So you want a computer. You're not interested into fancy 3D games, you just want to surf the internet and write email. You can do this for under $500 easily. Here's what to look for:

1. Pentium is better the Celeron. Get a Pentium 4 if you can find one. Or an AMD chip.
   
2. At least 512 Megabytes of RAM. If you only get 256, your computer will run slowly.
3. CD burner. It's a great way to back up files and make music CDs.
4. Consider a Macintosh. If you're not a computer geek, you might be happier with a Mac.
5. You don't need a huge hard drive. 80 GB is plenty.
   

Good luck!