID-RANGE CHOICE  Dimension 4300     959    Good choice if you plan to
                    Dell                      explore XP's digital photography
                    dell.com                  and online music features.



TO MAKE THE         Pavilion 7965     1249    Has what it takes for making
MOST OF XP          Hewlett-Packard           home movies or other complex
                    hp.com                    multimedia projects.



Data: BusinessWeek, Company Reports, ARS Inc.