I'm glad I didn't rush into buying anything and did my homework.
I ran across a deal... yup, on the Dell I was originally looking at, but a better deal overall:

Vostro 200 Mini Tower
$689.00
Special Offer - $240.00

Vostro 200 Intel Pentium® Dual-Core E2140 1.60GHz, 1MB L2 Cache
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz - 2DIMMs
Dell 20 inch Widescreen E207WFP Analog Flat Panel Display
Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
80GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Dual Drives: 16X (DVD+/-RW) Burner and 48X CD Burner/DVD Combo
Sound Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Microsoft Works 8.
TOTAL:$449.00
Free 3-5 day Ground Delivery on select Dell Desktops priced above $399!

Total Price
Sub-total $449.00
Tax $22.46
Total Price: $471.46

A basic system, dual burners, AND a 20"LCD for $471... I am happy. Thanks for everybody who helped in my previous thread

 

man for the price thats not a bad machine at all. basic, but if its just for internet and word processing its plenty fast

what are you using it for?

 

did you get the one i sent you today? Va shipping should only take a day or so.... maybe tomorrow...

 

sounds like a good deal... but don't you already have a 22" wide?

 

Yup, already gotta 22"LCD, but the deal wouldn't allow me to remove the monitor option. I'm gonna put it on Craigslist for $200 still in the sealed factory box and see what I can get for it. Either way, my end price for the case will be well under $300.

It's just gonna be an internet computer, basic word processing, turbotax, burning, etc... I think I scored.

Haven't received the laptop yet... probably tomorrow.