Almost every year, around holiday time, I write a column suggesting high-tech stocking stuffers.

I've been doing this for a long time and --- over the years --- I've mentioned items such as a computer mouse, a pack of CDs, things like that. The idea is to offer useful items that can be purchased without breaking the family budget.

I never expected to be talking about a brand-new computer as a stocking stuffer.

I'm stretching the point --- I admit it. Even so, I was shocked when I did some recent price shopping for low-end computers. I'm no longer surprised by $500 computers, but lately I'm seeing good, brand-name PCs, complete with monitor, for around $350.

These machines aren't for everyone. Much to my wife's regret, I will end up paying at least $1,500 when I buy a computer. I am a certified geek with expensive cravings.

Unless you're as demented as I am, there may be hope for you.

These el cheapo computers do a fine job at the tasks most of you take on. They'll cruise the Web, crank out correspondence, figure family budgets, edit photos and run almost any modern computer program you find at the store.

I thought of all this when a co-worker asked me whether it was worthwhile to upgrade her old computer. I'm talking really old here. It has the original Pentium 1 chip, instead of today's Pentium 4. It runs Windows 95, not XP. Heck, it couldn't run XP if it tried. It has about as much memory as a chipmunk. I'm surprised it didn't have a crank on the side.

My friend does free-lance writing from home and is very ungeeklike. But she does need a computer. Her old machine can't even run the modern word processing program her clients demand.

I told her that putting money into the old machine was a bad idea --- roughly equivalent to buying a mink coat for my cat. I thought that, considering her budget, a used computer in the neighborhood of $250 might be the way to go.

I asked her for a budget and said I would do the shopping. She told me she could afford $500. I first checked at Dell (www.dell.com) and found the Dimension 2400. With rebate, it sells for $350. That includes a 17-inch monitor and Windows XP Home.

Just to see whether that was a fluke, I did the same sort of shopping at Gateway (www.gateway.com) and found the 3200 series for $400 after rebate. Next I checked out CompUSA (www.compusa.com) and found several PCs --- even without rebates --- at $400.

The point here isn't to steer you to Dell, Gateway or CompUSA. You'll find machines in this same price range when you walk in the door at most major retailers.

Since prices and special offers change like the Georgia weather, these exact deals may not still be available by the time you read this column.

So this isn't a shopping list. The point is to give you real-world examples to show that this is no fluke. These are name-brand PCs --- not no-name beige boxes from Ron's Garage Door and Computer Co.

With prices like these, buying a used computer doesn't make any sense at all for typical home users.

Just to keep my comparison fair, let's pretend my co-worker had owned a PC that wasn't such an antique --- one that would have been capable of running Windows XP. Let's go through the exercise of upgrading that machine.

A copy of Windows XP Home costs $100. Replacing the 13-inch monitor would add another $100 or so. We're already at $200 without considering other expenses of upgrading the old computer. Most times, you'll need additional memory and a larger hard disk. Add $100 for that, and our upgrade expenses are at $300.

The cost difference between that $300 upgrade and buying a new computer is $50.

It's not just computers that are at rock-bottom prices. Printers are so cheap now that I expect to see them at the grocery checkout stand along with impulse items like chewing gum and candy.

I just took a look at a Canon printer --- it's perfectly serviceable for most home users --- with a suggested retail price of $50. I've paid more than that for a computer mouse.

With the high price of ink cartridges these days, many people would be better off junking an old printer when it runs out of ink and buying the Canon.

The economics of high tech are screwy, I admit. Instead of complaining, you can take advantage of them. Think of it as high-tech judo --- taking advantage of what your opponent does instead of fighting it.

Demented geeks such as myself will continue to pay between $1,500 and $3,000 for a new system. Indeed, I paid more for my home printer than you would for the new Dell computer.

But most of you don't trip over cables and gadgets when you get up from the computer to pour a cup of coffee.

These inexpensive computers will make sense for many readers. And keep in mind that these are not low-end machines. They are low-priced machines that will outperform most middle-of-the-road PCs from three years ago.

That's why this may be the year to buy your Christmas stockings in the extra-large size, so a printer and PC will fit inside.

tecbud@ajc.com