Build it yourself. You can get a K7s5a/Duron 1GHZ (morgan core) combo for $89 at outpost if they are not out of stock. Throw in 128MB of CHEAP ram, and a cheap 20GB (or even 10GB) hard drive. Get some el-cheapo $30 case (with power supply) at the next computer show (if it doesn't go up in smoke when you turn it on, it will probably work). $10 for a floppy. $25 for some cheap 2D 16MB video card (AGP OR PCI, doesn't matter). Sound is included on that motherboard. The rest of the stuff (keyboards, mice, cheap cd-rom, you can find free with rebate the next time some office or computer store has a sale). You should be able to get below $300 (maybe below $275) easily, particularly IF you have the OS already paid for.
It will look something like this:
K7s5A/retail (with sink/fan) 1GHz Duron - $93
128MB DDR SDRAM - $25 (if you need 256, spend the extra $20)
20.0GB 5400RPM WD HD - $55
16MB SDRAM Video card - $25
Floppy - $10
ATX Case w/300W PS, or 250W if it is all you can find (can be found at local computer show - don't pay shipping on that) - $30
CD-ROM - $30
Keyboards and mice are free
Ok, you are at $268 (prices are ballpark figures, and include what it will probably cost to ship it to you from whatever vendor you decide to buy it at. If I'm off by $10 somewhere, then just add it). That leaves $32 for a keybaord and mouse, in the unlikely event someone isn't giving them away free this week. If you want speakers (and again, can't find them free after rebate), just get a cheapie $15 set. I call this the "grandma box", but it sure beats an "e-machine". Another nice thing about this machine, is that if you decide it is too slow 2 years from now, you can throw an Athlon XP 2000+ (which by then will probably cost $20), and another 256MB of ram in it, and significantly improve its performance.
Nack