upgrade or buy new?

I am setting up a home office. I bought a new gateway last March and it is in an area off from the livingroom. I like where it's at. I just bought a Toshiba laptop a couple of months ago, mainly for traveling.
I have DSL and also bought a Linksys router.
I want a computer in my home office and debating on whether to put a wire card in my older gateway that I bought in 1999 or just buy a no frills basic e machine or something similar for around $400. I hate to spend too much on the old computer as it has Windows 98 and most hardware is not compatible with it now.
I'm seeing an emachine and Compaq for around $400 after rebates. Then I'd have to add a wire card.
What do you think???

 

If I had to choose between E machine or Compaq, I'd go E machine, the wife has one, nice pc, O problems, Purchased about 2yr ago, xp 2000 cpu, 60gb hdd, DDR, DVD,CDRW, windows XP home, speaker's, keyboard, mouse, plus software bundle, got for under $400.

Emachine used to have great customer service, Now I dont know, Gateway now owns Emachine, Ive heard horror stories about Gateway customer service.

Another option, build ya own, to keep around $400, would be tuff but not impossible, might be easy if ya got old rig to salvage parts from, something to consider!