11.   But Xerox never sold enough machines to get that annuity stream flowing.

12.   But VA Linux, once a hot startup company, discovered that it could not make money selling Linux machines, especially after its dot-com market withered.

13.   By the time those machines are sold, half the components inside might be obsolete.

14.   By selling its machines direct to customers, with no dealers or distributors as middlemen, Dell is able to minimize inventory and maximize return on capital.

15.   By selling its machines direct to customers, with no middlemen, Dell can minimize inventory and maximize return on capital.

16.   Coffee shops such as Starbucks often sell the machines in their stores as a way to increase sales of beans.

17.   Compaq is selling this machine on its Web site, as well as through kiosks it is installing in computer and electronic stores around the country.

18.   Compaq, however, relied on the independent dealers who sold its machines to provide such services.

19.   Cupertino, California-based Apple will also sell the machine to U.S. customers who need lighter-weight computers.

20.   Console makers generally sell their machines at a loss, relying on game sales to make up the difference.