Our advice is simply a guide to save you disappointment. In this context, we consider Best Buy, Staples, Wal-Mart, Costco and Future Shop big box stores. Companies like Tigerdirect and MDG are more difficult to apply to this list, but may still apply.
In a business environment, I’m generally a fan of small form factor machines. They’re usually engineered well and provide the users all sorts of options in terms of positioning. One of the better small form factor machines of the past was the Compaq Deskpro 550SFF (Remember those?). Today, I have my hands on Dell’s Vostro 260s device to set up and I’ll share my thoughts and impressions of this device.
Here’s the problem – they sell you a computer with what they call “OS License Only”. This computer is shipped to you with a blank hard disk, no CD-ROM of Windows to install with and simply a sticker on the outside case of the system to install with. You are not given the option to have the CD shipped to you – nor are you given details on the history of the computer or that copy of Windows.