I'm a Compaq girl through and through!!! We got our first desktop in 1998 (I think we paid $2000 bucks for that sucker
) and it lasted up till late 2004. It did have a hard drive crash in early 2003 and we replaced it. The only reason we "upgraded" was because I started scrapping and the processor (nor the lack of ram) could handle my PSE3!!!! But having said that my father still is using that first computer to this day and has not had a lick of trouble with it!!!!
In late 2004 we upgraded to another Compaq and she is still running strong today!!! I have upgraded it some (it only had an 80GB hard drive) with another internal 500GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM (only came with 1). I have also gotten rid of the HUGE monstrous monitor and replaced it with a flat screen......I want to say it's 17", but I'm to lazy to find a measuring tape to say for sure. I don't see my self replacing it anytime soon!!!
I treat it with tender loving care and keep it dust free and "tuned up" on the inside and I'll use her till the day she dies!!!!
Good luck and have fun shopping!!!!