[IUG] Rationale for "expensive" computers

[Roger Dutcher <rdutcher at beloit dot lib dot wi dot us>]

Hi All

We have a library board member who is wondering why we are paying 
between $900 - $1100 per computer (we get ours from Dell) when you can 
go out and get them from Wal-Mart or someplace for $500 or less. 

We have noted that we get more memory, speed and better monitors for the 
most part, but would like to see what others might have done. 

I double checked CSDirect requirements for a computer to run Millennium 
and they are the same as when we bought the system almost seven years 
ago... surely the requirements have changed for more recent releases?  
We are still on  2002.3 and know that the minimum then was pretty low if 
you wanted to do anything else on the computer (and III does note 
that).  Are there higher minimums for newer releases?

Thanks in advance,

Roger Dutcher
Beloit (WI) Public Library