31.   Despite limited success in the past with direct sales, Compaq recently revived and expanded an effort to sell computers by telephone and over the Internet.

32.   Dell Computer Inc. and Compaq Computer Corp., two of the biggest PC makers, are now selling computers with built-in ADSL modems.

33.   Dell sells its computers direct and benefits more quickly from falling costs because it carries little inventory.

34.   Digital would still be free to sell computers based on the Alpha, he said.

35.   Egghead is switching to larger stores that sell more computers and will beef up its Internet software business.

36.   Eventually, Dell would also like to sell computers to vast numbers of Chinese individuals and small businesses.

37.   Few, if any, hand-held computers are being sold profitably now.

38.   Finally, make sure the company selling the computer has been around for a few years.

39.   For its part, Apple says it has no plans to sell computers preconfigured with Linux.

40.   For instance, Winkler said, when a reseller sells multiple computers to a corporation, Compaq often ships that order directly to the corporation.