Imaging devices are configured and purchased by the steps of providing an electronic database of information describing a plurality of differently configured imaging devices which have different features that can be selected by a purchaser via a digital communications network and programs which depict the functionality of such features; displaying at the purchaser's location remote from the electronic database various configuration features of imaging devices that are available for purchase and selecting programs which depict the functionality of features that the purchaser may purchase; the purchaser selecting various features to provide a desired configuration of an imaging device and providing a payment identifier specifying an account to be debited to pay for the configured imaging device; configuring the imaging device adding at least one program which provides one feature selected by the purchaser; and sending the configured imaging device to a designee of the purchaser.