When is a good time to buy a PC?

[Squall]

It's a buyer's market for PC's right now. I'm thinking about buying a Dell Desktop 2400 with an 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB RAM memory, Pentium 4, QuietKey keyboard, optical mouse, 17" flat panel display monitor (!) It even comes with a free CD burner, a $100 rebate, and shipping is free. I don't know how much this PC would normally cost, but it's right at $1000 even when you add it all up!

However, I have a few friends who think I should wait until closer to Christmas before I buy my new PC. Is that wise? The sale I speak of above ends on Wednesday night. Should I wait until Christmas -- will a PC that good be even cheaper then? -- or should I take this deal now, while I have the chance?

Someone please help me with your advice! :(

[Lu775]

Squall, I was just thinking about this exact problem yesterday. I'd like to get a computer for home, preferably a lap top. But I figured since the "back to school" sales are probably done now, maybe I should wait a couple months for the xmas deals. But, are there really any big Christmas sales anymore?
(Oh, and if anyone has advice about lap top brands and/or features, please share. I'd apprciate the help.)

[Joe Mama]

I think you should get it. If you wait till Christmas, then they'll probably be all gone, either that or hard to find.

[Stewie]

I wouldn't worry about that sale running out. I bought a Dell a few years ago. For a long while before and since I checked up on prices and promotions and such. It seems like they always have a free CD burner to stick in your computer. The rebate comes and goes. Usually there is some sort of discount. And you will rarely have to pay for shipping.
That's not to say that the sales are constantly running. They do go away. But if you wait a month, they will come back.

The more important thing to worry about with computers is buying right before a big jump in technology ad a big drop in prices (which I unfortunately did). I spent $2000 on my computer. 6 months later, I could get something twice as fast for half as much.
Computers are constantly going out of date. But usually a top of the line model will stay top of the line for a day and a half.