Prices for computer desktop systems have dropped, just in time for the holidays. And there are some great deals to be found - if you are willing to do some homework figuring out your requirements and then doing an "apples to apples" analysis of what each system includes for its price.

The Internet is a good place to start, with manufacturers offering special online pricing and incentives at their Web sites, and most also offering free shipping. Check out Gateway, IBM, Dell and Hewlett-Packard's Web sites for the latest and greatest deals. IBM is offering its NetVista A30p with keyboard, mouse, speakers and floppy drive, CD Rom (read only), 56k modem and an Ethernet card for an online price of $599 US. The monitor is not included for this price, nor is Windows - the system is bundled with IBM's proprietary Lotus SmartSuite software. Dell's Dimension 2300 Special Edition Desktop includes a 1.8 Ghz Celeron processor, a CD-RW drive and a 30 Gigabyte hard drive with an Internet price of $399 (after the $100 mail-in rebate) - again, no monitor included. HP's Pavillion 503N is Internet priced at $549, minus the monitor, but it includes similar features of the IBM NetVista A30p, plus a CD-RW.

Considering that most PC owners already have a monitor they can use, these are very affordable systems; and even if you need a new monitor, deals abound for standard LCD monitors at less than $300, particularly if you are bundling it with a new system. Make sure you shop around - just like your mama told you to - as Internet prices and stock availability can change daily.