What is better than Bose but costs less?

Oh Man, don't get me started! Bose is a marketing company that steals technology, repackages it in the cheapest form they can come up with (that is their research)and then sells it through lot of advertising. They have hurt the directives of audio companies throughout the world. Now the average person thinks that speakers must be small to be visually acceptable. Wifes have banished most speakers larger than a shoebox to the garbage..because of Bose. You can't cheat physics, and they seem to think they can with most of their stuff. Most any other product will sound better for less money. It may be a little bigger, but it will certainly be better and cost less. Listen for yourself. If you want an inexpensive, impresive and fairly small package, try the SLS system sold at Best Buy. Otherwise, the world is full of better stuff. Good luck.

You seem to be asking two questions...

1. Computer speakers:
If you're looking for really good sound from a computer, the weak link is typically the internal soundcard (even the "high-end" feature-laden soundblasters). You'd have to spend at least a few hundred dollars to get a decent external USB DAC, and get the conversion out of the noisy computer box. But if you're like me, and just use computer speakers for watching plot-driven movies in 2-channel, and for pre-listening to mp3's before buying the actual CD, you should just go to a used computer store and buy several pair of older computer speakers. People always get rid of the older ones that were way better-made (and often better-sounding) because their new computer came with the cooler-looking black and silver speakers. I have a shelf full of heavy-ass white computer speakers that cost $5-10/pair, and sound fuller, tighter, and less boomy than most of what's at Best Buy today. Finally, if you really want new computer speakers, I suggest Klipsch Promedia Ultra 2.0, which is about the only new consumer-oriented computer speaker I've found that sounds acceptable for music.

2. Loudspeakers
If you think that last paragraph was long, most of us could write infinitely about loudspeakers-in-general. What amp and source components are you using? In what sort of environment are you listening? Etc., etc... I'm guessing that you have a fairly typical Japanese solid-state receiver? I suggest looking here on Audiogon for some used NHT, B&W, or Paradigm in your price range. Any of these would please you now, and grow with you later as you upgrade other components.

bose offer neither quality nor value. 35+ yrs ago they sold the infamous 901 model with multiple cone drivers. they sold quite well and created some name recognition. they sell stereo eqpmnt on the name recognition mainly from those initial spkrs. basically smoke, mirrors and high price tags. listen to anything at a stereo store for same price. just about anything sounds better to discearning ear.

No Bose-Os here!

If you pay attention, you will notice that Bose is kept in a room to it's self in the mass market retailers. There is a purpose. If they were available to be compared to something else side by side, they would be exposed.

Is there stuff out there that is worse than Bose? Yes, but it is at a fraction of the price Bose is asking.

What Bose system are you looking at and what is the price you would pay. Provide the answers to those two questions and you will get more suggestions than you want.