The move follows similar trade-in programs already in place at companies like Toshiba. Users can exchange old PCs, monitors, MP3 players, phones, or PDAs for credit that can be used toward new Alienware gear by visiting the Alienware's Web site for more information, or calling 1-800-ALIENWARE (254-3692). If an exchange is approved, users can print out a shipping label to send in the old item.

I tried to "exchange" two items: an iPod nano 8 GB, and a 2.0-GHz Core Duo white-box PC with a 150-Gbyte hard drive and a gigabyte of memory. For some reason, the Web site repeatedly glitched on pricing the nano (or several other iPods) and gave me an estimate of $128.10 for the Core Duo machine. Users who trade in old Alienware PCs will receive an additional bonus, the company said.