Tempting Deal

I thought free PCs were a scam until I tried one out for myself. Does that make me a softy?

I've never been a sucker for freebies, knowing all too well that they're usually more hassle than they're worth. So when I heard about all the new free-PC offers, I couldn't help wincing. Companies like Gobi, Intersquid and ePCdirect require you to pay up to $30 a month for Net access and are rife with hidden fees for basics like a monitor, tech support and one-time "start-up" charges. And then there's the nagging fear that these newcomers will vanish into cyberspace long before your three-year contract is up. Would you really want to do business with a company called Enchilada? Actually,...

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